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Buncrana edged out in cracking
contest
21.08.08
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Late goal seals win for
Convoy in hard fought Under 14 final Buncrana...5-9 (Calvin Jones 2-3, Kevin Crawford 0-5, Darragh O’Connor 1-0, Denver Coyle 2-0, Peter McLaughlin 0-1) Convoy...6-12 (Peter Blake 3-6, Jack Blake 0-2, Dean Bonner 0-2, Gerard McHugh 0-1, Raymond McNamee 0-2, Caolan McGinley 1-1) by Liam Porter, Inishowen Independent BUNCRANA'S bid to capture the U14 Shield title fell just short of the mark on Tuesday night last in a cracking contest against Convoy that hung in the balance until the dying minutes. Wet conditions made things difficult for both sets of players and it was understandable that there were some mistakes, but there was some excellent football played and it was no surprise that the outcome hung in the balance until the last seconds. Convoy did threaten on a number of occasions to pull away from the Inishowen lads, but each time it looked as if they had opened up a comfortable gap, Buncrana hit back and put themselves right back in the game. Spurred on by an excellent display from Calvin Jones who hit 2-3 of his side’s total, Buncrana fought hard to stay in touch with a Convoy side whose full-forward Peter Blake was in excellent form chalking up 3-6 of his team’s total. But it was by no means a one man show from either side and Buncrana also had fine displays from Kevin Crawford who scored five points, Denver Coyle who hit two important goals and Darragh O’Connor who started the game in goal but played outfield in the second. |
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For Convoy Jack Blake and
Ryan Bonner proved a threat while the hard working
Raymond McNamee, Fiona Allan and Gerard McHugh also
impressed. Only twenty three seconds had elapsed when Buncrana raced into an early lead, Jones racing away down the right before popping over with ease from around 16 yards, however Convoy responded immediately and Peter Blake tapped over from a free before the first minute had elapsed. Jack Blake then added to the Convoy lead in the third minute when he latched on to a loose ball at the edge of the square and hammered to the net to give Convoy a three point advantage. Another good point from Jones and a well struck shot from the ground by Kevin Crawford left just a point between the sides before Dean Bonner finished a good move with a point that added again to Convoy’s advantage. It looked as if that would be wiped out however in the 13th minute when Peter McLaughlin nipped in behind |
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the Convoy defence but he
somehow dragged his shot wide of the target to the
relief of the home side. Gerard McHugh and Raymond McNamee then fired over good points to extend Convoy’s lead but again Buncrana hit back with a well taken goal from the impressive Jones. Two minutes later some excellent defending from Fiona Allan, snuffed out another Buncrana attack and the county U.14 ladies team player set Convoy on a fine attack that ended with a point by Caolan McGinley to make it 1-5 to 1-3. Raymond McNamee added another fine point from distance before Jones again pointed for Buncrana to keep them within striking distance. They might even have closed the gap completely in the 23rd minute when Gareth Porter teed up for goal, but Convoy full-back Oisin Porter made an excellent block to prevent the goal. Peter Blake and Crawford then traded points before the Blake brothers combined to stretch Convoy’s lead before the break. A block from Jack Blake prevented a Buncrana clearance and the loose ball fell to Peter Blake who shrugged off O’Connor’s challenge and slotted to the net. Buncrana hit back with two quick points at the start of the second half before Peter Blake again pointed for Convoy. Jones then scored his second goal of the game with a shot that flew in off a defender and again there was just a point between the sides. Peter Blake then rattled in an unstoppable shot and a long range shot from Caolan McGinley dropped into the net. Three minutes after they’d reduced the lead to just one point Buncrana found themselves seven behind again. Another long range point from Crawford made it a six point lead and then Darragh O’Connor hammered in a goal to put his side right back in the game and leave just three points between the teams. Once again Peter Blake replied for Convoy with a good point to extend their lead to four, but Denver Coyle scored a goal to leave just a point between the teams with just over ten minutes to go. Again Peter Blake and then Dean Bonner replied for Convoy, but Peter McLaughlin’s point that came off the top of the bar made sure Buncrana stayed in touch. Jack Blake then set up his brother Peter for another point and a minute later he reacted quickly to fist a goal from a good pass from Ryan Bonner. But again Buncrana came back and another goal from Denver Coyle with just five minutes to go kept just a kick of the ball between the teams However when the sharp shooting Convoy captain Blake fired home a third goal in the last minute there wasn’t enough time on the clock this time for Buncrana to stage a come back. Convoy: Lee Boyd, Shane Gallagher, Oisin Porter, Dannan O’Kane, Fiona Allan, Gerard McHugh, James Kee, Raymond McNamee, Conor McNamee, Dean Bonner, William McCartney, Caolan McGinley, Jack Blake, Peter Blake, Paul O’Leary. Subs: Ryan Bonner, Kevin McNamee, Gerard McLaughlin, Niall Bonner. Buncrana: Darragh O’Connor, Nathan Doherty, Andrew McGinley, Mark O’Connell, Jordan McDaid, Simon Cuffe, Ciaran McDonagh, Seamus Bell, Denver Coyle, Peter McLaughlin, Kevin Crawford, Conor Allen, Gareth Porter, Calvin Jones, Donal Malcom. Subs: Ryan Doherty For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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