Clonmany crowned kings of Inishowen
Jackie Crossan Premier Division 21.05.08

Redcastle United...1 (P Doherty 58) Clonmany Shamrocks...2 (Byrne 42, B Devlin 59) by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Foyle Park THEY SAY a football team is never more vulnerable than after it’s just scored. In the post-goal elation minds lose focus, bodies ease up. So goes the theory. The reality on Sunday was that less than a minute after Paul Doherty equalised Michael Byrne’s 42 minute opener for Clonmany Shamrocks, Redcastle United allowed Stephen McLaughlin to ghost down the left wing and cut a low ball back to Brendan Devlin lurking with intent inside their penalty box and they were behind once more. As Devlin swept the ball past a statuesque Crossan some in the crowd would have done a double-take. Had what their eyes witnessed really happened? It had, Redcastle were 2-1 down and the clock was now ticking down the final 30 minutes of their season. A draw would have salvaged a league playoff for Bryan Bell’s champions, but their efforts in this game to date, including Doherty’s spectacular strike, suggested it would take something special to get the better of Shamrock’s superb defence. Special is an apt word to describe the delivery Redcastle’s full-back Brian Treacy is capable of with his left foot. If Bell’s boys were going to deny Clonmany their first title in six years, he looked likeliest to supply the chance. With half of the Redcastle team steaming in on him, Peter Devlin beat away a Treacy cross with twelve minutes to go. The home side, the wind at their backs, bombarded the visitors late on but Clonmany were cool under fire. The provider then turned beneficiary as Treacy almost latched onto a high through pass, but Devlin raced from his goal to clear the danger. As the game entered injury time Steve Harkin twice in succession headed out Treacy corners, the second falling to Redcastle marksman Eddie McIntyre 25 yards out, but last year’s final game match-winner didn’t play the hero role this time, volleying over the bar. Deep into stoppage time Redcastle made their final play. Charlie McCormick sent a corner high into the bright sky. Cathal Faulkner rose to meet it and, with the fate of both teams hanging in the balance, the Redcastle captain thumped a header just over. So near and yet so far away - a fitting final line in story of Redcastle’s season. For Clonmany, Premier Division nearly-men of the past half-decade, the final whistle brought joy unsurpassed by either of this seasons cup triumphs. They were back on top of the peninsula pack for the first time since retaining the title in 2002. Few, outside of Redcastle perhaps, would claim that they didn’t deserve to be champions, such was the confident and stylish football served up by this Shamrocks team all season. Yet at the start of this game Clonmany did a good impression of their 12 month ago selves who were disappointing and lacklustre in losing the 06/07 title decider 1-0 to Sunday’s opponents. Clonmany were pressed back into their own half. Eddie McIntyre shot wide from a Joe Doherty knockdown before the former struck a fine cross from the left that begged to be put away. Shamrocks were wasteful on the break, Stephen and Paul McLaughlin hitting no-hopers from long range instead of keeping moves alive. Where, you wondered was Clonmnay’s composure? The visitors did settle into the contest though and ion 17 minutes had the games first shot on target when Stephen McLaughlin headed straight at Crossan after Steve Harkin’s run and cross from the left wing. Three minutes before the break Michael Byrne gave Clonmany a precious lead, his well-struck shot taking a slight deflection on it’s was to the bottom corner of Crossan goal. Shamrocks almost had another at the start of the second half when Brendan Devlin’s well-weighted through pass put Paddy Doherty in on goal only for Cathal Faulkner to upend him on the edge of the Redcastle area. Faulkner escaped further punishment when, first he was shown no card and second, Stephen McLaughlin’s free was headed clear. Then came the two goals in a minute that decided the destination of the league trophy.

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