Magic Moville too hot to handle 27.05.10
Buncrana Credit Union Cup Final

Moville Celtic...3 Redcastle United...1 by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, at Maginn Park (Photos: Herbie Barr) NO-ONE has Redcastle United’s number quite like Moville Celtic. And so it was at Maginn Park again last Sunday as Darren Bredin’s Hoops toppled the league champions with unexpected ease to add the Buncrana Credit Union Cup to the Glencrow trophy cabinet. Under the baking heat of the summer sun Moville’s performance never dipped below the level of sizzling as they swept Redcastle aside with goals from Nigel McMonagle, Declan McGuinness and man-of-the-match Joe Doherty. Dominant from start to finish, not even the most avid of Redcastle supporters would deny Moville, who could have won by an even wider margin had they taken some of the chances which frequently fell their way. Gerard Crossan brilliantly denied McMonagle and Graeme Doherty in the second-half while Richard McElhinney fluffed his lines when he had the chance to read Redcastle’s Last Rites.

Prior to the game Redcastle boss Brian Bell had suggested that Moville lacked cohesion, often playing like a group of individuals, but it was the Foyle Park men who performed like strangers on the big stage, unable to match the hunger and drive of their opponents. The champions were continually denied time and space with Moville’s central trio of Shane Canning, PJ Barr and Graeme Doherty buzzing ceaselessly around the pitch in the stifling heat, under which Redcastle’s challenge wilted. Employing Eddie McIntyre as a lone striker, Redcastle, without injured star, Brian ‘Banjo’ Tracey, created little throughout while at the other end, Moville duo, Nigel McMonagle and Joe Doherty were a constant threat to Farren, Faulkner and co. McMonagle, the best striker in Inishowen this season, was too hot to handle all afternoon while veteran Joe Doherty used all of his guile and expertise to deliver a sumptuous supporting role. Missing Kevin Coyle (USA) and Mark Henry (England),

Moville’s makeshift back four, marshalled brilliantly by Tony McGeady, quelled any Redcastle threat while a confident Paul White in goal rode his luck a number of times. Graeme Doherty fired the game’s first wayward shot after the early exchanges before Eddie McIntyre saw his sweet half-volley blocked behind by the Moville defence. Moville winger Richard McElhinney fired in a dangerous cross moments later with Nigel McMonagle just failing to connect. Getting into the groove, Doherty set-up McMonagle after 15 minutes but the speedy frontman wasted the chance firing high into the fence behind Gerard Crossan’s net. Following good work by Joe Doherty, McMonagle was almost in midway through the first-half but Gerard Crossan raced off his line to gather at the feet of the Moville striker.
	In the 25 minute, following a one-minute water break, Moville took the lead. An expert flick by Joe Doherty was collected by Nigel McMonagle, who outpaced Liam Davenport before keeping his cool in the red hot heat to roll the ball past Crossan. The nature of the goal will have particularly annoyed Redcastle boss Brian Bell, who set up his team to deny the lightning Moville striker space in behind. Tony McGeady almost doubled Moville’s advantage minutes later but Crossan denied the defender’s glancing effort from Richard McElhinney’s cross. Joe Doherty’s resultant corner was headed goalwards by Graeme Doherty but Crossan answered the call in the Redcastle goal once again. Doherty then sent PJ Barr on his way as Moville continued to boss the play. The midfielder’s shot was well gathered by Redcastle keeper Crossan however. Eamonn Donnelly and Eddie McIntyre spurred a late first-half revival for Redcastle, who won a succession of free-kicks in dangerous areas. United could even have snatched an equaliser when Paul White spilled Jimmy Gallagher’s cross only for Andy Porter to fire over the gaping goal.
Switching to 4-4-2 in the second period, Redcastle brought on Charlie McCormick after 50 minutes and immediately looked more threatening. Manager Bell’s change in strategy almost paid instant dividends when McCormick set up McIntyre but the number nine wasted Redcastle’s best chance of the day, firing too high from sixteen yards. McCormick then sparked scenes of unbridled joy on the Redcastle bench by firing his team level after Moville keeper Paul White couldn’t hold the ball under intense pressure. One minute later and Redcastle joy had turned to despair as Moville reclaimed the lead straight from the restart. Shane Canning swung in a free-kick, which was headed home by a diving Declan McGuinness. Cue scenes of joy on the Moville sideline. The expected Redcastle onslaught in the final twenty minutes never materialised as Moville looked like running away on the scoreboard. Nigel McMonagle raced past a labouring Martin Farren and picked out Richard McElhinney, who found himself all alone six yards from goal. The winger, who ran Redcastle ragged in the second-half, couldn’t quite make up his mind however and the ball bobbled off his shin and wide. Two minutes later and Gerard Crossan kept his team in the hunt, saving Graeme Doherty’s smart shot after PJ Barr and McMonagle combined brilliantly. The Redcastle stopper went one better in the 79th minute, spectacularly tipping McMonagle’s deflected effort over the bar. Moville finally bagged the goal they had threatened when Joe Doherty’s corner flew directly into the Redcastle net at the near post. Ten minutes later and the veteran striker had capped another impressive season with a Buncrana Credit Union Cup medal. With Redcastle set to plan for a post-Bell era and Clonmany appearing to be on the wane, Moville, who are boosted by the return of Alan Orr, may find themselves best placed to challenge the team up the road next season. Redcastle United: Gerard Crossan, Liam Davenport, Seamus Doherty, Martin Farren, Cathal Faulkner, Eamonn Donnelly, Johnny Havlin, Raymond Campbell, Eddie McIntyre, Jimmy Gallagher, Andy Porter. Subs: Ciaran McGrory, Kevin Toner, Damien Coyle, Charlie McCormick. Moville Celtic: Paul White, Conor McLaughlin, Declan McGuinness, Tony McGeady, Daryl Doherty, Shane Canning, PJ Barr, Graeme Doherty, Joe Doherty, Nigel McMonagle, Richard McElhinney. Subs: Anthony Maloney, Oran McDermott, Christy McGeoghegan, Maurice McCauley, Sean McGuinness. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.

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