Rock Progress By Narrowest Of Margins

Monday 09.09.2024

Championship Football

Rock Progress By the Narrowest Margin

Tyrone IFC
Rock 0-14 Stewartstown 0-13

It was a case of striking for home when the time was right in Eglish on Sunday afternoon as Rock squeezed past Stewartstown by the narrowest of margins. The St Patrick’s men found themselves two behind with only six minutes left of normal time but they found a way to dig out a result which leaves them in the last eight of the Intermediate Championship.

The sides were level by the 17th minute at 0-3 apiece thanks to Rock points from Liam Nugent, Conor McGarrity and Shea Daly while Macauley Quinn, Shea O’Neill and Tiernan Rush were on target for the Harps.

The next period was dominated by Rock who by the 29th minute had a four point advantage thanks to an excellent point from Conor Ward and three points from Liam Nugent (2 frees).  The Harps did respond before the short whistle with two points of their own from Shea O’Neill and one from Shea Burke to leave the half time score Rock 0-7 Stewartstown 0-5.

That two point advantage was widened to three within three minutes of the restart as the Go Power Man of the Match Shane Murphy hammered over a 45.  Undeterred and aided by the breeze Stewartstown powered over four points in a row to take the lead for the first time in the game by the 42nd minute.  Scores coming from two frees via Dan Lowe and Tiernan Rush, another point from play from Dan Lowe and a long range Ruari Dillon free off the deck.

By the time the game reached the 52nd minute that one point lead was now two and the Harps looked to have the upper hand.  Gerard O’Neill, Shea Burke and substitute Gareth Devlin all kicking points while Liam Nugent and Shane Murphy slotted scores for Rock.  However Rock had other ideas. They quickly reeled off four points in a row.  Aidan McGarrity, Conor Ward, Liam Nugent and Aidan McGarrity again all finding their range.  The final score of the game came from a Gareth Devlin free in the 63rd minute leaving Stewartstown one point shy in the end.

Final Score Rock 0-14 Stewartstown 0-13.

Referee – Martin McErlain (Clonoe)