Fr Rocks Exit Ulster Series At First Hurdle

Sunday 21.11.2021

Cookstown’s hopes of enjoying a run in the Ulster Junior Club Championship came crashing down on Saturday when they suffered a 3-8 to 1-6 defeat at the hands of a very experienced and well drilled Sean Mc Dermott’s side from Monaghan. The Tyrone champions finished the game with twelve men as indiscipline late in the match cost them.

The Fr Rocks went into this game as slight favourites in many people’s eyes but the Monaghan outfit made light of being underdogs and produced a memorable display of pace, aggression and teamwork to win comfortably.

The Sean’s began with real pace and signalled their intent with 1-1 inside the first minute. Padraic Mc Gurk scored a point straight from the throw in and Adam O’Driscoll hit the net in the next attack. The Monaghan side were in total control and with a bit more composure could have been even further ahead. Cookstown were really on the ropes as Mc Dermott’s won nearly every breaking ball and restart kick.

O’Driscoll pointed again for Sean Mc Dermott’s as his side threatened to run away with it. Cookstown were struggling but managed to steady the ship with a point apiece from Barry Potter and Matthew Carberry. The Fr Rocks reached the first water break only three behind and from then until the half time break restricted the Sean Mc Dermott’s to a single point. 

Marty Murray lofted over a fine score before they capitalised on a superb defensive block from Ryan Pickering to move the ball the full length of the pitch and earn a penalty. Barry Potter converted the penalty with aplomb to tie the game and it looked like Cookstown might go in at the break on level terms but things got even better for the Tyrone champions when Matthew Carberry popped over a fine score to put his side one clear at the short whistle.

Sean Mc Dermott’s must have wondered just what had gone wrong before half time and how they had reached the break a point behind having dominated the ball for most of the first half. They came out for the second half a more determined outfit. They created and converted a penalty inside the first minute of the half after the referee judged Niall Kearns had been fouled inside the square. Cookstown became ragged after that and the Monaghan side added two quick points to move four clear.

Things went from bad to worse for the Fr Rocks when they had two players sent off following a couple of minutes of bedlam. Sean Mc Dermott’s showed all their experience as they saw out the game to win comfortably. Eamon Mc Quillan wrapped up the game with a fine individual goal late on before Kearns and James Mc Gahan swapped points to leave the full time score 3-8 to 1-6 in favour of Sean Mc Dermott’s.