N.Y. GAA Riordan, Fisher propel fast-starting Rockland past Sligo

By Sean O’Reilly

Rockland 1-14, Sligo 0-6

Rockland, last year’s Senior "B" champions, proved too strong for a lackluster Sligo side in the Senior "A" game Sunday at Gaelic Park.

Rockland were quick to start and built a 6-point lead before Sligo managed to register their first score.

Gerry Riordan opened the scoring for the winners with a point from play. This was followed by two points from David Fisher, who gave a man-of-the-match display at wing forward, scoring 1-5. Riordan pointed again in the 15th minute, with further scores coming from wing back John McGuinness and a brilliant solo effort from Fisher from the left wing.

It took the Westerners 20 minutes to score. When they did, it came from the boot of Brian Curran, but Rockland replied immediately with a fisted point from Riordan after he was denied a goal from a save by Sligo’s custodian, Dermot Fleming.

Terry Rossiter did give Sligo some hope with a pointed free just before halftime, but it still looked ominous for Sligo heading into the second half on a scoreline of 0-7 to 0-2.

Rockland continued to dominate the game in the second period with David Fisher in superb form at No. 12. He scored one of the best scores of the day within 3 minutes of the restart. From an almost impossible angle on the right wing he managed to steer over a point with the left boot that put Rockland in complete control. Rossiter replied with a free from the hands, but this was cancelled by another McGuinness point.

With Fisher unstoppable up front, Rockland always looked like winners and his goal in the 10th minute following a pass from Stephen Carolan signaled the end for Sligo. The same man added a point a minute later to leave Sligo trailing by 9 points.

Rossiter sent over a free following a foul on Sean Cunnie, but the goal they required to get back into the game never came and Rockland increased their lead with scores from Mike Healy (2) and Riordan from play. Cunnie and Rossiter again added points, but it was too little too late for a side that looked disjointed and lethargic throughout.

Rockland had a facile win and if Fisher and Co. can produce similar form, Rockland could compete in the senior grade this summer and put their previous defeat to Donegal behind them. Sligo, on the other hand, are struggling in the top division and their summer looks bleak if help is not on the way.

Rockland: J. Dwyer, R. Lennon, J. Flynn, T. O’ Riordan, J. McGuinness 0-2, E. Gibney, S. Roche, P. Corcoran, S. Carolan, D. Fisher 1-5, T. aActon 0-1, G. O’Riordan 0-4, T. Fennel, M. Healy 0-2, E. Woods.

Sligo: D. Fleming, J. Mckensie, N. McGovern, W. Dempsey, S. Cunnie 0-1, E. Moylan, E. Farrell, T. McGrath, T. Rossiter 0-4, B. Curran 0-1, D. Coyne, K. Caffery, N. Fitzgerald, I. Gannon, C. Healy. Subs: E. Duffy for S. Cunnie, S. Nealon for W. Dempsey, S. Cunnie for E. Farrell.