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Moville make it three-in-a-row 22.12.09
 Reserve League Shield Final

Moville Celtic Reserves...3
(J. Holmes ’20; K. McDermott ’42 (penalty); C. Lafferty ’45)

Glengad United Reserves...2
(D. Doherty ’53 & ’77 both penalties)

by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at Maginn Park

MOVILLE Celtic Reserves won their third successive Reserve League Shield at a wintry Maginn Park on Saturday night, but they were pushed to the pins of the collars by a gutsy Glengad side. With five goals, two red cards, a flurry of yellows, three penalties and a couple more that weren’t given, the final didn’t lack incident or excitement.
Moville took a 3-0 lead into the dressing room at the break and Glengad were somewhat fortunate that they weren’t trailing by more. Moville had looked a class above their opponents in the first period and the half time consensus among the large crowd was that Glengad would do well to keep the score respectable.
But Glengad had different ideas. They tightened up their defence and closed down their opponents and created the better chances in the second period. Two penalties brought them back into contention and as the clock ticked down they were pressing for the equaliser that would send the tie to extra time. But the goal wouldn’t come and Moville held on for what was, on balance, a deserved win.
Moville threatened to steamroll their opponents in the early stages as they cut through them at will creating several good chances, the first of which fell to Christy McGeoghegan in the first minute. The Glengad defence failed to deal with a dangerous Kevin McDermott cross from the right wing and McGeoghegan timed his run to perfection to pull the ball past Martin Kelly in the Glengad nets but it ricocheted off the right hand post and was scrambled clear.
With Eunan McDaid and Michael Brendan Doherty running the show in midfield, Moville created a hatful of chances as Glengad looked in danger of being overrun. Conor Lafferty and McDaid both spurned decent chances before Kevin McDermott set up Gearoid McQuillan in the 12th minute. McQuillan hooked the ball over the advancing keeper, but it went narrowly over the bar.
McDermott was causing havoc on the right wing and he won a free kick in a dangerous area when he had his heels clipped by Shane Kelly. Martin Kelly put three men in the wall to guard the near post, but Johnny Holmes’ sweetly struck free kick curled into the top left corner at the far post to give Moville a 1-0 lead.
McDermott might have had a penalty minutes later when he was brought down in the box, but referee Willie Curran waved the claims away.
Glengad were on the rack, and didn’t muster their first shot until the 35th minute when Gary McLaughlin shot over from the edge of the box.
At the other end, Martin Kelly palmed a Kevin McDermott shot over the bar after the latter had been set up after a miscued header from Eunan McDaid.
Moville doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute when Conor Lafferty was brought down in the box. Kevin McDermott, who was wearing a borrowed boot after his own had burst early in the game, hit the penalty right footed and low to the bottom left corner past Kelly’s despairing dive.
They made it 3-0 right on the stroke of half time. Christy McLaughlin sent in a free kick from near the right touchline and Conor Lafferty stooped to head it to the net to give his side a deserved three goal advantage at the break.
Lafferty drew a good save from Martin Kelly four minutes after the restart, but Glengad imposed themselves on the game after that and Moville showed none of the incisiveness or fluency that they’d demonstrated in the first half.
Glengad manager Johnny McDermott’s half time switches had tightened things up considerably. Ronald McDaid went back to help the defence, while up front Paul Anthony McDermott finally got the supply of ball he needed to put the Moville defence under pressure.
Strong running from Paul Anthony saw him brought down in the box to win a 53rd minute penalty. Darren Doherty finished low to the left corner to give his side a lifeline.
Indeed, Glengad could have had another penalty three minutes later when McDermott rounded Moville goalkeeper Sean McGuinness only to be bundled over before he could get his shot off, but referee Curran waved play on.
With Michael Farren, Brian Doherty and team captain Stephen McLaughlin driving them on, Glengad grew in belief and as the snow started to fall, drove at Moville again and again. But Mickey Craig was immense at the heart of Moville defence and Michael Brendan Doherty was dropping back from midfield to help stem the tide and those two were largely responsible for keeping Glengad at bay.
Moville conceded another penalty and were reduced to ten men in the 77th minute when Darren Bredin picked up a second yellow car for bringing Darren Doherty down in the area. Doherty picked himself up and smashed his second spot kick of the night into the same bottom left corner and just out of the reach of McGuinness.
Having been in control for so long, Moville now looked panicked and ragged. Brian Doherty set up Paul Anthony McDermott in the 79th minute and the latter’s shot beat the keeper but trickled inches outside the right hand post.
Glengad had one final chance from a 89th minute free kick, by which time they too had been reduced to ten men when Stephen McLaughlin was yellow carded for a second time. Paul Anthony McDermott struck the kick well, but it went narrowly over the top and Moville were able to play down the clock to deservedly make it three-in-a-row.

Moville Celtic Reserves: Sean McGuinness; Christy McLaughlin, Johnny Holmes, Darren Bredin, Mickey Craig; Evan McDaid, Michael Brendan Doherty, Gerard McQuillan, Christy McGeoghegan (Michael Coyle 69 mins); Kevin McDermott, Conor Lafferty (Nicola Ryan, 75 mins).

Glengad United Reserves: Martin Kelly; Aidan Houten (Liam Nelson, half-time), Shane Kelly (Stephen McLaughlin O half-time), Stephen McLaughlin, Michael Farren; Brian Doherty, Gary McLaughlin, Darren Doherty, Daniel McDaid (PJ McDaid 72 mins); Paul A. McDermott, Ronald McDaid.

For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.
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