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Future looks bright for Carn U18s
Inishowen U18 League 12.06.08

Carndonagh...4
(Ronan Doherty 25, Iarlaith McLaughlin 71, Rory Ward 74, Michael Stevens 90)

Culdaff...1
(Shane Diver 8)

by Michael Stamp, Inishowen Independent, at Moss Road

ON A fine evening in Moss Park an impressive Carndonagh under-18 team put Culdaff to the sword with a notable victory. In all fairness to the visitors the 4-1 scoreline flattered Carndonagh somewhat, but the home side were certainly deserving victors.
With both sides having an indifferent start to the Inishowen under 18 youth and schoolboys league, both teams were looking at this game as a chance to energize their season. With this in mind the game kicked off at a fast pace and Culdaff had an early opportunity through Shane Diver but Dara Canny pulled off a great last ditch challenge to deny the Culdaff forward.
Diver didn’t have to wait long for a goal however and it came in the eighth minute. He collected a good ball from Dermot Duffy and kept his nerve to slot past Richard Cunningham in the Carn goal. Carn responded with a half volley from Iarlaith McLaughlin that Shaun O’Donnell claimed easily. Culdaff almost doubled their lead when a Daniel Collins cross fell to Dermot Duffy but he couldn’t connect cleanly with the ball.
The away side came close again when a Conor O’Brien free kick forced an excellent save from Cunningham in the Carn goal. Culdaff were made to pay for these missed chances when Carn equalised on 25 minutes. A fine ball from Dara Canny had the Culdaff defence all at sea and Ronan Doherty finished well.
Culdaff were imposing themselves for the remainder of the half and Conor O’Brien was unlucky to see his header go just over. The home side almost went 2-1 up when Eanna Newton connected with a fine header but Shaun O’Donnell pulled off a terrific save.
Culdaff made a few changes in the second half and they
seemed to work as they were in the ascendancy at the start of the half. Unfortunately Culdaff sub Padre Collins was only able to last a few minutes and had to be taken off after aggravating a pre existing knee ligament injury. Dermot Duffy had Culdaff’s best chance of the half hitting just over with a volley and despite their pressure the away side couldn’t find the net. Carndonagh were still potent and Eanna Newton was unlucky to head just wide from a Dara Canny corner.
The game could have gone either way at this point then Carn scored two goals in four minutes to secure the points. A Dara Canny corner into a congested Culdaff penalty area fell kindly to Iarlaith McLaughlin who managed to poke home. Still reeling from this goal the Culdaff defence were caught out again on 74 minutes when they let a Dara Canny ball run along the edge of the area as far as Rory Ward who finished well.
Culdaff had a lot of work to do to save the game but it never seemed likely despite a good strike from Martin McLaughlin floating just over. Carndonagh weren’t finished yet however and added a fourth just before the end when sub Michael Stevens latched on to a long ball over the top and gave Shaun O’Donnell in the Culdaff goal no chance with a cool finish.

Carndonagh: Richard Cunningham, Fergal Doherty, Gary Smyth, Karl Diver, Eanna Newton, Conor Doherty, Shane Doherty (Patrick Robins), Ronan Doherty (Rory Ward), Iarlaith McLaughlin (Robin O Doherty), Denis Hegarty (Michael Stevens), Dara Canny (Brendan McGowan)

Culdaff: Shaun O’Donnell, Finbarr Collins, Conor McLaughlin, Paddy McColgan, Corey O’Brien, Conor O’Brien (Stephen Mulhern), Conor Kelly, Daniel Collins (Nicholas O’Kane), Dermot Duffy, Martin Keedy (Padre Collins) (Martin McLaughlin), Shane Diver. Subs: Dean O’Connor, John Doherty


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