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Red Letter Day in Glencrow 18.02.09
 Jackie Crossan Premier Division

Moville Celtic 2
McDermott 6, J Doherty (pen) 83

Redcastle United 3
Treacy 35, 61, McGrory 66

by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Glencrow

IN what was the most significant day in the title race to date, Redcastle United came from behind to beat local rivals Moville Celtic while Clonmany Shamrocks slumped to their first league defeat of the season, albeit against a Buncrana Hearts outfit infused with players from their Ulster Senior League side.
Moville Celtic have only themselves to blame for coming away from this blood and guts encounter empty handed. Put simply they self-destructed. All three of Redcastle’s goals were eminently preventable but the hosts made basic defensive errors to present the accomplished Brian Treacy with a brace and Ciaran McGrory a third.
John Canning’s side made the brighter start to the match, calmly working the ball forward from the back. Redcastle brand of football is altogether more direct, and from left back Seamus Doherty long ball over the top, Brian Treacy raced through to force a decent save from Maurice McGeady at his near post.
Moville like to play on the counter too, and from the resulting Redcastle corner they took the lead. Maurice McGeady collected the corner and played an cushioned pass for Joe Doherty who turned to the right and played a through ball for Nigel McMonagle. The Moville striker rushed his marker into a hasty blind clearance and with Redcastle keeper Gerard Crossan stranded off his line, Malachy McDermott calmly placed the ball into the unguarded goal from 30 metres.
Moville, buoyant, went in search of a second. Ryan McMonagle tested Crossan with a dipping shot and on 22 minutes the same player should have made it two when McDermott’s deflected strike dropped to him at the back post but McMonagle sliced wide.
A minute later Nigel McMonagle released Richard McElhinney through the middle. The young midfielder’s first time shot across Crossan was partially blocked at full stretch by the Redcastle keeper and Eamon Donnelly completed the clearance.
In the 24th minute Redcastle had their big stopper to thank for keeping the deficit at one when, from an inswinging McDermott free, McElhinney powered a header on target that Crossan flicked over his crossbar.
It was not all one-way traffic though, and in the 26th minute Redcastle created their best chance of the half so far. Treacy found space between the Moville centre-backs and played in Paul McGowan on the left side of the Moville area, but the Redcastle forward pulled a low shot beyond the far post.
Moville’s back four were showing signs of stress under Redcastle’s aerial bombardment. Raymond Campbell found Treacy with a flick on and the Redcastle striker slotted a neat ball through for Colm McLaughlin but McGeady once again got a strong pair of hands behind the driven shot.
Treacy then went close with a volley but did pull Bryan Bell’s side level in the 25th minute, nipping between defence and keeper to tap home.
Redcastle might have gone into the break ahead when more hesitant defending allowed McGrory space in the area but Maurice McGeady made the point blank save and Tony McGeady took he rebound of Treacy’s toe.
Just as they had done in the first period, Moville were quicker out of the traps in the second half with Joe Doherty at the heart of all that was good about their approach play.
With pressure coming from both flanks, Jimmy Gallagher and Cathal Faulkner made made telling blocks in their 18 yard box.
The game was still played at a ferocious pace, which seemed to suit the visitors more than Celtic, although in Malachy McDermott they had possibly the most dynamic player on show.
Redcastle took the lead in the 61st minute when the towering Campbell headed down a high ball to Gavin McCauley which the right-back chipped in Treacy’s direction on the left of the Moville D.
The Redcastle man forced Barr into a poor defensive header, darted onto the loose ball and tucked it under McGeady’s dive.
The Moville keeper was lucky to stay on the pitch a few minutes later when he kicked out at McGrory after taking exception to the Redcastle striker challenge as he dived to collect the ball. Following a brief kerfuffle Charlie Doherty served yellow to the Moville keeper and Treacy.
Moville, now minus two of their starting defenders, were shaky at the back and a miss-controlled throw in deep in the Moville half presented McGrory with a gift that he gleefully accepted, lashing the ball past the McGeady.
With Moville now negligible as an attacking force, there seemed to be no way back, but out of the blue Nigel McMonagle spun Donnelly forcing the Redcastle defender to take him down in the box and Moville had a penalty, converted by ex-Foyle Park forward Joe Doherty in the 83rd minute.
Moville’s chances of snatching a dramatic draw were increased three minutes from time when Campbell was sent off for a clumsy tackle on McDermott in the centre circle.
You got the feeling Moville would get one chance and it came a minute later when Nigel McMonagle broke into the box from the left and cut the ball back to substitute Declan McGuinness, but with Crossan stranded the winger’s first time shot rolled just beyond the far post.
This result ended any lingering hopes Moville might have harboured of winning the league. They can look to the cups to salvage their season. For Redcastle regaining the league title in May is now more probability than possibility.

Moville Celtic: Maurice McGeady, Colin Doherty, Darral Doherty, PJ Barr, Tony McGeady, Shane Canning, Malachy McDermott, Ryan McMonagle, Joe Doherty, Nigel McMonagle, Richard McElhinney. Subs: Mark Henry for T McGeady (HT), Declan McGuinness for Barr (63), Paul White for McMonagle (68).

Redcastle United: Gerard Crossan, Gavin McCauley, Seamus Doherty, Eamon Donnelly, Cathal Faulkner, Jimmy Gallagher, Colm McLaughlin, Raymond Campbell, Ciaran McGrory, Brian Treacy, Paul McGowan. Subs: Damien Doyle for McLaughlin (68).

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