Ten-man Hearts slump to defeat
17.06.11
Buncrana Hearts...0
Kildrum Tigers...2
Caoimhinn Barr reports (Photos: Herbie Barr)
KILDRUM Tigers kept the pressure on Ulster Senior League
champions Cockhill with a comfortable win over ten-man
Buncrana Hearts at breezy Castle Park.
Early strikes in each half from Cormac Carlin and Darren
McCready were enough for the St. Johnston men to see off
their Inishowen opponents, who were reduced to ten men
after Gavin Duffy was red-carded late on.
Bolstered brilliantly by central midfield tandem,
McCready and Sean McGowan, the Tigers were hungry from
the first whistle as they hunted another vital three
points in the 2011 title chase.
Up front Carlin was a constant threat, playing on the
shoulder of the Buncrana defenders and running in behind
at every available opportunity.
Buncrana can point to a first-half penalty claim when
impressive striker Nigel McMonagle appeared to be fouled
but for the most part they were left to forage on scraps
as Kildrum used their experience to retain the ball for
long periods.
With Johnny Bonner outstanding on the left, Buncrana
didn’t have enough quality across the pitch to trouble
the Ulster Senior League’s best defensive partnership in
Paddy McLaughlin and Declan Boyle.
Talented midfield duo Shane Canning and Matty Henry were
unable to match the guile and experience of Kildrum’s
central pairing of McGowan and McCready, who were the
springboard for scores of visiting forward raids. |
Quickly out of the blocks,
Kildrum made all of the early running on a windy day by
the banks of the Swilly. Neil Lloyd’s shot was easily
gathered by Buncrana keeper Shane O’Gara before Tigers
striker Gavin Duffy dragged narrowly wide after racing
onto strike partner Cormac Carlin’s neat headed flick.
Sean McGowan thought he had fired the visitors into the
lead but his effort, after good work by Gavin Duffy, was
quickly ruled out for offside.
The Inishowen outfit were off the hook for less than a
minute however after a bizarre goal handed the Station
Road men a deserved lead. Chasing down what looked a
lost cause, Cormac Carlin blocked down Buncrana keeper
O’Gara’s attempted clearance before keeping his cool to
caress a left-footed volley into the empty net.
Gavin Duffy should have doubled Kildrum’s advantage
moments later but, after collecting Brian Coll’s long
pass, he rounded the home keeper and fired wide from an
acute angle as Buncrana defenders struggled to get back
on the goal line.
Darren McCready was next to threaten the Hearts goal,
arrowing a stinging drive wide from 25 yards after
controlling Neil Lloyd’s incisive pass.
Midway through the first period Buncrana finally managed
their first attempt at goal. And it was no surprise that
marauding midfielder Matthew Henry was the player to
cause Kildrum some concern. |
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When Johnny Bonner’s raking
free was knocked down by Gerard McLaughlin, running
through the middle Henry fired too high with the ball
whistling over Lee White’s crossbar.
Back on the front foot, Kildrum duo Dermot Kelly and
Brendan McDonald carved out a fantastic chance for
Cormac Carlin but Buncrana keeper O’Gara somehow stopped
the striker’s diving header from point blank range.
Soon after Carlin repaid the favour, teeing up McDonald,
who set his sights high and wide from distance.
With the first half drawing to a close Buncrana enjoyed
their best spell with Johnny Bonner firing over after
excellent play by Matty Henry, Mark Harkin and Decky
Fullerton followed by a Fullerton finish ruled out for
offside after an astute pass from Nigel McMonagle.
Gary Duffy then saw a header cleared off the line
following a Johnny Bonner corner.
Kildrum should have made it two with their last attack
of the opening 45 but Brendan McDonald skewed his shot
wide after Cormac Carlin’s perfect centre from the left.
There was still time for controversy with the home team
denied a penalty after Nigel McMonagle appeared to be
clearly fouled by Declan Boyle. Referee Mick Langan
waved play on much to the disdain of the Buncrana bench.
Buncrana gained a measure of control and made a bright
beginning to the second-half but it was the Tigers who
were first to threaten when lively striker Carlin
dragged wide after collecting substitute Glen Bovaird’s
pass.
Ten minutes in Kildrum struck a crucial blow when Darren
McCready angled a superb strike into the bottom corner
of the Buncrana net after running unchallenged onto
Brendan McDonald’s short free-kick.
One of Buncrana’s brighter lights on a dull afternoon,
Shane Canning, had a half chance to reduce the home
deficit but the industrious midfielder was unable to
keep his effort down after Nigel McMonagle’s lay-off.
The Kildrum bench was up in arms soon after when referee
Langan allowed play to continue after Glen Bovaird’s
cross was blocked by the arm of Buncrana defender
Michael Carroll inside the penalty area.
After being sent clear by man of the match Darren
McCready, young substitute Kenny Doran flashed an effort
wide from a tight angle as the Tigers hunted another
three points.
The home side wasted two good chances to eat into the
Kildrum lead when first Decky Fullerton looked for a
cross when he should have shot from sixteen yards before
Nigel McMonagle just couldn’t get enough contact on Mark
Harkin’s cross to head Buncrana back into the match.
Paying the price for their profligacy, Buncrana were all
but beaten after seventy minutes when Gary Duffy was
given his marching orders after picking up a second
yellow card for a crude foul on speedy Kenny Doran.
The game fizzled out as a contest after that incident
with Kildrum, courtesy of McCready, McGowan and Lloyd,
controlling possession.
Doran, Lloyd and Dermot Kelly could all have further
iced Kildrum’s victory while the ever-willing Nigel
McMonagle was unable to bring Buncrana back from the
brink, firing wide with one effort and straight at White
with another.
A vital three points for Raymond McDaid’s Kildrum team,
which is already looking like Cockhill’s only real
threat for Ulster Senior League glory this summer.
Buncrana Hearts: Shane O’Gara, Michael Byrne,
Johnny Bonner, Gary Duffy, Michael Carroll, Shane
Canning, Matty Henry, Mark Harkin, Nigel McMonagle,
Gerard McLaughlin, Decky Fullerton. Subs: Stephen
McHugh, Cathal O’Kane, Robbie Fullerton, Kieran McDaid.
Kildrum Tigers: Lee White, Dermot Kelly, Brian
Coll, Declan Boyle, Paddy McLaughlin, Sean McGowan, Neil
Lloyd, Darren McCready, Gavin Doherty, Cormac Carlin,
Brendan McDonald. Subs: Glen Bovaird, Kenny Doran,
Ciaran Doherty.
For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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