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Carn comeback thwarts Bundoran
09.07.10
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Report: Inishowen
Independent Carndonagh...0-8 Bundoran...0-8 CARN came back from five points down midway through the second-half to salvage a draw from the jaws of a Bundoran defeat on Saturday afternoon. In a keenly contested but low scoring Intermediate Championship encounter played at O’Doherty Park, which was awash with young talent in the Feile Na nOg, the home team battled back to level with the last kick of the game. Bundoran, who were missing six regulars, dominated proceedings for much of the game but were ultimately punished for failing to add a single score to their tally in the final twenty minutes. In a swirling breeze the game began with a series of Bundoran wides; the profligate visitors shooting off target five times before corner-forward Michael McEniff finally raised the game’s first white flag after eleven minutes. This after Brian Gavigan had rattled the Carn crossbar and Christy Keeney struck a post from a 45. In Carn’s first real foray forward after almost fifteen minutes an excellent run by Dermot McGonagle resulted in a home free, which Padraig Doherty skewed wide in the difficult conditions. Struggling to get a grip in the central third, where Christy Keeney was in typical ball-stalking form, Carn were two down after twenty minutes; Keeney setting Fergal McKiernan on his way to clip over from 20 metres. Bundoran, wasteful with much of their possession, struggled to turn their superiority into scores and almost another ten minutes passed before Darragh Hoey split the uprights with a neat score. In the last minute of the opening period Bundoran went four clear. After being released brilliantly by Adam Coyne, Ciaran McCaughey drove at the heart of Carn before firing over left-footed. With the last kick of the half Carn finally registered their first score, when Padraig Doherty pointed a free after Kevin Doherty was upended. Half-time: Bundoran 0-4, Carn 0-1. Playing against the breeze in the second-half, Billy Gavigan’s Bundoran men flew out of the traps and looked increasingly likely to make the long trip south with a first leg win under their belts. In an excellent move involving the entire Bundoran full-forward line, Fergal McKiernan and Michael McEniff combined to set up Niall Dunne for an impressive point. Inside a minute and the visitors had further hammered home their advantage following another flowing move, which resulted in another score for the elusive Michael McEniff. Crucially though Carn kept in touch with Eanna Newton reducing the arrears for the Inishowen men following good work by Rory Ward. Buzzing all over the central third, Bundoran half-back Christy Keeney popped up with a trademark score to keep the southerners firmly in the driving seat. Keeney, whose passing radar wasn’t quite working to the usual high standard, ran some fifty metres around the perimeter of the Carn defence before cutting in swiftly and slotting over with his left. Darragh McLaughlin kept the Inishowen men in the hunt with a neat score at the second attempt before Michael McEniff made it 0-8 to 0-3 after Brian Gavigan was fouled. Inexplicably that score, after eleven minutes of the second-half, was the last one Bundoran would register all afternoon as the Carn comeback began. The home team, inspired following the score of match by half-back Patrick McCallion, began to grow in confidence and with ten minutes remaining they had reduced the lead to only three after Kevin Doherty pointed. Substitute Benny Doherty was next to breathe life into the Carn revival, cutting the deficit to only two after being expertly put through by impressive corner-forward Newton. In the last minute of normal time Carn were only one behind as Bundoran continued to be forced back by the home momentum. Conor Doherty gathered possession and laid the ball off to Newton, who kicked his third point of the second-half. With literally the last kick of the game Richard Cunningham drew the loudest cheer of the afternoon, shooting over from distance to cap the Carn comeback. Bundoran, in control for two-thirds of the game, will wonder how they failed to add to their tally of eight early in the second-half while Carn smiles at the end said it all. Speaking after the game Bundoran vice-chairman, Michael McMahon, thanked Carn for their excellent hospitality. Carn: Dermot Doherty, Ryan Davenport, Dermot McGonagle, Aidan O’Callaghan, Patrick McCallion (0-1), Patrick Nelson, Conor Doherty, Dominic Doherty, Gerry Doherty, Richard Cunningham (0-1), Darragh McLaughlin (0-1), Rory Ward, Kevin Doherty (0-1), Padraig Doherty (0-1), Eanna Newton (0-2). Subs: Benny Doherty (0-1), Garvan McGrenra, Cathal O’Kane. Bundoran: Ashley Mulhearne, David Stuttard, James Keeney, Paul Sheridan, Gary Clancy, Peter McGonagle, Christy Keeney (0=1), Ciaran McCaughey (0-1), Paul Delaney, Adam Coyne, Brian Gavigan, Darragh Hoey (0-1), Fergal McKiernan (0-1), Niall Dunne (0-1), Michael McEniff (0-3). Subs: Kevin McManus, Stephen Reilly, Shane O’Donnell, Liam Travers. |
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