Glengad blitz Greencastle to put pressure on leaders 16.02.12
Jackie Crossan Premier Division

Glengad United...9 Greencastle...0 Deirdre Houghton reports. Photos: Herbie Barr. Glengad United thrashed Greencastle to get their title bid back on track at the Crua on Sunday afternoon. Despite the fact that they were only one down at the break Greencastle succumbed to a second-half blitz with Liam McClean’s men firing an incredible eight-goal salvo in just 45 minutes. It was a game when everything clicked for the hosts and one which Eunan’s McDaid’s Ballybrack men will want to put behind them quickly. The nine goals and three points sent out a clear message from north Inishowen – that Glengad are very much alive in the race for the title.

The Crua club has also been boosted by the fact that it may receive the points from a league loss against Aileach almost two weeks ago after it emerged that the Lakeside club may have fielded an ineligible player. Glengad lodged a sensational complaint against Brian Bell’s team last week and it’s understood that the League could make a decision on the matter at a meeting tonight. With perfect conditions on a mild and dry afternoon last Sunday, Glengad dominated Greencastle from the get-go. Seven minutes into the match, Terence Doherty embarked on a blistering run and shot but Kevin Cavanagh recovered well and managed to make a fine save. Glengad’s clearest opportunity arrived twenty minutes in when a throw-in led to Kevin McColgan breaking the deadlock. He made a sharp turn, created space for himself and carefully placed the ball past Cavanagh into the bottom corner. Greencastle’s Jack Keys created a chance for Davy Houston soon after but the striker’s shot was no threat to Glengad keeper McLaughlin. With five minutes to half-time, Stephen McLaughlin played a one, two with Paul McDermott and squared the ball to Patrick McDermott but it was incredibly blocked by Greencastle keeper Cavanagh, who was sharply off his line to save.

With just two minutes to half-time, Terence Doherty had a tame shot which Kevin Cavanagh gathered comfortably. The second half of the match began with a good pass from Damian Ward to Terence Doherty with the latter’s effort cleared off the line by Greencastle defender Sean Cavanagh. Moments later Ward gathered possession again, squaring across for Patrick McDermott to slot in from six yards to put daylight between the teams seven minutes into the period. John Gerard then fired a free-kick wide as the home team kept the pressure on their Foyleside opponents.

Before the hour mark Paul McDermott played a through ball to Terence Doherty, who coolly swept home a third for Glengad. Nineteen minutes into the second half, McClean’s men struck again with Paul McDermott rounding Cavanagh and rolling in. Jack Keys then had a rare chance for Greencastle with Martin McLaughlin saving well. Any faint hope for the visitors disappeared when David Houston was red carded for a second bookable offence before two quick-fire goals from substitute Ruairi Kelly sealed an easy home win. First John Gerard McDermott set-up Kelly to fire in before Charlie Byrne crossed for Kelly to make it six. Kelly almost completed a hat-trick but his header was well saved by Cavanagh. In the next ten minutes, Glengad got another two goals, courtesy of John McDaid and John Gerard McDermott to keep the scoreboard ticking before, five minutes from the end, Paul McDermott clipped in a ninth. A miserable afternoon for a Greencastle team which now looks certain to return to the First Division and a great day’s work for a Glengad team which will await the outcome of an appeal against Aileach with baited breath.

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