Na Rossa’s Ulster journey ended in controversial circumstances by Lisnaskea 

Na Rossa have exited the Ulster JFC race at the first hurdle with Fermanagh’s Lisnaskea just about scraping through in a game where six red cards in total were brandished. 

Na Rossa 2-5 Lisnaskea 1-9

But in an hour’s football that could at worst have been described as niggly, matters just seemed to get away from match referee Richie Donoghue. 

In the end, the charge sheet simply didn’t match with what played out in O’Donnell Park. As well as three Na Rossa players sent to the stands, the Donegal champions also had boss Declan Bonner and physio Mickey McGlynn banished at certain stages. 

Despite all of that, Na Rossa somehow still found themselves 2-5 to 1-7 in front headed into extra-time. 

But a cruel call, a brutal one really, on Na Rossa replacement stopper John Paul McCready for overcarrying, finally tipped the scales in Lisnaskea’s favour. 

From the resulting free Joe McDade levelled matters. And with Conor Clarke booming over another Lisnaskea point deep into the red, it’s the Fermanagh men that now advance. 

Back at the outset, Sean Keenan sailed over the first score of the game, just seconds in, and it was a real beauty from the visitors’ wing half-forward.

On six minutes, Denis O’Donnell found Lisnaskea captain McDade a difficult proposition under a direct ball into the area and that tussle resulted in the Ernesider going to ground and Lisnaskea being awarded a penalty. 

Keenan placed the ball on the spot however he’d drag his effort wide of Aidan McCahill’s right-hand post. Then, inside the space of 60 seconds, Declan Bonner’s side nailed the net twice. 

First, Aidan McHugh pulled a Sean McMonagle pass out of the air and fired first time to the Lisnaskea net. Eugene Molloy won the subsequent kickout and sent Christian Bonner scarpering through the middle right away. 

He drew a man and fisted possession onto Oisin Caulfield, on the overlap, and his smart clip inside set Odhran Molloy up for a second Na Rossa green flag. 

On 14 minutes, both sides lost men for a period when Christian Bonner and Kai McCormick were black carded. Caulfield and Lisnaskea stopper Ethan McCaffrey from a free, then swapped points as 2-1 led 0-2 on 20 minutes. 

Seven minutes out from the break and a Hayden Lynch free trimmed the deficit slightly but with Cillian Bonner responding quickly at the other end, Na Rossa were still in the driving seat with four to spare.

On 29 minutes, Bonner was at it again with a superb swing from distance that again landed right between the Lisnaskea posts. 

But on the stroke of half-time the visitors made real ground thanks once more to a direct approach. 

McDade was again the man fielding close to goal and quick hands released Damian Kelly to bang in the game’s third three-pointer and, in the process, left two in it at the changeover at 2-3 to 1-4.  

However, with Na Rossa losing O’Donnell to a straight red card before the short whistle, they would be down to 14 on the resumption. 

Before the second-half had even begun Richie Donoghue flashed Declan Bonner a straight red card as the Na Rossa boss also took a seat in the stands. 

Despite being down to 14 Na Rossa grabbed the first score on the restart as Cillian Bonner again put six between the sides. 

A cheap cough-up of possession by Na Rossa then allowed Paul Mohan to once again get Lisnaskea back on the scoresheet. 

Hayden Lynch then made it a one-point game at 2-4 to 1-6 as Na Rossa temporarily went down to 13 as replacement Mark Bonner was black carded. Moments later, Na Rossa were down to 12 as Sean McMonagle was flashed a second yellow. 

In a game where two were most certainly tango-ing, the referee’s interpretation of matters was simply inexplicable at this stage - beyond comprehension in fact because this simply wasn’t what you’d label ‘a dirty game’.  

Na Rossa medical man Mickey McGlynn was next to express his frustrations and, for his troubles, was also sent behind the wire as mattered threatened to descend to a farcical level. 

Lisnaskea themselves then went down to 14 when McCormick walked for a yellow card heaped on top of that previous black one brandished his way in the first-half. 

Two minutes out from the end of normal time and with Na Rossa out on their feet, Damien Kelly levelled it up at 2-4 to 1-7. 

But Na Rossa somehow managed to summon enough energy to go back down the other side and with McHugh winning a free, he dramatically edged them ahead once more. 

However, that aforementioned refereeing call on Na Rossa keeper McCready for overcarrying allowed Lisnakea to again square it and with Clarke subsequently landing the winner, this one was finally decided. 

Christian Bonner was flashed a late, late red card as he vented his frustrations and it’s Lisnaskea that will advance to the last four in the Ulster JFC. 

Na Rossa scorers: Aidan McHugh 1-1; Odhran Molloy 1-0; Cillian Bonner 0-3,1f; Oisin Caulfield 0-1. 

Lisnaskea scorers: Joe McDade 0-2; Damian Kelly 1-2; Ethan McCaffrey 0-1,1f; Conor Clarke 0-1; Sean Keenan 0-1; Hayden Lynch 0-1; Paul Mohan 0-1.  

Na Rossa: Aidan McCahill; Sean McMonagle, Daniel Martin Melly, Denis O’Donnell; Oisin Caulfield, Johnny Bonner, Bryan Breslin; John McDyre, Eugene Molloy; Christian Bonner, Aidan McHugh, Matthew Smith; Cillian Bonner, Brian O’Donnell, Odhran Molloy. 

Subs: John Paul McCready for McCahill (ht), Mark Bonner for E Molloy (35), Adrian Hanlon for B Breslin (39)

Lisnaskea: Ethan McCaffrey; Mark Kelly, Conor Clifford, Mark Smyth; Dylan Tierney, Liam Mullarkey, Kai McGoldrick; Conor Clarke, Damian Kelly; Sean Keenan, Joe McDade, Paul Mohan; Justin McDade, Mark Little, Hayden Lynch. 

Subs: Kevin Lynch for Keenan (45), Rory McCabe D Kelly (60+5). 

Referee: Richie Donoghue (Derry).