Hoops' dreams stay alive
18.12.07
FAI Umbro Junior Cup
Moville Celtic...5
Star Rovers...1
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
Moville Celtic made it through to the next round of the
FAI Junior Cup on Sunday afternoon with a richly
deserved win over Limerick side Star Rovers at a chilly
Glencrow. John Canning’s slick outfit shrugged off the
blow of conceding an early goal to roar back with a
stunning second half goal blitz.
There were three changes to the Star Rovers side manager
Pat Boland put out against Herbertstown in the last
round, with Richard Flynn, the scorer of their second
goal in the 2-0 win, this time starting the match and
the speedy Shane Walters replacing Stephen Blackhall. |
The visitors came into the
game as undoubted underdogs, but they had no intention
of just rolling over and playing dead for the home side
and they snatched a shock lead in the second minute.
From a throw in on the left wing the Moville defense
went to sleep, allowing Derrick Hannon to look up and
chip the ball to the back post where an unmarked Alan
Morton headed past Ralph Bredin.
Moville were jittery and when right-back Jonathan
Griffen chested the ball down inside the Celtic half and
played a fine through ball that only just eluded Hannon,
the alarm bells were ringing loudly.
Moville’s Nigel McMonagle looked to have the beating his
marker and when he broke free on the right wing after
ten minutes his cross was put out for a corner by the
back-peddling Gerry Callopy. |
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With Star Rovers
anchor-midfielder Leonard O’Grady dominating the centre
of the pitch, Moville’s ability to launch swift counter
attacks down either flank looked to be their best bet
for get back into the game.
On 16 minutes Declan McGuinness played a neat one-two
down the left wing with Gerry Gill and McGuiness’ low
ball into the box found McMonagle who perhaps tried to
be too measured in his finish and placed a shot just
over the bar form twelve yards.
Five minutes later the excellent O’Grady was alert to
block Malachy McDermott’s shot after Gerry Gill’s
free-kick cannoned off the white-shirted wall.
Moville were beginning to get the upper hand and on 25
minutes Gavin Doherty played a superb long pass out to
the right wing to his brother Graeme who took the ball
perfectly in stride and chipped a cross to the back post
to McGuinness who from point blank range had two bites
of the cherry but Callopy was brave and smothered the
former Redcastle winger’s second effort after blocking
his first. |
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O’Grady then intervened to deny Moville a certain
equalizer, sliding in to clear a dangerous low cross
from the perceptive Graeme Doherty.
Tempers threatened to flare at the end of the first half
when, within the space of a minute, Moville were denied
a penalty then Gavin Doherty saw yellow for a late
tackle on Shane Walters in front of the Moville
technical area.
O’Grady also saw yellow for the visitors who might have
stolen a two goal lead at the end of the first half when
Gordon Martin’s defensive header flew dangerously across
his own box to the speedy Shane Walters, but from a
tight angle he could only find the side netting.
Playing with the wind in the second half it seemed only
a matter of time until the Inishowen side got back on
terms and it duly happened two minutes in. Graeme
Doherty found McMonagle inside the Rovers box |
and his cushioned lay off
was the perfect invitation for Gill, lurking with intent
just outside the opponents D, and he curled a high shot
past Callopy and into the top right corner.
Gavin and Graeme Doherty then connected but the latter’s
diving header cleared the Rovers crossbar.
Moville took the lead on 57 minutes courtesy of a superb
chip from Graeme Doherty whose dipping strike from out
on the left wing, 20 yards out, was pushed into the roof
of his net by Callopy.
Most of the attacking play attempted by the Limerick men
was frozen out by Malachy McDermott and Alan Orr, the
latter playing in a more withdrawn role than he’s become
accustomed to.
Rovers did threaten on the hour when James O’Regan and
substitute Patrick Duffy combined to release Hannon
along the left wing, but his cross was put out for a
corner at his near post by Darren Bredin.
Walters, the Rovers’ pint-sized winger, battled well in
the second half and in the 64th minute somehow got a
cross in despite being surrounded by a handful of hooped
shirts, the ball dropping to O’Grady ten yards out but
he drove a volley into the ground and wide.
That miss proved costly as two minutes later Moville had
their third. Gavin Doherty caught the Rovers rearguard
out with a lofted ball over the top that McGuinness ran
onto and rounded Callopy but instead of scoring he
stopped the ball with the goal at his mercy, taunting
defender Geoffrey Joyce, before flicking the ball into
the net after the Rovers defender made a cursory effort
to stop the shot.
That goal knocked the stuffing out of the visitors.
Malachy McDermott added a fourth with ten minutes to go
before the impressive Colin Doherty’s through ball in
added time put Nigel McMonagle clear to make it five
with a trademark chipped finish.
Moville
Ralph Bredin, Gordon Martin, Daryl Doherty, Darren
Bredin, Malachy McDermott, Alan Orr, Gavin Doherty,
Gerry Gill, Declan McGuinness, Nigel McMonagle, Graeme
Doherty.
Subs: Colin Doherty for Gavin Doherty (72), Mark Henry
for Gordon Martin (78)
Star Rovers
Gerry Collopy, Jonathan Griffen, Glen Walters, James
O’Regan, Geoffrey Joyce, Leonard O’Grady, Richard Flynn,
Shane Walters, Derrick Hannon, Alan Morton, Brian
O’Doherty.
Subs: Patrick Barry for Richard Flynn (56), Patrick
Ryder for Jonathan Griffen (78)
Scorers
Moville Celtic: Gill 47, Graeme Doherty 57, McGuinness
66, McDermott 81, McMonagle 90
Star Rovers: Morton 2
For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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