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Stephen saves jaded Shamrocks
16.04.09
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Clonmany Shamrocks...1 (Stephen McLaughlin 81) Culdaff...0 by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Shamrock Park THE TITLE race is still on, but Culdaff came perilously close to derailing the Shamrocks hopes of retaining their Premier Division crown in Clonmany at the weekend. After toiling unsuccessfully for 80 minutes, substitute Stephen McLaughlin broke the offside trap to score a goal that lowered the collective blood pressure around the ground. It was just what the doctor ordered. Culdaff defended resolutely and probably deserved a draw, but Clonmany’s collective will to win in the final quarter of an hour was greater than their determination to hold out for a point that would have left Martin Cavanagh’s men needing snookers to take the title ahead of Bryan Bell’s outfit. The visitors showed why they are widely touted as the best of the rest in this year’s Premier Division. In Shane O’Donnell they have a keeper without an obvious weakness, their back four is a strong and confident unit and in John Joe Doherty and Derek Doherty they had two wide players who didn’t give the Clonmany defence a moment’s peace all afternoon. If they lacked in any department on Good Friday it was in the middle of the park. They didn’t have a player to hold the ball for any length of time, and as the home team pressed hard for a goal in the closing stages, it told. |
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Clonmany took over ten
minutes to seriously threaten. Philip Devlin found
winger Jason Devlin who cut inside Dermot Diver and
fizzed in a strike that flew narrowly over the bar. At the other end John Joe Doherty made space for himself on the left wing and his cross caused all sorts of confusion in the centre of the Shamrocks defence before Philip Devlin restored order. Derek Doherty then beat Phil Pat Doherty for pace in the chase for a long ball but, one on one with Peter Devlin, the Culdaff forward saw his fine effort tipped over at full stretch. Gradually Clonmany, with Paul McLaughlin lively on the right, started to create some decent openings. Following Brendan Devlin’s impromptu outbreak of keepy-uppy on the left touchline, the ball was worked through Jason Devlin and Mark McLaughlin to create a chance for Paddy Doherty on the edge of the Culdaff box, but John McFeely made a telling block. On 22 minutes Clonmany nearly made the breakthrough when Jason Devlin dummied Marty Doherty’s pass and the ball came to Paul McLaughlin but the quick-thinking O’Donnell was smartly off his line to smother the shot. Clonmany were lacking their usual pep, unable to pass Culdaff into submission they began resorting to speculative long balls that were meat and drink to Brian McGonagle and co. |
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The home team were in North
West Champion’s League action less than 48 hours
previous and certainly the heavier legs were seen in the
white and green. The chances dried up and the game became scrappier. There was a flare up between Marty Doherty and Derek Doherty after the latter took exception to the former’s challenge. Culdaff tried to utilise the pace of their forwards on the break and, although they had much joy, they were isolated and their crosses were into boxes mostly free of red shirts. It was catching practice for Devlin. In the 43rd minute Jason Devlin had another promising run into the box snuffed out, this time by John Paul Thompson. Culdaff maintained their composure at the start of the second half as the pressure continued to build on Clonmany to find a way through. Damien McLaughlin’s men spurned two fine chances to take the lead in the first tem minutes of the second half. First, Thompson struck a deep ball from the left for Derek Doherty, ghosting in at the back, who headed tamely at Devlin. Then Matthew Byrne took a quick free kick to Doherty on the left who crossed for Declan Kearney in the six-yard box only for Paddy Doherty to steal the ball away at the last second. With Clonmany running out of ideas and reduced to shots from long range, changes needed to be made one of the subs, Stephen McLaughlin should have scored in the 69th minute when the ball broke to him eight yards out but he snatched at his shot and the ball was poked over the bar. Less than a minute later Brendan Devlin burst through on goal but O’Donnell took the chance from him. It was beginning to look as if a goal wasn’t going to come when, in the 81st minute Mark McLaughlin’s deep cross from the left sprung caught the Culdaff defence pushing out too late. Stephen McLaughlin stole in at the back post and although O’Donnell got to the flight of his header, he was powerless to stop the young winger sweeping home the rebound. A goal for Culdaff would have spelt disaster and it almost came in the 83rd minute. Derek Doherty set up Adrian Doherty whose drive was saved by Devlin diving low to his right, the ball fell kindly to Brian McGonigle, but with the goal at his mercy he blazed over. With Stephen McLaughlin wasting a couple of chances to make the score 2-0, the nails had to be bitten right to the final whistle. Every league game from now until the end of season will be a pressure game for Clonmany. Redcastle are waiting for one little slip. It didn’t come at the weekend as Stephen Devlin ensured it was a good Friday for his side and not the men from the Foyle Park. Clonmany Shamrocks: Peter Devlin, Philip Devlin, Liam Hirrell, Phil Pat Doherty, Niall McDaid, Paul McLaughlin, Marty Doherty, Paddy Doherty, Mark McLaughlin, Brendan Devlin, Jason Devlin. Subs: Raymond McDaid for P. McLaughlin (54), Stephen McLaughlin for M. Doherty (54), Steve Harkin for McDaid (72). Culdaff: Shane O’Donnell, John Paul Thompson, Matthew Byrne, John McFeely, Brian McGonagle, Dermot Diver, Declan Kearney, Adrian McGonagle, John Doe Doherty, Conor O’Brien, Derek Doherty. Subs: Conor Keddy for D Doherty (85). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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