Curtin draws Rock level late on

WINGER Aidan Curtin snatched a last gasp equaliser in this rip-roaring local derby at Flynn Park on Sunday between two teams whose objective is to retain their places in the premier division of the North East League.

Only a point separated the sides at kick off with newly promoted Rock with the edge with an extra game played and that was the way it stayed.

The visitors took the lead in a really open encounter with scoring chances aplenty, and striker Ciaran Sheelan on his return proved his value to the home side scoring both his sides goals

He cancelled out Eanna McArdle’s opener for the visitors on 15 minutes, and but for a great save by Robert Arthur from David Ward the home side could have trailed two nil by the time that Sheelan made it level pegging ten minutes into the second half..

On the other hand Simon O’Shaughnessy passed up a glorious opportunity to equalise before the break when he put he ball over the Rock crossbar from no more than two yards, while Declan Sharkey drew a great save from John Rogers.

Great work by Sean Matthews allowed Sheelan to make it one all, when he met first time a cross by the full back, and hit the net from 12 yards.

With their tails up Bellurgan really gained the upperhand, and substitute Tadgh O’Connor should have put them ahead when he beat three players but shot straight at John Rogers with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Sheelan put the home side ahead when Cian McDonald’s pace allowed him keep the ball from crossing the endline, and took Rock by surprise to square for the striker to turn it into the net from inside the six yard line.

But Curtin for the second week in a row scored a goal that could be so vital at the end of the season for the Seasiders. BELLURGAN: Robert Arthur, Sean Matthews, Alan Connor, Diarmuid Murphy, Owen Traynor (Cian McDonald 70), Christian Lotefa, Simon O’Shaughnessy(Aaron Farnon 80), Declan Sharkey, Shane O’Brien , Ciaran Sheelan, Sean Maguire ( Tadgh O’Connor 70).

ROCK: John Rogers, Oran Duffy, Paddy Reilly, Aaron Casey, Liam McDonnell, Ferghal McDonald (Sean Hand), Aidan Curtin, Eanna McArdle, Ronan Doherty, Niall Donnelly (Brendan Rogers), David Ward.