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Muff chases promotion place
10.11.10
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Naomh Pádraig
Muff...1-12 Downings...1-12 by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at Ture AFTER a late season wobble, Downings finally won Division 4 by virtue of this late, late draw with Naomh Pádraig Iskaheen at Ture on Sunday. Muff had led from the first minute right the way through until the 59th when Paul Coyle slammed a loose ball to the back of the net. Downings had hoisted a high ball in across goals from the right wing, and when keeper Christy Lynch and his full back line failed to deal with it, the ball broke to Coyle and he made no mistake from close range. There were almost four minutes of injury time, but Naomh Pádraig couldn’t work the ball into a scoring position and the draw gave Downings the single point they needed to clinch the Division 4 League title. Burt’s win in Dunkineely means they have secured a play-off place, with Muff (on 25 points with one game remaining) and Naomh Colmcille (24 points with two remaining) chasing the other place. |
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Muff’s last game is against
Robert Emmet’s. Burt and Naomh Colmcille each have two
matches remaining: they must play one another, with Burt
also to play Red Hugh’s and Naomh Colmcille to play
Downings. But promotion is now out of Muff’s hands: they
will need Naomh Colmcille to drop points against either
Downings or Burt. But back to Sunday’s game, which started with full forwards Damian Diver (Muff) and Gary McClafferty (Downings) in flying form. The pair exchanged early points, and two further efforts from Diver and one from Eunan Keaveney had Muff 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by the tenth minute. Diver was out in front of his marker throughout the first half, and in addition scoring three early points, he showed good awareness to bring his teammates into the game with clever lay-offs. |
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However, Downings cut off
the supply of ball into the full forward and his
influence waned as the game wore on. Similarly, Gary McClafferty was at the heart of Downings best moves, although Laurence Lynch was switched onto him and he curtailed the stylish full forward somewhat. Finian McClafferty pointed well under strong pressure in the 18th minute, but Muff struck for their goal moments later. Dermot Keaveney and Aiden Lynch combined to set up Oisin McColgan and he rounded David Baxter and tapped the ball t the net. Gary McClafferty responded with point, but two quick points, from Mark Duffy and a long range effort from Declan McLaughlin pushed Muff six points clear, at 1-6 to 0-3 by the 25th minute. But Downings kept plugging away and three unanswered points from Andy Connor, Gary McClafferty and Shay Coyle, reduced the deficit to just three points at half time. The half time introduction of subs Patrick McGroddy, and especially Colin Gallagher, gave added impetus to Downings throughout the second half. Gallagher pointed within two minutes of the resumption and a Gary McClafferty free reduced the deficit, which had stood at six, down to just a single point. Colm McColgan continued to be influential in midfield and he helped set up Damian Diver for a 36th minute point. Muff spurned two excellent goal chances midway through the half. Mark Duffy cut in from the right and sent a low ball across the five yard line, but Oisin McColgan elected to lift the ball rather than volleying it to the net. The time it took him to pick it up allowed Baxter and his defence to regroup and they averted the danger. Another goal chance came Oisin McColgan’s way just moments later, but the impressive Baxter parried his shot over the bar. With Finian McClafferty impressing at centre forward, Downings continued to press, looking for a goal to bring them back into the game. Colin Gallagher drove down the left wing and shot for goal but it went just over the crossbar. With ten minutes remaining, Mark Duffy took a pass from Diver and scored the point of the day from near the left sideline to restore Muff’s three point advantage. Gary McClafferty scored his fifth point on 53 minutes, but missed a close range free two minutes later. That miss was punished as Muff broke down the field with Colm McColgan pointing to put three between the teams again. Muff had time to miss yet another goal chance when Dermot McColgan’s attempted fist-point hit the post and fell to Eunan Keaveney but the team captain contrived to miss from close range. Downings mounted attack after attack, but Muff were managing to hold them out. Downings got the goal they so desired on 59 minutes when Coyle slammed home from close range after a high ball had the Muff rearguard at sixes and sevens. Moville and Na Rossa have been relegated from Division 3. Downings are promoted, but will it be Muff, Newtown or Burt that joins them? Muff: Christy Lynch; Laurence Lynch, Cathal McColgan, John McLaughlin; Declan McLaughlin (0-1), Raymond McLaughlin, Ryan McColgan; Colm McColgan (0-1), Martin Duffy; Dermot Keaveney, Eunan Keaveney (0-1), Aiden Lynch; Mark Duffy (0-2), Damian Diver (0-4, 1 free), Oisin McColgan (1-1). Subs: Brendan McColgan; Barry Hegarty; Dermot McColgan Downings: David Baxter; Davy Hay, Aodh Sweeney, Brian Boyce; Shay Coyle (0-1), James McBride, Oisin Boyce; Sean McBride, Shane McClafferty; Brendan McGee, Finian McClafferty (0-1), Paul Coyle (1-0); Sean Boyce, Gary McClafferty (0-5, 3 frees), Andy Connor (0-1). Subs: Pat McGroddy and Colin Gallagher (0-2) Referee: P McGonagle (Buncrana) For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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