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Tommy guns down Hearts
08.10.10
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Buncrana Hearts...0 Greencastle...1 by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, at Castle Park: Photo: Andrejs Plavins A LATE late goal by Tom Casey saw league leaders Greencastle cement their position at the top of the First Division with a fantastic smash and grab victory over Buncrana Hearts on Sunday afternoon. Under pressure for long periods, Eunan McDaid’s men weathered a home storm before sealing a fantastic win with less than five minutes left on the clock. And what a difference a year makes. Last season struggling Greencastle looked like one of the weakest teams in Inishowen but this year they look like favourites for promotion after making a perfect start, with four wins out of four. Marshalled excellently at the back by Charlie Gill and Jim Doherty in Castle Park at the weekend, Greencastle had Philip McClenaghan to thank for an outstanding display in goal as they scalped last year’s Premier League outfit, Buncrana Hearts. |
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Buncrana threatened the
Greencastle goal as early as the second minute when
Mickey Furey fired a stinging drive from distance, which
was well saved by Philip McClenaghan. A Jim Doherty long ball led to a visitors corner before Greencastle duo Sean McQuillan and Danny Murphy combined well but Buncrana’s Robbie Fullerton cleared the danger. A fantastic run by Oisin O’Flaherty had the Hearts back on the attack but Mickey Furey and Damien Doherty were unable to contrive a goal chance when well placed. Harry Forshaw and Damien Doherty |
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then galloped down the
right wing as Buncrana continued to press but Gavin
Harkin was on hand to clear the danger for Greencastle. Excellent work in midfield by Colm McLaughlin and Greg Bradley released Mickey Furey but the Buncrana forward was brilliantly denied by Greencastle keeper Philip McClenaghan, who raced from his goal to make a stunning save. Winning possession in midfield, Matthew Henry sparked Greencastle into life before Michael Barr’s astute pass found Sean McQuillan, who cut inside Harry Forshaw and fired an excellent drive just wide from twenty yards. McQuillan then headed wide at the back post from John Gillen’s cross before the half-time whistle sounded. Beginning the second period on the front foot, Buncrana almost broke the deadlock twice in the first few minutes. Greg Bradley fired narrowly wide from distance before Colm McLaughlin set Oisin O’Flaherty on his way only for Greencastle keeper McClenaghan to make another brilliant stop. Keeping the pressure on the visitors’ defence, Buncrana went close once again when right winger Damien Doherty skimmed the bar with a fierce cross-shot. Doherty was denied by McClenaghan in the Greencastle goal moments later after Colm McLaughlin and Greg Bradley combined superbly. Another precision McLaughlin pass released O’Flaherty but once again Greencastle keeper McClenaghan denied Buncrana with another fantastic save. Excellent interplay between Greencastle substitutes Tom Casey and Shaun Cavanagh finally gave the Buncrana defenders something to think about with Cavanagh flashing a header over the top. With ten minutes remaining the Buncrana bench were left to wonder if it was set to be one of those days, when O’Flaherty skewed wide with the goal gaping after a superb cross by Mickey Furey. Almost inevitably, Greencastle made their profligate hosts pay the ultimate price five minutes from the end when Tom Casey turned brilliantly on the edge of the box and fired to the top corner of the net despite the best efforts of Buncrana keeper Paddy Quigley, who had been a spectator between the home posts for long periods of the game. O’Flaherty headed Buncrana’s last chance over the top after substitute Kevin O’Loughlin’s perfect cross. Buncrana Hearts: Paddy Quigley, Harry Forshaw, Robbie Fullerton, Brendan Halpin, Gearoid Doherty, Colm McLaughlin, Damien Doherty, Greg Bradley, Mickey Furey, Oisin O’Flaherty, Conor McConnell. Subs: Kevin O’Loughlin, Caoimhin Doherty, Adrian Gill, Conor Paige. Greencastle: Philip McClenaghan, John Gillen, Gavin Harkin, Charlie Gill, Jim Doherty, Jack Keys, Matthew Henry, Michael Barr, Sean McQuillan, Rory Lafferty, Danny Murphy. Subs: Eunan McDaid, Tom Casey, Cathal Gillespie, Shaun Cavanagh. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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