Second time’s a charm for Moville
09.04.09
Reserve League Shield
Final
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
DESPITE his side’s dramatic, penalty shoot-out
victory over Clonmany Reserves in the League Shield
Final, young Moville Reserves boss Eunan McDaid is
issuing the challenge to his players to go one better
and lift the Inishowen Reserve League title and claim a
memorable double for the Foyleside club.
“I know the teams below us have games in hand but we are
sitting at the top of the league at the moment. Lets win
these four games we have left as see if we can stay
there.” The third year coach McDaid has presided over a
team that’s developed into one of the best second
strings in Inishowen.
“Three years ago, when I took over, things were a little
different, but now we have a very settled side,”
stressed McDaid. |
Moville finished that 2007
campaign in fourth place in the Reserve League Premier
Division, 14 points behind champions Clonmany and with a
minus seven goal difference.
McDaid was full of praise for his team, especially
captain Kevin McDermott, whose two first half strikes
gave Moville a 2-0 half time lead.
“You have to hand it to Kevin. He’s been brilliant this
season. He’s our top scorer with 15 goals, and that’s
coming from midfield. His first on Sunday was a typical
poachers finish but the second was a real screamer, it
was a ball over the top and he had to catch it perfect.”
Despite their healthy lead at the break, McDaid knew
Clonmany were far |
 |
from dead and buried.
“Clonmany are not a team that going to lie down when you
go ahead of them. They have given as good as they got in
the finals this year and last year. I said to the boys
at half time that if they got it back to 2-1 we needed
to stay calm. Unfortunately our defence gave away a
silly goal that gave them back all the momentum, but
these things happen and you just have to get on with
it.”
Conor Lafferty gave the Shield-holders a three-two lead
in the 59th minute, but Jerry McDaid’s equaliser three
minutes from full-time saw Clonmany take the game to
extra-time.
“My heart sunk as low as it could have gone when they
got that late goal, but I didn’t want to let it show to
the boys,” added the player/manager.
Moville’s keeper Sean McGuinness save two penalties in
the shoot out to give the Glencrow outfit the title for
the second time in 12 months.
“I was delighted for Sean, he’s been with us for a few
years now,” added McDaid.
“All credit to Clonmany, they all congratulated us on
our win. They are real gentlemen.”
McDaid insists some of his young players, such as
defender Michael Craig and Christy McGeoghan are good
enough to slot into the first team right now while
others such as Conor McLaughlin and Oran McDermott are
destined for better things also.
For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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