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Kerr-ful does it for Buncrana
11.02.10
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Buncrana Hearts Youths...3 (N. McDaid ’87 (o.g.); S. McHugh ’90 (penalty); D. Kerr ’90 +6) Illies Celtic...2 (N. McDaid ’29; A. Doherty ’71) by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at Castle Park Despite leading 2-0 with 87 minutes gone, Illies Celtic left Castle Park empty handed on Sunday after coughing up three late goals against a never-say-die Buncrana Hearts side. Referee Charlie Doherty allowed seven minutes of injury time at the end of the second half, and the home side took full advantage. Buncrana’s first goal came on 87 minutes when Niall McDaid, who had given Illies the lead in the first half, turned a Kieran McDaid cross into his own net wrong footing keeper Noel McDermott in the process. It was hard lines on the Illies keeper who had made a string of fine saves to deny Buncrana earlier. Still, holding a 2-1 lead and with time nearly up Illies wouldn’t have been too concerned at the concession of the own goal. |
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Worse was to come though
when Stephen McHugh was shoved in the box on 90 minutes
and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. McHugh
dusted himself down and dispatched the spot kick swiftly
to the net to equalise. But Buncrana weren’t content with a share of the spoils. They pressed the Illies men deep into defence and forced a corner six minutes into injury time. Kieran McDaid sent in a dangerous ball and Illies’ clearance fell to substitute Dale Kerr who hammered the ball to the net to the delight of the large crowd. The win was only their second of the season, but it gives Hearts a lifeline in the fight to avoid relegation. In addition, it drags Illies right back into the relegation mix. As is their wont, Buncrana fielded a youthful team and they opened full of energy and running. Colm McLaughlin and Paddy McMyler were on top in midfield, while Kieran Crock McDaid’s pace and nimble footwork was causing his former Illies’ teammates all kinds of trouble. |
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Crock and McHugh combined
to set up Colm McLaughlin on 18 minutes only for Noel
McDermott to make a fingertip save. McMyler struck a
fierce shot moments later, but McDermott saved with his
shins and his defence cleared the danger. Buncrana had another good chance on 27 minutes when McDermott came 30 yards off his line to meet a long ball over the top. He beat Kieran McDaid to it, but the ball spilled to Stephen McHugh and with McDermott scrambling back McHugh chipped the ball over the bar. But having been under the cosh for so long, Illies took the lead after wining their first corner on the half hour. Paddy Doherty swung the ball in and Niall McDaid rose highest to power a header to the net for a 1-0 lead. |
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The goal visibly lifted the
Illies and they dominated the game between then and the
break. Aidan Doherty saw a 32nd minute free kick hit the
bar, but the Buncrana defence, particularly Michael
Caldwell and Harry Forshaw, repelled most attacks and
Illies went into the break holding a 1-0 lead. Noel McDermott palmed away an ambitious McHugh bicycle kick on the restart, while Kevin O’Loughlin got down smartly to save from the unmarked Niall McDaid at the other end. McDermott pulled off another top drawer save on 57 minutes when he somehow reached up to the top corner to tip a Paddy McMyler shot out for a corner. Illies were having the better of the chances and Aidan Doherty had gone close twice before he finally found the net on 71 minutes. |
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He ran onto a long ball
over the top from Niall McDaid and had an age to pick
his spot past the helpless O’Loughlin for a 2-0 lead. With time ticking down, Buncrana Hearts kept up the pressure but never really looked like beating the in-form McDermott until that Niall McDaid own goal broke their duck. Those three late goals gave Buncrana a deserved, albeit unlikely, win. Buncrana Hearts Youths: Kevin O’Loughlin; Harry Forshaw, Gearoid Doherty (Dale Kerr 60 mins), Michael Caldwell, Robbie Fullerton (Michael Furey 74 mins); Greg Bradley, Paddy McMyler, Colm McLaughlin, Conor McConnell (Pauric Óg O’Flaherty 60 mins); Kieran McDaid, Stephen McHugh. Illies Celtic: Noel McDermott; Caolan McCann, Dominic Coyle (Joe McDaid 80 mins), Andy McLaughlin, David Doherty (Eamon McDaid 80 mins); Mark McDaid, Niall McDaid, Paddy Doherty, Gavin Doherty (Sean Coyle half-time); Aiden Doherty, PJ McLaughlin. In a nutshell... On the terrace There was a hint of spring in the air and the game was played in fine, sunny conditions before a big crowd at Castle Park. Recently crowned Ulster Senior Welterweight Boxing Champion William McLaughlin was among the spectators, but he will have been disappointed to see his side squander a two goal advantage and lose to a last minute goal. Key moment Has to be Dale Kerr’s pile driver deep in injury time. Despite playing an attractive brand of passing football, for long periods it looked as though Buncrana Hearts would take nothing from the game. Having bridged a two goal deficit they created one final goal scoring chance deep in injury time and when the ball fell to Kerr after a scramble in the box, the big defender struck the winner that brought cheers cascading down the banks of Castle Park. A sweet way to win it but a horrible way to lose it. Key player While Niall McDaid was peerless in the air for Illies and Michael Caldwell commanding at the back for Buncrana, Noel McDermott put in a man-of-the-match performance between the posts for Illies. Buncrana created a hatful of chances but found McDermott in unbeatable form. Time and again he saved what looked like certain goals. When he was finally beaten, it was from an own goal and then the floodgates opened. But were it not for his string of saves his side would have been down and out long before the end. Man in the middle Charlie Doherty judged the pace of the game well. It was a local derby with plenty of meaty challenges, but nothing dirty. He brandished the yellow card only once, which was about right. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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