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Buncrana boys bow out
23.12.09
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Buncrana Hearts...0 Kilmacrennan Celtic...6 (McConnell 3&49, Toland 4,43&59, McDaid 50) by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Castle Park, Buncrana KILMACRENNAN cruised into the next round of the FAI U14 National Cup with a commanding performance against Buncrana Hearts at Castle Park last Saturday afternoon. Conditions were far from ideal with a heavy pitch and showers of rain and sleet for the youngsters to contend with. Buncrana battled well but had no answer for the power and pace of a Kilmacrennan side that played with complete confidence. On the right, Oisin Doherty showed well for Buncrana early on, winning a corner, but Buncrana attacks were few and far between. The opening goal came after three minutes. A free kick from the right was curled in left-footed by Dean McConnell. Caolan McGonagle, in the Buncrana goal, was unsighted by bodies lurking in front of his six yard box and the ball bounced into the far corner. The visitors didn’t give Buncrana a moment’s peace and pressure on the ball forced Brendan Crummy’s boys into hasty passes, which time and again saw possession surrendered to the boys in black and white stripes. It was no easy task getting the ball back. McGettigan was called into action several times in the first half. The agile Buncrana number one looks a good prospect. |
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McConnell struck the bar
before, on 14 minutes, a slip by a Buncrana defender let
the Kilmacrennan forward in, only for the striker once
again to hit the frame of the goal. McGettigan saved a shot from Christopher Dillon and made an even better stop five minutes from half-time, dashing off his line to deny McConnell one-on-one. The visitors should have extended their lead a minute before half time when Dillon and right-back Kevin Murray combined on the right, but Aidan Sweeney’s downward header shaved the post and went wide. The vast majority of Kilmacrennan’s attacks throughout came down the Buncrana left. An even better chance was passed up in injury time when McDaid burst through on the left but McGonagle, with a fine block, parried out for a corner. Buncrana could have equalised at the start of the second half when Matty Barber and Oisin Doherty combined to play Peter McLaughlin in on goal but, under pressure from a defender, McLaughlin hit his shot right into Liam O’Boyle’s midriff. McLaughlin dropped back to the midfield to try and use his height, but the Buncrana dangerman was well marked by Kyle McFadden. That was as good as it got for the hosts in the match as the flood-gates opened at the other end. On 40 minutes the powerful attacking-midfielder Jordan Toland tapped home Dave Edward’s low centre for 2-0, and seven minutes later the game was over as a contest when Toland pounced on a hacked clearance out of the Buncrana box to drive home from 25 yards. Two minutes later McGonagle was picking the ball out of the net once again after Edwards, who caused havoc on the right wing, crossed for McConnell to score his second and Kilmacrennan’s fourth. Less than a minute later it was 5-0. Daire McDaid it was this time, who poked home from close range after the ball deflected, fortuitously, into the back post area he’d drifted into. On 54 minutes Toland should have had his hat-trick, but dragged a first time shot wide. However he made no mistake with the next chance that came his way, heading in Edward’s cross in from almost underneath the crossbar. Collectively, Buncrana battled well throughout and, in addition to McGonagle, there were good displays from Ryan Doherty at left back and the tough tackling Ryan Curran, who gave as good as he got in his duel with Aidan Sweeney, but the day belonged to the boys from the far side of Letterkenny who look capable of a decent run in this competition in the new year. Buncrana Hearts: Caolan McGonagle, Liam Hirrell, Ryan Doherty, James Quigley, Gavin McElhinney, Ryan Curran, Oisin Doherty, Ciaran McFadden, Peter McLaughlin, Declan O’Donnell, Matty Barber. Kilmacrennan Celtic: Liam O’Boyle, Kevin Murray, Keiron Doherty, Eoin Barrett, Kyle McFadden, Jordan Toland, Dave Edwards, Aidan Sweeney, Christopher Dillon, Daire McDaid, Dean McConnell. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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