Caldwell the hero as brave Culdaff bow out of cup
Last gasp goal sees Buncrana through  12.03.08

Culdaff Reserves 1 (McFeely, pen) Buncrana Hearts Reserves 2 (Caldwell 2) Carrick United win 5-3 on penalties after extra-time by Liam Porter, Inishowen Independent, in Culdaff IT MIGHT have been the weekend for big cup shocks across the water but a goal 20 seconds into injury time by Tommy Caldwell ensured there would be no cup shock in Culdaff on Sunday as Buncrana Hearts Reserves made it through to the next round of the Fr O’Gara Cup by the narrowest of margins against Culdaff Reserves.

This was a cracking cup tie with chances aplenty at both ends and while there was the odd glimpse of sunshine, most of the game was played in driving rain, sleet and hail making it difficult for both sides, who to their credit played some good football all things considered. Culdaff started brightly enough and had plenty of possession, but Buncrana had the better of the chances in the early stages. James O’Donnell fired across goal in the opening seconds and he carved out a good chance in the 2nd minute for Patrick Fletcher but he saw his shot well saved by George Houten in the Culdaff goal. Seven minutes later Buncrana broke from a Culdaff

corner and Michael Furey found Pauric McLaughlin who could only drag his shot wide of the target. It seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken and when it did it was a well-taken goal. The ball was beautifully worked down the right by the visitors and when it eventually made its way to Tommy Caldwell’s feet in the 20th minute he picked his spot with a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0. It should have been the signal for more, but if anything it seemed to kick start Culdaff into action and with Niall Gordon working extremely hard in midfield they pressed Buncrana back forcing a series of corners. They might even have levelled things up in the 33rd minute when Gary Collins raced on to a through ball and skipped past the challenge of Buncrana keeper Mark McGonagle, but he saw his shot cleared off the line by covering defender Seanan Murphy.

At the other end Culdaff seemed to have played their way into the game and with Raymond McFeely now impressively marshalling the home defence Buncrana’s chances were limited. When they did manage to get behind the home defence as they did with a clever ball from Caldwell to Furey in the 43rd minute, George Houten was out quickly to smother. As the second half started the home side pressed on in search of an equaliser forcing a series of free-kicks in the Buncrana half which all came to nothing but they did make the breakthrough in the 53rd minute when Gordon was fouled in the box and Raymond McFeely stepped up to slot home from the penalty spot. Their lead was almost short lived when a minute later a

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