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Glengad come back with a bang
11.09.09
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Glengad United...6 (Toland 20 & 88, J. Doherty 24, Orr 40&71, J. McLaughlin 82) Q.P.S....2 (A. McColgan 25, T. McColgan 58) by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at the Crua GLENGAD United served notice to the rest of the Premier Division that they are not just here to make up the numbers with this emphatic victory over Quigley’s Point Swifts on the Crua crew’s return to top-flight football on Sunday afternoon. Liam McClean’s side have started the season with 100% record after a hat-trick of wins in the league cup, including a 4-1 win over QPS, and now this win in their league opener. The Point are traditionally one of the better teams in this division, but they had no answer for Glengad’s precision short passing game. Terry McColgan’s men have endured a difficult start to the season and in the wide-open space of the Crua they looked uncomfortable for much of the afternoon. |
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The home side asked most of
the questions in the opening quarter hour and might have
taken the lead earlier only for telling tackles from
first Christy Harkin and then Sean McLaughlin before
Anthony Toland’s downward header was hacked off the
line. The Point should have opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Terry McColgan cushioned a long ball back to Michael McColgan whose first time pass through the middle of the Glengad defence released Anthony McColgan on goal. The forward took a touch, opened up his body and passed the ball inches wide of the far post. Six minutes later the hosts did find the net. Allan Orr headed the ball on for Toland who showed great determination to come out on top in a 50/50 tackle with Oisin McColgan before steadying himself and curling left footed beyond the advancing Lynch. At the other end Terry McColgan almost got something on Sean McLaughlin’s centre from the right wing before Glengad got a second through winger Jason Doherty, who poked home from close range at the second attempt after Lynch had blocked his first effort. A minute after going 2-0 up Glengad were caught napping. |
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Brian McColgan’s cross from
the left picked out Sean McLaughlin whose shot rebounded
off the keeper for Anthony McColgan to sweep high into
the net. Terence Doherty then drove in a shot that looked to be going over, not that Lynch could take the chance. In contrast to the home sides possession football, the Point looked to knock balls into the channels for their pacy attackers, but the home defence were alive to the danger. The Point then survived a penalty claim, before, on 40 minutes Glengad scored the type of goal that perfectly illustrated their potential. Patrick Doherty, Terence Doherty, Stephen McLaughlin and Patrick McDermott all touched the ball in quick succession as Glengad cut through the Point up the right. The move ended with Orr 25 yards out who spun and flashed a dipping shot past Lynch. QPS started the second half on top without creating any clear-cut chances. However, on 58 minutes they dragged themselves right back into the contest when Brian McColgan’s raking first time cross to the back post found Terry McColgan who’d instinctively peeled off his marker. The dependable Point forward planted a powerful header past Michael McLaughlin. Despite their reduced lead, Glengad continued to pass their way out of defence. Their midfield continued to probe for holes in the Point’s rearguard. Terence Doherty found one in the 71st minutes, setting up Orr to round Lynch and slide the ball in. At 4-2 QPS coach Pat McGonagle was left with a wry smile on his face after seeing Terry McColgan round the Glengad keeper only to tangle up with the back-tracking Patrick Doherty. No foul was given and the ball ran over the end-line for a goal kick. The Point tired visibly in the final 15 minutes, but Glengad’s energy level remained high. Terence Doherty had a great chance to put the result beyond all doubt after Brian Lynch hit his defender Christy Harkin on the head with a scuffed kick out, but the visiting goalie made amends with a good save. Goal number five was not long in coming and with eight minutes left substitute John McLaughlin scored with his first touch of the game, thumping a downward header home from Orr’s in-swinging corner. A couple of minutes from the end Glengad struck a stylish sixth when substitute John McDermott’s back heeled return ball found Toland and the man who had begun the goal-fest ended it with a simple finish. Premier Division games will rarely be this easy for Glengad, but if this young team stick to their guns and continue to play attractive, incisive football that makes use of their mammoth pitch, few teams will relish coming to the Crua this season. Glengad United Michael McLaughlin, Lee Kelly, Ruarai Doherty, Patrick Doherty, Shane Doherty, Anthony Toland, Stephen McLaughlin Patrick McDermott, Terence Doherty, Allan Orr, Jason Doherty. Paul McGonagle for J. Doherty (70), John McLaughlin for S. McLaughlin (80), John McDaid for Orr (85). Quigley’s Point Swifts Brian Lynch, Oisin McColgan, Kevin Wallace, Christy Harkin, Sean McLaughlin, Colm McLaughlin, Michael McColgan, Brian McColgan, Anthony McColgan, Michael Farren, Terry McColgan. Subs: Paul Grant for O. McColgan (64), Gerard Greene for M. McColgan (70), Simon Wallace for C. McLaughlin (85). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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