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Glengad slump to defeat 01.04.10
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Glengad United...0 Lagan Harps...1 (Toner 55) by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, at the Crua Photo: Evan Logan LAGAN Harps manager, Jason Gibson, would be forgiven for thinking his team’s name is on the Ulster Junior Cup after the Manor men pulled off a shock win at Glengad on Sunday afternoon. While the Inishowen men huffed and puffed at a windswept Crua it was the Donegal League underdogs who blew the house down. A solitary strike by Chris Toner in the early stages of the second-half was enough for the visitors, who relied heavily on the skills of goalkeeper Tony Blake. |
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Former Finn Harps and
Donegal GAA goalkeeper, Blake, rolled back the years to
produce at least four top class saves to keep Lagan in
the contest. Time and again Glengad efforts were
repelled by Blake and a resolute Lagan defence before
Toner cashed in. Glengad boss Liam McClean will wonder how his team lost a game in which they dominated possession for long periods and created numerous opportunities. The home side took advantage of the wind to pin Lagan back for much of the first-half. Glengad forward Alan Orr fired the first of a barrage of United efforts wide after eight minutes following good play by strike partner, Terence Doherty. A long range shot by Patrick Doherty was easily gathered by Blake in the Lagan goal before Lee Kelly’s cross found Doherty in space again. This time the midfielder acrobatically skied his shot over the bar. A rare Lagan attack saw Chris Toner race clear after collecting Kevin Kelly’s pass. A raised flag from the linesman stopped the Harps striker in his tracks |
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however. Hesitant Lagan defending was almost punished midway through the opening period when Alan Orr pounced to rifle a low shot, which was brilliantly turned round the post by Tony Blake. Struggling to adjust to the wind, a succession of Glengad attacks resulted in long balls sailing over Lagan’s end line much to the annoyance of manager, Liam McClean, who shouted ‘feet, feet, feet’. Glengad frontmen, Orr and Doherty, were in on the act again before Lagan Harps' defender Ciaran McCarron cleared the danger. Orr’s ensuing corner was punched clear by Blake and Terence Doherty’s follow-up effort went wastefully wide. Further efforts by Glengad’s Alan Orr, Stephen McLaughlin and John Gerard McLaughlin all failed to trouble Blake before Kevin Kelly and Chris Toner combined to fashion a half-chance for the visitors. Penned back for much of the half, Lagan defenders Seamy People’s and Ronan Curran stood strong in the face of a Glengad storm. The home side could have taken the lead in the last seconds of the first-half but Blake’s heroics put paid to their hopes once again. A pinpoint John Gerard McLaughlin pass put Stephen McLaughlin in on goal but the Lagan keeper made another amazing save to keep the teams level. Bouyed by surviving a Glengad onslaught and with the wind now at their backs, Lagan began the second-half in more confident mood. A Kevin Kelly cross almost produced an own goal when Glengad defender Shane Doherty sliced the ball over his crossbar before a long Tony Blake clearance almost had Chris Toner scampering clear. Electing to keep the ball on the ground against the breeze, Glengad almost took the lead when John Gerard McLaughlin crossed for his namesake, Stephen. Yet again though the home team were denied by a point blank Blake save. Paying the ultimate price for not converting their chances, Glengad fell behind moments later when pacy Lagan striker Chris Toner took full advantage of a horrible mix-up in the home penalty area to roll the ball into an empty net. It was Harps’ first shot on target of the contest. Toner almost doubled Lagan’s advantage a minute later when he was picked out expertly by Ronan Curran. This time Glengad keeper Michael McLaughlin was equal to the test, blocking Toner’s attempt with his legs. The home side, who played the last twenty minutes with three strikers, couldn’t find a way through despite the best efforts of Stephen McLaughlin, Shane Doherty, John Gerard McLaughlin and substitute Charlie Byrne. Glengad’s last chance was dragged wide by Terence Doherty in the third minute of injury time and Jason Gibson’s men had held on for an unlikely win. Dispatching of Cockhill in the quarter-final, Lagan will be hoping they can make it three Inishowen scalps in-a-row when they take on cup holders, Moville, in the marquee final next month. Harps will happily assume the familiar role of underdogs again. Glengad United: Michael McLaughlin, Lee Kelly, Ruairi Doherty, Michael Farren, Shane Doherty, Patrick Doherty, Stephen McLaughlin, John Gerard McLaughlin, Terence Doherty, Alan Orr, Jason Doherty. Subs: Patrick McDermott, Paul McGonigle, Charlie Byrne. Lagan Harps: Tony Blake, Ciaran McCarron, Paul Rodgers, Seamus Peoples, Ronan Curran, Ronan Gibson, Marty Brogan, Aidan O’Donnell, Chris Toner, Kevin Kelly, John Gallagher. Subs: Jason Burke, Michael Toner, Jason Gibson, Damian McFadden. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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