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Doherty double seals shield for
Dunree
26.05.09
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Dunree United...2 Damien Doherty ’30, ’43 Culdaff...1 John McFeely by Gerard McLaughlin, Inishowen Independent, Maginn Park ON Saturday evening in the bright sunshine at Maginn Park is was Dunree forward Damien Doherty who was the hero of the hour with two very well taken first half goals that proved to be enough for Dunree to win their first ever Knockalla Caravans Shield at the expense of a below par Culdaff side. Having said that, nobody could argue with the fact that Dunree deserved their victory for their sheer hard work and determination. Superbly marshalled at the back by Jason McLaughlin, they proved to be very hard to break down and with the clinical finishing of Doherty at the other end they proved to be too much for Culdaff on the night. The first ten minutes were a very even affair with very few clear-cut chances being created by either side. |
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| The first real chance of the game fell at the feet of Dermot Diver, after a superb ball into the box by Derek Doherty. The big midfielder had time to pick his spot, but out of nowhere came a fantastic challenge from Liam Baldrick and the chance was gone. Culdaff were on top at this stage and they managed to force a few corners that were very well dealt with in the air by the impressive McLaughlin and his keeper Noone. The first real effort from Dunree was from the head of striker Ryan Bradley but this was very well dealt with by O'Donnell in the Culdaff goal. The deadlock was eventually broken on the half hour mark, when after a great break from midfielder Paddy |
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McLaughlin the ball ended
up at the feet of striker Doherty who finished calmly to
the bottom corner. Culdaff very nearly responded immediately when first a Ronan Kearny header was saved by Noone from point blank range and the follow up was blazed over the bar by Derek Doherty when it looked easier to score. Culdaff were pressing at this stage and a superb ball from Ronan Kearney put Adrian McGonagle clean through on goal but just like Baldrick earlier Jason McLaughlin was able to get back and clear the danger. Culdaff were then hit with the sucker punch just before the break when a good free into the box by Barry Nixon fell again to the feet of Doherty and he made no mistake from ten yards to give Culdaff a mountain to climb in the second half. Culdaff again began the half the brighter but created very little in the way of goal scoring chances. It was Dunree who had the chance to wrap the game up ten minutes into the half when a cross into the box was put into the net by Doherty, but referee Eamon Doherty was not to be fooled as he brandished the yellow card straight away to Doherty who thought he would get away with a Maradona-style punch to the net. It was always going to take something special from Culdaff to get back into the game and this was exactly the case when player-manager John Mc Feely sent an unstoppable shot to the top corner from all of 25 yards. It was now most certainly a case of game on and backs to the wall for Dunree. A free from Declan Kearney was dragged just wide of Noone’s goal and an Adrian McGonagle header went just past the post as Culdaff pushed for that elusive equaliser. Time was now running out and Culdaff were pumping everything into the box and form one of those long punts forward Brian McGonagle was given the chance to equalise but his header went inches past the post very much to the relief of the Dunree players and supporters. This proved to be the last chance of the game as from the resultant goal kick referee Eamon Doherty blew his whistle and sparked scenes of wild celebrations from Dunree who went some way to making up for the disappointment of relegation from the Jackie Crossan Premier Division with this Knockalla Caravans Shield success. Dunree United: Johnny Noone, Barry Nixon, Kevin Mc Colgan, Paul Craig, Jason Mc Laughlin, Paddy Mc Laughlin, Liam Baldrick, Derek Murphy, Ryan Bradley (Philip Mc Guinness), Damien Doherty (Kevin Murphy), Mickey Mc Glynn Subs: Henry Connolly, Roger McGilloway, Neil Moran, Thomas Mulhern, Neil J McCarron Culdaff: Shaun O Donnell, John Paul Thompson (Adrian McGonagle), Matthew Byrne, John McFeely, Brian McGonagle, Dermot Diver, Conor O'Brien, John Joe Doherty, Ronan Kearney (Gerard McLaughlin), Derek Doherty (Brian Harris) Subs: Martin McLaughlin, Conor Keady, Paddy McColgan, Eugene McLaughlin For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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