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Cockhill fight back to earn a draw
18.08.11
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Cockhill Celtic...2 (McKinney 52 (pen), L O’Donnell 73) Buncrana Hearts...2 (O’Kane 5, Cutliffe 42) Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at St Mary’s Park (Photo: Herbie Barr) COCKHILL Celtic had to come back from two goals down to earn a share of the spoils with Buncrana Hearts at St Mary’s Park on Sunday. With Fanad United winning 2-0 against Derry City Reserves, Cockhill’s lead at the top of the Ulster Senior League is down to three points, while victory over Derry last Wednesday night and this draw in Cockhill sees Buncrana move off the foot of the table. While both sides had late chances to win it, a draw was the fairest result on Sunday with Buncrana dominating the first half to lead 2-0 at the break, and Cockhill taking control in the second. Derek Shivvy hit the side netting for Cockhill with their first attack of the game, but they fell behind to a Cathal O’Kane goal on ten minutes when keeper Shane Gallivan flapped at a corner kick and the centre half nodded home from close range. Lee Moran drew a good save from Buncrana keeper Shane O’Gara on 13 minutes, but it was the visitors who were creating the best of the chances. |
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Kevin O’Loughlin sent
Michael Furey clear and the striker controlled well on
his chest but scuffed his shot wide of the left hand
post. Fifteen year old Darach O’Connor, making his debut for Buncrana’s senior team, had a long range effort blocked by his namesake William O’Connor on 20 minutes, and again went close with a dipping shot on 40 minutes. Decky Fullerton too went close when Matthew Cutliffe played a superb pass into this path but he lofted his shot just over the crossbar. With Buncrana’s Mattie Henry running the midfield, Cockhill were under the cosh and had only wayward attempts from Liam O’Donnell and a Mark Moran cross-cum-shot that flashed across goal to show for their efforts. |
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Buncrana took a deserved
2-0 lead five minutes before the break when Cutliffe,
who had looked dangerous every time he got on the ball,
intercepted a back pass intended for Gallivan and
rounded the keeper, raising his arm in salute before he
even tapped the ball into the empty net. That 2-0 lead was no more than Buncrana deserved, but Cockhill almost pulled on back on the stroke of half time when Garbhan Friel headed a Mark Moran cross powerfully goalwards only for O’Gara to make an excellent one handed save at the expense of a corner. Cockhill introduced Aiden O’Donnell and their highly rated U15 goalkeeper Harry Doherty at half time, and were much improved in the second half. Paul McKinney gave an early indication of their threat when he whipped in a cross that no man wearing the hoops could reach. And it was McKinney who pulled one back for the league leaders when he converted a 52nd minute penalty. Buncrana goalscorer Cathal O’Kane inexplicably handled the ball while on his hands and knees in the box and referee Paul Duddy pointed to the spot, from where McKinney finished high to the top right corner. Cockhill were pretty much on the front foot from then until the end with Mark Moran whipping in good crosses from the left that the Cockhill strikers couldn’t convert. Bubbles Cutliffe continued to cause the Cockhill rearguard trouble before being replaced on 70 minutes. Cockhill got their equaliser on 73 minutes when Liam O’Donnell found a yard of space on the edge of the Buncrana box, took a touch and finished superbly to the top left corner. That sparked an immediate response from Buncrana with substitute Kyle Curran racing onto a through ball before shooting harmlessly wide and Matthew Henry drawing a good save from Harry Doherty after beating the offside trap. Cockhill created the better of those late chances, with substitute Aidan O’Donnell getting onto a ball over the top and getting a shot off, only for O’Gara to get a glove to it and push it out for a corner, while McKinney shot straight at the keeper just before the end. Buncrana welcome Killea, who beat Kildrum last weekend, to Castle Park this Sunday, while Cockhill take a break from the title race when they seek to defend their League Cup crown against Fanad in Letterkenny on Sunday. Cockhill Celtic: Shane Gallivan (Harry Doherty, half time); Kieran McLaughlin, Malachy McDermott, William O’Connor, Conor Gallagher; Derek Doherty (Aidan O’Donnell, half time), James Bradley, Liam O’Donnell, Mark Moran; Garbhan Friel, Paul McKinney. Subs not used: Alan Fletcher, Peter Doherty, Terence Doherty, Michael O’Connor. Buncrana Hearts: Shane O’Gara; Kevin O’Loughlin, Gary Duffy, Cathal O’Kane, Matthew Byrne; Kieran McDaid, Darach O’Connor, Matthew Henry, Decky Fullerton (Harry Forshaw 85 mins); Michael Furey (Kyle Curran, half time), Matthew Cutliffe (Michael Byrne 69 mins). Subs not used: Seanan Murphy, John O’Loughlin. Man-of-the-match Contenders included Cockhill’s Liam O’Donnell and Malachy McDermott, and Buncrana’s Matthew Cutliffe, but Matthew Henry was the most consistent player over the 90 minutes and the stand out midfielder on show. The former Greencastle FC man broke up Cockhill attack after attack and provided a platform for his team to push forward. Tidy in possession, his keen tackling and excellent sense of positioning was a sight to behold. Turning point There were many turning points in this ding dong game where action swung from end to end, but Paul McKinney’s 52nd minute penalty brought Cockhill back into a game they were in danger of losing. Buncrana’s 2-0 half time lead didn’t flatter them, and indeed they might have been further ahead, but McKinney’s spot kick re-energised the league champions and they patiently set about reeling in their great rivals. Referee Paul Duddy got the penalty decision, the only major decision he faced all afternoon, exactly right and with both teams contributing handsomely to an entertaining and sporting encounter the ref didn’t have the busiest of days. Issued just three yellow cards over the 90 minutes. What’s next? Cockhill put the defence of their league cup title on the line next weekend when they play Fanad United in the final at Leckview Park, Letterkenny on Sunday (kick off 5pm). With Fanad also pushing Cockhill all the way in the league, it should provide the winners with a real boost as the title race moves into the final straight. Buncrana changed their manager a couple of weeks ago, and have been playing their best football of the season since Phil Brady took over. A win over Derry and a draw with Cockhill has moved them off the bottom of the table, but they’ll face a stiff challenge from Killea next weekend. That said, if they can repeat Sunday’s performance – particularly their first half performance – then they can get something out of that game too. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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