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Greencastle hits Buncrana for six
13.01.11
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Greencastle...6 (Cavanagh 2, Casey 2, Barr, Murphy) Buncrana Hearts...2 (Forshaw, O’Flaherty) by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, at Ballybrack (Photo: Herbie Barr) GOALS from Shaun Cavanagh, Tom Casey, Michael Barr and Danny Murphy helped Greencastle to a stunning 6-2 victory over Buncrana Hearts on a freezing cold Sunday afternoon at Ballybrack. The win keeps Eunan McDaid’s Greencastle team in pole position at the top of the Strand Hotel First Division and, on this evidence, they look a team ready-made to ply its trade in the top flight next season. Responding with strikes in each half from Harry Forshaw and Oisin O’Flaherty, Buncrana, relegated from the Premier Division last year, now look a long shot for promotion. With the energetic duo of Michael Barr and Matthew Henry in midfield, Greencastle possess two of the best young players in Inishowen. The pairing buzzed ceaselessly around the Chapel Lane pitch, time and again cutting the Buncrana defence open. |
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Anchored by accomplished
central defenders, Jim Doherty and Charlie Gill,
Greencastle’s title bid also has strong foundations
while in attack Shaun Cavanagh brings experience,
intelligence and an eye for goal. Beginning brightly, Buncrana were first to threaten when Gerard Boyle knifed his way through the middle before Charlie Gill came across to clear the danger. Gill was on hand again moments later to deny Damien Doherty before Boyle fired over Philip McClenaghan’s goal from distance. Doherty then expertly set-up Mickey Furey - sporting gloves on a cold afternoon - but the Buncrana striker failed to work the goalkeeper from sixteen yards, clipping his effort wide of the target. Sluggish Greencastle sparked into life after twenty minutes when John Gillen and Tom Casey combined well to release Matthew Henry on the right before the talented playmaker skipped past a defender to cross for Michael Barr, who opened the scoring from ten yards. The goal settled Greencastle with the impressive Barr and Henry tandem increasingly dominant in midfield. |
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Two minutes after breaking
the deadlock, Eunan McDaid’s charges were two up after
Shaun Cavanagh clipped home at the near post; putting
the finishing touch to a swift counter attack involving
Michael Barr and Danny Murphy on the Greencastle left. Intelligent frontman Cavanagh turned provider after the half hour mark, expertly laying the ball into the path of midfielder Michael Barr, whose stinging shot was well saved by Patrick Quigley in the Buncrana goal. Under the guidance of Stephen Quigley for the afternoon, the Hearts were unlucky not to reduce the deficit when Greencastle keeper Philip McClenaghan brilliantly denied Gerard Boyle from close range following superb control by Oisin O’Flaherty. Buncrana stunned the home supporters just before half-time when Harry Forshaw’s corner glided over a cluster of players in the goalmouth before nestling in the top corner of the Greencastle net. The second period was only six minutes old when Greencastle striker Shaun Cavanagh added to his personal tally to restore his team’s two-goal cushion. Cavanagh coolly sidefooted past Patrick Quigley at the second time of asking after collecting Matthew Henry’s perfect slide rule pass. Finding their groove, Greencastle began to live up to their title favourites billing with Danny Murphy and Shaun Cavanagh both going close to a fourth home goal. Murphy should have iced a Greencastle win midway through the second-half but he chipped his effort wide after being put through by Gavin Harkin. Making up for his miss minutes later, Murphy got the goal his battling display deserved when he headed in Tom Casey’s raking corner at the back post. Continuing to pose a threat on the break, Buncrana reduced the arrears courtesy of Oisin O’Flaherty, who tapped in after substitute Peter McLaughlin’s stunning drive hit the Greencastle crossbar. Marauding midfielder Michael Barr spurned the chance to grab his second of the game when Buncrana stopper Patrick Quigley made a brilliant save but with ten minutes to go Greencastle added number five. Shaun Cavanagh chased down a loose Buncrana back pass and pressured Quigley into a hurried clearance, which was controlled and stroked home by Tom Casey. Casey made it 6-2 in the final minute; collecting Eunan Hegarty’s pass before firing in off the post to round off a memorable Greencastle win. Greencastle: Philip McClenaghan, John Gillen, Gavin Harkin, Charlie Gill, Jim Doherty, Michael Barr, Eunan Hegarty, Matthew Henry, Tom Casey, Shaun Cavanagh, Danny Murphy. Subs: Ryan McClenaghan, JP O’Doherty, Eunan McDaid. Buncrana Hearts: Paddy Quigley, Harry Forshaw, Brian Doherty, Kevin O’Loughlin, Robbie Fullerton, Damien Doherty, Gerard Boyle, Caoimhan Doherty, Conor McConnell, Oisin Flaherty, Mickey Furey. Subs: Peter McLaughlin, Conor Paige. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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