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Muff snatch a draw
15.04.11
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Naomh Pádraig Iskaheen...1-12 Na Rossa...0-15 by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at Ture A 48m free from John Paul McCready deep in injury time helped Na Rossa secure a share of the spoils at Muff on Saturday evening. The better side throughout, Naomh Pádraig will no doubt view this as a point dropped rather than a point won. The home side dominated the opening period, with the spine of the team – Enda McColgan, Marty Duffy, Aidan Lynch, Eunan Keaveney and Damian Diver – putting in masterful displays. Duffy was particularly good, breaking up Na Rossa attacks and driving forward to set up attacks. But Aiden McAleer's side weren't clinical enough in front of goal, spurning several good scoring chances by taking a pass too many and they failed to kill off their opponents who came back strongly in the second half. Trailing by a goal at half time, Na Rossa had the better of the second half as Mark Clerkin, Eugene Molloy, Damian Melly and John Paul Breslin dominated the middle third of the pitch, setting up a series of attacks that, more often than not, ended with John Paul McCready pointing from the placed ball. At the other end, Damian Diver was in similarly accurate form from frees for Naomh Pádraig. His ability to kick frees off either foot is a priceless one for Muff and he ended with 1-7 to his name. |
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His goal came just on the
cusp of half time when keeper Michael Breslin misjudged
a long shot and palmed the ball into the roof of his own
net. Two early frees from John Paul McCready were cancelled out with points from Gerard McColgan and a Diver free. By the 13th minute the teams were level at 0-4 apiece, with Aidan Lynch (after good work from Dermot Keaveney) and another Diver free for Naomh Pádraig drawing points from Eamon Bonner and Damian Melly in response. Barry Hegarty got on the end of a five man passing move to edge Muff ahead, but Paul Byrne responded with an excellent point - Na Rossa won their kick out and two passes later Byrne was put through to put the ball over the bar. Na Rossa's clever and varied kick off strategy was paying dividends for them. |
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Enda McColgan surged
forward to point after another trademark passing move
and Michael Crowley became the sixth different Muff man
to score when he put the home side 0-7 to 0-5 ahead in
the 26th minute. But again Na Rossa responded with
McCready and Patrick Melly hitting two points in 60
seconds. With 30 minutes of the first half gone, Diver's shot from 35 metres deceived the Na Rossa keeper to end up in the net, and he added a pointed free moments later after the rampaging Martin Duffy was fouled en route to goal. John Paul Breslin responded with a point in injury time to make it 1-8 to 0-8 in favour of Muff at half time. The second half was something of a free-taking shoot out between Diver and JP McCready. Na Rossa had the better of the second half and dominated the middle third of the pitch – the loss of midfielder Charlie Molloy to a bloody nose for an extended period didn't help Muff's cause in that regard. Na Rossa drew level in the 48th minute through a McCready free and took the lead two minutes later from the same source. Diver equalised for Muff on 52 minutes after winning and converting his third free of the second period. The home side took the lead on 58 minutes with Diver winning a long ball and pointing from the right corner. Na Rossa hotly contested the score claiming it was wide, but referee Kieran Friel was well positioned and the score stood. Fired up by the perceived injustice, Na Rossa threw everything into attack. They forced a 45, which McCready missed, but a rash challenge by substitute Brian McColgan presented McCready with the opportunity for the equalizer, albeit from well outside the 45. With five minutes of injury time gone, the centre forward struck it sweetly over the black spot to secure the draw. Naomh Pádraig Iskaheen: Christy Lynch; Laurence Lynch, Enda McColgan (0-1), Gary McKinney; Cathal McColgan, Martin Duffy, John McLaughlin; Aidan Lynch (0-1), Charlie Molloy; Dermot Keaveney, Eunan Keaveney, Gerard McColgan (0-1); Michael Crowley (0-1), Damian Diver (1-7, 0-6 frees), Barry Hegarty (0-1). Subs: Ryan McColgan for G. McColgan (half-time); Brian McColgan for J. McLaughlin (54 mins); Na Rossa: Michael Breslin; John Joe Breslin, Odhran Gallagher, Denis O'Donnell; Donal Trimble, John Paul Breslin (0-1), Daniel M Melly; Eugene Molloy, Mark Clerkin; Darryl Devenney, John Paul McCready (0-8, 7 frees), Damian Melly (0-2); Eamon Bonner (0-1), Patrick Melly (0-1), Paul Byrne (0-2). Subs: Trevor Melly for E. Bonner (49 mins); Martin Bonner for P. Byrne (59 mins). Referee: Kieran Friel (N Colmcille) Turning point Damian Diver’s goal on the stroke of half time gave Naomh Pádraig a cushion – one they needed in the second half as Na Rossa came storming back. His goal was somewhat lucky, with the visitor’s keeper badly at fault, but they all count! Man of the match Diver and John Paul McCready dominated the scoring stakes and were contenders, Mark Clerkin was the pick of the midfielders while Enda McColgan impressed at full back. But Martin Duffy gets the nod. As well as carrying out his defensive duties superbly, he was always available to support the attack and his surging runs from defence provided leadership when it was needed most. Man-in-the-middle Kieran Friel had a competent display over the hour and never put a whistle wrong. And short of copying Croke Park and installing Hawkeye at Ture, there was little he could do to avoid a controversial moment late on when Damian Diver’s 58th minute effort was waved wide by the Na Rossa umpire while the Naomh Pádraig umpire – a certain Kevin Diver – signalled a point. Friel was well positioned to judge the flight of the ball and awarded the score. The draw's the thing Muff recorded more draws (five) than anyone else in Division 4 last year and missed out on a promotion play-off by just one point. They also drew the county junior final with Naomh Colmcille before squandering a fortune of possession on their way defeat in the replay. Somehow, they are going to have to learn to become more clinical and kill off their opponents. If Naomh Pádraig can stop snatching draws from the jaws of victory they will win promotion. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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