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Seven goal thriller in Culdaff
25.08.09
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Culdaff...4 (B. McGonigle 2&69, Diver 12, Michael Byrne 47) Buncrana Hearts Youths...3 (Murphy 9, McHugh 29&64) by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Caratra Park THE INISHOWEN football season returned with a bang at Caratra Park, Culdaff on Friday evening with a seven-goal thriller. Three times John McFeely’s men took the lead only to be pegged back, but after defender Brian McGonigle gave his side their fourth lead 20 minutes from the end, this time there was no response from the Hearts youngsters. Culdaff’s fourth was a glorious goal worthy of winning a cup final let alone the season curtain-raiser. Matthew Byrne’s searching long pass found Dermot Diver 40 yards out who cushioned a first-time pass out wide for the overlapping left back Derek Doherty. Doherty cut to the byline and stood up a perfect cross to the back post that took out Buncrana keeper Conor O’Donnell and McGonigle powered a header to the net. |
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There was a lot to admire
about both sides going forward, although both the
Culdaff player-manager and Buncrana boss Tony O’Loughlin
will have to work at defending in training this week.
Playing their new smart looking white and red Adidas kit, Culdaff bore more than a passing resemblance to All Ireland champions Tyrone. Last season the Caratra Park side were on the edge of the title race until the spring. Might this be the year they break the Clonmany and Redcastle stranglehold in the league and lift Inishowen football’s equivalent of Sam Maguire? Certainly they have strengthened in midfield with the acquisition of Michael Byrne from Clonmany over the summer. Byrne looked right at home in the Culdaff engine room and caught the eye with clever movement and composure on the ball. Buncrana Hearts Youths are something of a finishing school for their Ulster Senior League, but try telling Tony O’Loughlin that it’s not about results and you are likely to get the short shrift. |
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The new Buncrana manager’s
passion for the game was there for all to see on Friday
night, as he paced back and forth in front of the away
dugout, barking orders to his team. His young defence struggled to contend with the power and height of the Culdaff players, especially on set plays. They were exposed as early as the second minute when McFeely curled a free into the box from the right side of midfield and no one picked up Brian McGonigle who headed in at the back post. The Youths played very well on the counter attack and in the 9th minute Andy Murphy played a one-two with Alan Fletcher on the edge of the Culdaff box before firing low beyond Martin McLaughlin. The lead was short-lived. Adrian McGonigle won a penalty in the 12th minute that Diver converted. The power and pace of Murphy, McHugh and Fletcher made it a difficult evening for the home defence and in the 28th minute Colm McLaughlin intercepted the ball in the centre circle and released Stephen McHugh up the middle. He accelerated beyond the final Culdaff defender and slid the ball beneath the advancing O’Donnell. The Youths finished the half on top. Greg Bradley and McHugh forced the young Culdaff keeper to make a pair of smart saves. Then Fletcher, as strong as an ox, held up the ball 15 yards out and rolled his defender only for Brian McGonigle to block his stinging shot. Just as they had done in the first, Culdaff scored two minutes into the second. Despite the heroics of Paddy McMyler, who twice cleared the ball of his line, Buncrana just couldn’t clear their lines after McFeely’s corner and Michael Byrne pounced to side-foot home from 10 yards. The ebb and flow of the first half changed after the break. Culdaff were doing most of the attacking now. To their credit the Youths didn’t buckle, and in Kevin Hegarty they have the makings of future Bucrana Hearts centre half. The young defender is good in the air, but more importantly has the happy knack of anticipating where the danger is which allows him to move across and snuff it out. Michael Coyle, Diver and Adrian McGonigle all passed up chances to increase the home side’s advantage. You felt it would take something special for the Youths to draw level again and that’s exactly what we got in the 64th minute when McHugh received the ball on the left turned 25 yards out and curled a spectacular shot in off McLaughlin’s left hand upright to make it 3-3. They couldn’t hold the lead, however, and in the final few minutes Culdaff would have wrapped up the win when Conor Keddy played Adrian McGonigle through on goal but for O’Donnell’s brave dive at the Culdaff striker’s feet to save for which he picked up a knock. The Youths saw a free kick in Culdaff’s half in injury time come to nothing before referee Liam Porter brought an end to an entertaining evening at a cold Caratra. Culdaff: Martin McLaughlin, Brian Harris, Matthew Byrne, John McFeely, Brian McGonigle, Dermot Diver, Conor Keddy, Michael Byrne, Adrian McGonigle, Gerard McLaughlin, Derek Doherty. Subs: Michael Coyle for G McLaughlin (40), Brendan Lafferty for Doherty (75), Niall Gordon for (90+3). Buncrana Hearts Youths: Conor O’Donnell, Kieran McDaid Paddy McMyler, Gerard Doherty, Kevin Hegarty, Greg Bradley Tommy Caldwell, Andy Murphy, Stephen McHugh, Alan Fletcher, Colm McLaughlin. Subs: Mickey Farren for Murphy (63), Richie Cutliffe for Fletcher (63). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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