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Greencastle overcome Carn
12.05.11
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Carn Reserves...2 (McGuinness, C. Doherty (S) ) Greencastle...2 (Barr, Gill) Greencastle won 5-4 on penalties Caoimhinn Barr reports from Carn (Photo: Herbie Barr) UNDERDOGS Carn Reserves were within ten seconds of a shock place in the Top Four Cup Final before a controversial last gasp Charlie Gill equaliser at the end of extra-time allowed Greencastle to progress in a penalty shootout. Angry Carn players surrounded referee Stephen Deeney after the official allowed Gill’s late strike to stand despite the fact that the Greencastle midfielder appeared to kick the ball from the hands of home keeper Ritchie Cunningham. Making amends for a missed penalty in the first period of extra-time, Michael Barr emerged as the Greencastle hero in the shootout, firing home the winning spot-kick after Philip McGuinness had earlier saved Shaun Doherty’s effort. The Greencastle management team of Eunan McDaid and George McLaughlin will feel they deserved their late slice of luck with Carn keeper Cunningham extremely fortunate to stay on the pitch after blatantly pulling down Michael Barr to deny a clear goal scoring opportunity during the first-half of normal time. |
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Barr recovered from that
knock to smash Greencastle into an early second-half
lead before a Niall McGuinness corner in the last minute
forced extra-time. Conor Doherty then raced clear to
fire the reserve team into a surprise lead before Gill’s
hotly disputed effort salvaged a draw at the death for
Greencastle. The Premier League bound Ballybrack men found the going difficult on a poor Carn pitch and the home team, two flights below, made Greencastle fight all the way to earn a place in the Maginn showpiece. Employing veteran Sean Cavanagh in defence and Michael Barr in attack, Eunan McDaid’s team was driven on time and again in a difficult fixture by the relentless Matthew Henry, who never seems to put in a poor shift. Cavanagh too was a rock at the back, constantly organising others and reading the danger well. The Carn Reserves central defensive partnership of Fergal Doherty and Conor Doherty (O) anchored the home defence |
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excellently, denying
numerous Greencastle attacks to keep the home team in
the game throughout. With a threat on both wings, from Kevin Doherty and Conor Doherty (S), Carn also enjoyed solid performances from Niall McGuinness and Matthew Doherty through the centre of their attack. Playing with a strong wind at their backs in the first-half, Greencastle made all the early running as Carn players struggled to adapt to the pace of the game. A Charlie Gill long pass saw Ryan McClenaghan earn a Greencastle corner in the opening minute before Jim Doherty just failed to connect with a Matthew Henry set-piece moments later. Another corner was headed narrowly wide under pressure by Gill before Carn defender Conor Doherty (O) cleared the danger after a threatening run by visitors’ midfielder Matthew Henry. Another deep Henry corner was returned with interest by Michael Barr before Ryan McClenaghan saw his goalbound header blocked as Greencastle continued to press. McClenaghan was off target with another header following Sean McQuillan’s cross before Shane Canning headed Carn’s first chance wide, getting on the end of Niall McGuinness’ free-kick. With half an hour gone Michael Barr raced through the heart of the defence in the game’s clearest opening. The Greencastle man was halted in his tracks though by Carn keeper Cunningham, who brought the attacker down with a late challenge outside the box. With the Greencastle bench baying for a red card, Cunningham, as the last man, was relieved to see a yellow flashed in his direction. When the dust had settled Ryan McClenaghan whistled the free-kick wide. Greencastle defender Sean Cavanagh headed a Henry free-kick wide before Jim Doherty saw another shot blocked by the beleaguered Carn defence. Charlie Gill’s header was well saved by Cunningham in the Carn goal before an ambitious Ryan McClenaghan effort from 45 yards was easily gathered by the home keeper in the last action of the opening period. Tom Casey blasted over the top in the first minutes of the second-half before a fantastic burst by Matthew Henry resulted in the midfielder dragging wide from eighteen yards. Greencastle pressure finally told when Michael Barr rifled the First Divison runners-up into a 53rd minute lead; Barr applying the finishing touch to a scintillating move involving Henry, McClenaghan and Casey on the right. Rather than spark a Greencastle landslide, the goal sparked the home side into life. With nothing to lose the underdogs cut loose. First Matthew Doherty poked goalward after getting on the end of Kevin Doherty’s delivery before Shane Canning’s shot from distance was gathered by Greencastle keeper McGuinness. A Shane Canning cross almost dropped into the net before Philip McGuinness raced from his goal to save bravely at the feet of Carn substitute Ryan Kelly. Greencastle defender Sean Cavanagh then cleared off the line twice as Carn continued to search for an equaliser. With only sixty seconds of normal time remaining the home supporters were jubilant after Niall McGuinness fired Carn level; the ball going into the net direct from a corner to force extra-time. In the opening period Cunningham saved a Michael Barr penalty before Conor Doherty (S) gathered Ryan Kelly’s through ball before coolly clipping the home team into the lead. With the clock ticking down in the final minute of the second period, Charlie Gill struck for a disputed equaliser before Barr sealed a 5-4 shootout win. Promoted Greencastle now look forward to a Maginn Park final date with Cockhill, who overcame Moville Reserves after extra-time in the other Top Four semi-final last Sunday. Carn Reserves: Ritchie Cunningham, Patrick McGuinness, Dara McLaughlin, Fergal Doherty, Conor Doherty (O), Shaun Doherty, Conor Doherty (S), Shane Canning, Matthew Doherty, Niall McGuinness, Kevin Doherty. Subs: Ryan Kelly, James McDaid, James McCloskey, Gareth McCausland, Ryan O’Donnell, Shane Gibbons. Greencastle: Philip McGuinness, Sean McQuillan, Gavin Harkin, Sean Cavanagh, Jim Doherty, Eunan Hegarty, Tom Casey, Matthew Henry, Michael Barr, Charlie Gill, Ryan McClenaghan. Sub: Danny Murphy. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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