 |
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
 |
| Search... |
McLaughlin is St. Mary’s hero
16.07.09
|
||||||||
|
Carndonagh...1 (E Doherty 27 mins) St. Mary’s...1 (R Doherty 70 mins) by Liam Porter, Inishowen Independent, at Maginn Park GOALKEEPER Kevin McLaughlin was the St. Mary’s hero on Saturday night as they snatched a late equaliser to force extra time and then went on to add to their Division Two title with a cup win - thanks to victory in a penalty shoot-out. Not only did the young keeper make a string of good saves in the match, he also stepped up to deliver the free-kick that brought the equaliser and, to cap it all, then saved one of the Carndonagh penalties. It was a cruel blow to a Carndonagh side who for the most part were the better team on the night and who played some excellent football throughout the game. |
|
|
Right-winger Ronan Doherty
stole the show in the first half with a magnificent
display demonstrating good footwork, clever passing and
a deft touch on the ball. But Carndonagh were well served too by goalscorer Conor Doherty who put in a terrific shift in the centre of the park and by sweeper Conor McCormack who looked assured and confident on the ball. St. Mary’s who had captured the Division Two title during the week would have come into the game as slight favourites, but they needed excellent displays from keeper McLaughlin and the feisty sweeper Gary McDaid to ensure they stayed in the game to the death. Midfielders Aaron Friel and Conor Bradley also battled well for the St. Mary’s side who forced their way back into the match in the second half having been on the back foot – albeit against the wind – in the first. Carndonagh were first to create a chance with a long-range shot from Conor Doherty that forced McLaughlin to scramble low to his right to push away, but the big keeper showed excellent handling from the resultant corner, plucking the ball from the air to ease the |
 |
|
pressure on his defence. That chance had taken 13 minutes to create as both teams struggled to find their passing range on the wide open spaces at Maginn Park, but once they had settled it was Carndonagh who played all the football. Ronan Doherty combined brilliantly with Gavin Monagle in the 18th minute to work another chance, but once again McLaughlin was equal to the task and made a good save. There was nothing however the St. Mary’s keeper could do in the 27th minute when a long ball into the box fell to Conor Doherty and he lashed a first time shot into the net from twelve yards to give Carndonagh the lead. They might have a second two minutes later, but this time Ronan Doherty’s well-struck free-kick was inches wide of the post and St. Mary’s who hadn’t managed a single shot at the Carndonagh goal, went in at the break with just one goal to make up. With the wind at the their backs they threw everything into trying to get the game back on level terms as quickly as they could, but the Carndonagh defence continued to hold firm. They did look as if they might be breached five minutes after the re-start when substitute Ryan Ivers raced clear, but full-back Declan Monagle made a great recovering tackle to avert the danger. At the other end Declan McGonagle tried his luck after being teed up by Ronan Doherty, but once again McLaughlin in the St. Mary’s goal was equal to the task. At the other end Ryan Doherty headed wide from a good position following a corner and then Fergal Doherty in the Carndonagh goal made his first real save when he gathered Aaron Friel’s long-range free-kick. With the minutes ticking away it looked as if it would be Carndonagh who would find the net and not St. Mary’s and they were unlucky when Gavin Monagle skipped past McDaid and drove a great ball across the face of the goal in the 62nd minute and a minute later was denied by a great stop by McLaughlin. The St. Mary’s keeper then moved forward in injury time to drive in a free-kick that saw substitute Ryan Doherty head home to the disbelief of the Carndonagh defenders. That free-kick routine almost won St. Mary’s the game in extra time, but this time substitute Kieran O’Neill saw his header fall inches past the post. In the end it took the dreaded penalty shoot-out to decide and St. Mary’s had the luck in the lottery but Carndonagh can certainly be proud of their performance on the night. St. Mary’s: Kevin McLaughlin, Gary Doherty, Fergal Harkin, Gary McDaid, Owen Sweeney, Pauric Ruddy, Aaron Friel, Conor Bradley, David McLaughlin, Daniel Devlin, Philip Toland. Subs: Joe Becker for Sweeney (25 mins); Ryan Ivers for D McLaughlin (half-time) Ryan Doherty for Toland (half-time), Kieran O’Neill for D Devlin (67 mins); McGilloway for Becker (78 mins). Carndonagh: Fergal Doherty, Declan Monagle, Jamie Lee Loftus, Conor McCormack, Dara Crossan, Eamon Doherty, Declan McGonagle, Michael McDermott, Gavin Monagle, Matthew McLaughlin, Ronan Doherty. Subs: Jamie McLaughlin for M McLaughlin (56 mins). Fergal Bradley, Liam Foy, Paddy O’Doherty, Ronan Harkin, Mark Diver, Nathan Toland (all unused). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
| Return to > Sports > News > Home |
 |