Roslea left it very late to earn a draw, with Seamus Quigley kicking a late free to ensure his side took a share of the spoils.
In very testing conditions both sides battled hard, and in the end a draw was probably the fairest result after an even hour of football.
It was the visitors who started better here, as they found themselves two points to the good within the first few minutes. Paul McCusker got the game’s opening score, with Aaron Dennison following up with a fine point.
Roslea were fairly slow getting into their stride, but hit back with two Seamus Quigley points to level the contest after the first quarter.
Both sides were struggling to contend with the horrid conditions, with strong winds preventing any kind of free flowing football, but a Darren McCusker free midway through the half gave St. Joseph’s the lead once more.
As half time approached, Roslea levelled, with Seamus Quigley again the scorer for them. Both sides then traded another point apiece before the break, Quigley scoring his fourth point of the contest for Roslea, with Paul McCusker on target for the away side, leaving it four points each at the interval.
St. Joseph’s started the second half very much like the first, and scored two unanswered points, one from an Enda Ferris free, with Michael McAleer also chipping in with a score to put the visitors in the ascendancy.
The home side responded swiftly though, and regained the lead when James Sherry scored a slightly fortunate goal to put Roslea ahead by a point. The midfielder then scored a point a few minutes later, with Roslea beginning to dominate around the middle sector. Seamus Quigley added another free to put his side three points to the good, St. Joseph’s now had it all to do.
To their credit, the away side stuck to their task, and as the final quarter of the game approached, they managed to get themselves level, with two Enda Ferris frees and a Declan McCusker point getting them right back in the contest.
Both teams then traded a point apiece as the final whistle loomed, but it was St. Joseph’s who then took the lead with very little time remaining, and it looked like they would hold out to take the victory.
However, Roslea pushed for an equaliser, and were rewarded right on full time when Seamus Quigley landed a score from a free to level the game up once more, ensuring both sides would come away with a point.
For Roslea, James Sherry had a fine game in the middle third, with Seamus Quigley a threat as always in attack. Manus Maguire and Aaron Dennison contributed a great deal to the St. Joseph’s cause, with Enda Ferris landing some superb pressure frees for them.
Roslea manager Peter McGinnity had mixed feelings on the outcome. He said, “It’s one of those where you’re delighted to get the draw at the end, but slightly disappointed overall that you didn’t get the win. The way things were going though, we’re happy with the draw in the end after a somewhat fortunate goal for us.”
By admin Thu 17th May
