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Hegarty stunner saves Greencastle
16.07.09
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Carndonagh...0 Greencastle...1 Hegarty 48 by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at St Patrick’s Park A STUNNING second half Niamh Hegarty free kick was enough to give Greencastle a valuable win over title rivals Carndonagh at St Patrick’s Park on Thursday evening. A win for Niall McGuinness’ girls would have seen them open up a six-point gap on the Chapel Lane team, but now the rivals are neck and neck behind front-runners Cockhill in the race for the top prize in Inishowen. Due to county Gaelic Football commitments and last week’s Oxegen music festival, a number of established players on both teams were absent, testing the depth of both squads. Carndonagh had the best of the early chances in what was an evenly contested first half. Treasa Doherty had some joy raiding up the right and in the 17th minute her cross from the wing was spilt by the Greencastle goalie but Louise McLaughlin couldn’t steer the ball into the unguarded net. |
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Three minutes later
Greencastle spurned a great chance of their own when
Marie Kelly headed a Carn kick-out into Niamh Hegarty’s
path but Hegarty’s lob cleared Fiona Doherty’s crossbar.
With both defences looking solid, chances were at a premium in the first half. For Greencastle, Hegarty and Marie Kelly combined well but found Anita Doherty in uncompromising mood. Hegarty remained Greencastle’s go to girl and with half an hour gone she fizzed a low shot just wide of the target. Four minutes from the break Karen Henry nearly scrambled home a loose ball in the Carn area but Doherty bravely smothered the ball at the second attempt. Greencastle went to a more direct game at the start of the second half but when Marie Kelly ran onto a long ball Rosie McColgan shepherded her away from goal and the chance was gone. |
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With Hegarty’s direct
running style causing problems, Greencastle grew in
confidence. Marie Kelly might have done better than
volley Hegarty’s cross wide. The only goal of the game came in the 48th minute amid some controversy. Niamh Hegarty’s dribble was stopped 25 yards from goal on the left. Treasa Doherty complained loudly that she’d made a clean tackle to win the ball, but the referee saw different. To rub salt in the wounds Hegarty curled a powerful strike past Doherty. Carndonagh immediately pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Kate Ruddy’s shot was kicked away by Hannon before Greencastle’s tall centre half headed Treasa Doherty dangerous cross out for a corner. Harkin would be called upon several times in the remaining 25 minutes as Carn piled on the pressure. The hosts should have equalised when Anita Doherty picked out Aisling Newton on the edge of the six-yard box only for the Carn striker to get her shot horribly wrong. Greencastle were rocking at this stage, their rushed clearances finding only red shirted defenders. Ruddy set up Newton in the Greencastle area but she couldn’t keep her shot down. Niamh Hegarty had the odd half chance to put Greencastle two up but she wasn’t able to force a save from Doherty. With five minutes to go Carndonagh came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Newton crashed an angled shot off the crossbar and Danielle Gordon missed the rebound. With time winding down Hegarty did work Doherty on the break as Carndonagh ran out of momentum. McGuinness will be hoping to have a fuller squad when his side play in the quarter final of the National Intermediate Cup. Carn had been due to play a last 16 tie against Mervue on Sunday but the Galway side withdrew from the competition. Carndonagh: Fiona Doherty, Rosie McColgan, Deborah McLaughlin, Louise McLaughlin, Lauren Doherty, Janine Gordon, Anita Doherty, Treasa Doherty, Kate Ruddy, Aisling Newton, Danielle Gordon. Greencastle: Niamh Hannon, Shauna McLaughlin, Catriona Cavanagh, Geraldine Harkin, Aisling Ward, Danielle Logue, Shona Kelly, Annette McLaughlin, Niamh Hegarty, Marie Kelly, Karen Henry. Subs: Gemma McLaughlin for Catriona McLaughlin. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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