 |
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
 |
| Search... |
Moville demolish local rivals
17.08.11
|
||||||||||||
|
Greencastle...2 Moville Celtic...8 by Caoimhinn Barr at Ballybrack (Photos: Evan Logan) INSPIRATIONAL young talent Conor ‘Galway’ McLaughlin scored twice and set-up two more as Moville demolished local rivals Greencastle in front of a large crowd at the annual Seamus Pat Cup Final in Ballybrack last Friday evening. The blessing of the boats took place at the pier earlier in the afternoon but Greencastle coaches Eunan McDaid and George McLaughlin must have wished it was the blessing of the boots such was the abject nature of their team’s performance in the Ballybrack showpiece. Flying in preseason, Moville have now won three straight Seamus Pat Cups and will hope to add more silverware to the Glencrow trophy cabinet with a new campaign on the horizon. Three down inside the first half hour, following strikes by Moville trio, PJ Barr, Nigel McMonagle and Conor McLaughlin, Greencastle never recovered from a shocking start before shipping five more goals in a crushing loss. |
|
|
A Sean Cavanagh own goal
followed by the goal of the game from the outstanding
Conor McLaughlin had Moville five clear and out of sight
before veteran striker, Nigel McMonagle, excellent as
ever, made it six of the best for Darren Bredin’s men. Fine late strikes from David Houston and Matthew Henry, two of Greencastle’s better performers on a night to forget, registered the home team on the scoreboard but Moville finished well with goals from substitutes Christy McGeoghan and Tony Boyce completing an easy win. Premier League newboys Greencastle missed the drive of Michael Barr, one of last season’s stars transferred to Derry City in the summer, |
 |
|
and on this evidence Eunan
McDaid’s men could struggle without the young talent. Moville on the other hand look well-placed to launch a first title tilt in more than a decade. Darren Bredin’s teams have been traditionally strong in pre-season play - Moville have won the Seamus Pat Cup for the past three years - but have quickly faltered in the league. The Foylesiders have more strength in depth this year however with Eamon Reddin, Raymond Campbell and Dermot Harkin bolstering a talented young squad while players like Anthony Maloney and Conor McLaughlin are improving with every game. The return of their two best players, Shane Canning and Nigel McMonagle from Buncrana Hearts, isn’t bad news either! PJ Barr too is back from injury and in good-form; his range of passing last Friday night was particularly impressive while Mark Henry and Michael Craig could walk into any squad in Inishowen. Stretching to make a few fine saves, keeper Sean McGuinness rarely puts a foot wrong while young subs like Tony Boyce, Christy McGeoghan and Shaun Doherty are champing at the bit. |
|
 |
Though they have much work
to do, Greencastle are not as poor as last Friday
night’s result suggested – far from it in fact. With
experienced players like Sean Cavanagh, Charlie Gill and
Jim Doherty, the Ballybrack men will give Moville a much
stiffer test when the Premier season begins. Their best player Matty Henry was unusually quiet while Charlie Gill and Eunan Hegarty were often overrun by an energetic Moville midfield quartet, which caused no end of problems for Greencastle keeper Kevin Cavanagh and intelligent defender Sean Cavanagh. Full-back Darryl Doherty was narrowly off-target in the opening few minutes before PJ Barr headed Moville in front from a Shane Canning delivery. Inside another five minute spell Moville were two clear, courtesy of a composed run and finish from striker Nigel McMonagle after Mark Henry charged down Charlie Gill’s attempted clearance. |
|
Raymond Campbell then saw a
shot blocked following a smart run and cross from Nigel
McMonagle before man-of-the-match Conor McLaughlin
pounced to make it 3-0, collecting PJ Barr’s clever pass
to slot home from twelve yards. At the other end David Houston skewed wide after Charlie Gill’s shot was well blocked by Eamon Reddin before the unfortunate Sean Cavanagh turned into his own net to leave Moville four clear following Conor McLaughlin’s threatening centre. Just before the end of the first-half Greencastle winger Sean McQuillan headed Matty Henry’s free-kick narrowly wide with Sean McGuinness scrambling across the Moville goal. Nigel McMonagle flashed just wide in the opening minute of the second period before Moville produced the move of the match to compound Greencastle misery with a fifth goal that wouldn’t have been out of place in the capital of Catalonia. Gathering possession on the left wing Shane Canning flicked inside to Dermot Harkin who found the onrushing Mark Henry to fire a perfect cross met at pace by Conor McLaughlin, who fired into the roof of the net. A stunning strike. McLaughlin was involved again as Moville went six clear; laying the ball perfectly into the path of Nigel McMonagle, who curled in after an intelligent pass by PJ Barr. Greencastle were on the board with less than twenty minutes to play when striker David Houston volleyed in acrobatically after Gavin Harkin’s deflected free-kick. Home consolation was short-lived however as Nigel McMonagle skipped past substitute Jack Keys to find Christy McGeoghan, who fired home a controlled finish past Cavanagh from sixteen yards. Eunan McDaid’s men then pulled another goal back in the closing stages when Matty Henry fired in but Moville substitute Tony Boyce had the final say; firing in from the penalty spot after being hauled down by Eunan Hegarty. The Greencastle defender was shown a straight red card by referee Terence Moyne to compound a miserable evening for the home team. After the game Aaron McLaughlin made the presentation and Moville captain Shane Canning gratefully accepted the Seamus Pat Cup for his team for a third straight year. Greencastle hopes of winning the preseason event for a first time must wait one more year at least. Greencastle: Kevin Cavanagh, Andrew McLaughlin, Gavin Harkin, Sean Cavanagh, Jim Doherty, Charlie Gill, Sean McQuillan, Matthew Henry, David Houston, Eunan Hegarty, Cathal Gillespie. Subs: Eunan McDaid, Ryan McClenaghan, Jack Keys. Moville Celtic: Sean McGuinness, Darryl Doherty, Mark Henry, Eamon Reddin, Anthony Maloney, Conor McLaughlin, PJ Barr, Shane Canning, Nigel McMonagle, Raymond Campbell, Dermot Harkin. Subs: Tony Boyce, Christy McGeoghan, Shaun Doherty. Man of the Match All the contenders were on the Moville side. Shane Canning and Nigel McMonagle rarely put in a bad shift and were excellent again last Friday night. PJ Barr too in midfield was outstanding as was Mark Henry. The award goes to Conor McLaughlin though for a scintillating display. Turning Point In such a one-sided contest it was hard to pick one turning point but Greencastle’s shaky start proved crucial. The Ballybrack men never recovered from the concession of three early goals. Moville were clinical throughout, rarely missing an opportunity to bulge the home net. McLaughlin family Great credit to the McLaughlin family from Greecastle for another enjoyable summer tournament, which is a great tribute to the late Seamus Pat. All three games attracted large crowds to Ballybrack and the football wasn’t bad either. Looking forward to next summer’s event when Moville will be gunning for four-in-a-row. Pre-season Moville Moville have stormed to three straight pre-season successes in the Seamus Pat Cup. Manager Darren Bredin will be hoping to turn that run into good league form as the Foylesiders prepare for a first tilt at the title in more than a decade. If they can remain consistent at the back, the Glencrow men are an outside bet for Premier League glory. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
| Return to > Sports > News > Home |
 |