GLENGAD CAME FROM behind against Culdaff to win the Ulster Junior Cup for the second time in three seasons.
Glengad United 3 Culdaff FC 2
A bumper crowd of over 500 turned up for the meeting of the Inishowen League rivals and saw Terence Doherty and Christy Fildara fire Shane Byrne’s side to the silverware after they’d fallen behind to Paul McLaughlin just 11 seconds in.
Doherty netted twice to swing the pendulum and Fildara turned the dagger in the wound in the final minute of the first half.
Culdaff rose the beads of sweat on those in yellow and black 14 minutes from time when Darren Mullarkey pulled a goal back.
Late in the game, Culdaff threw the contents of the kitchen at Glengad and it took a brilliant stop from Shaun O’Donnell to deny Paul McLaughlin and Mullarkey in the one move.
O’Donnell went one better when he got a strong left hand to Michael Coyle’s free kick, sealing the deal for Glengad and dashing the dreams of gallant Culdaff.
Fildara netted the winner for Carndonagh Community School in the the FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Senior Cup final against Presentation Brothers College in March – and it was he who landed the fatal blow here.
John Gerard McLaughlin’s diagonal clearance-turned-pass was retrieved by Fildara, who ghosted in on the right before sailing his effort over the head of Darragh McLaughlin and into the net.
Culdaff stunned Glengad when, straight from the kick-off, they broke with venom. Former Finn Harps man Conor Keddy jinked himself into space and saw a ferocious drive parried by Shaun O’Donnell, who had to be at full-length to make the save.
Following in was Paul McLaughlin, who fired home, to the delight of the big Culdaff support.
Culdaff have had a fairytale second half to their season.
Winless until December, the Caratra Park side began their renaissance with a first round Ulster Junior Cup win over Lagan Harps.
Since, Culdaff had lost only once – against Glengad in the League – with the returns of Conor Keddy and Brendan Fildara ignited them just when it looked as if their toes were tagged for the relegation morgue.
They gave Glengad their fill of it here, but Glengad’s big game nous proved so vital in the key moments.
Brendan Fildara was given the green light to line out. Sent off last Saturday while playing for the Inishown League against the Leinster Senior League in the Oscar Traynor Cup semi-final, there were fears he’d have to sit this one out, but the midfielder will serve the suspension in next year’s Oscar Traynor competition.
Culdaff – without the injured Damien Harkin and Matthew Crampsey and the suspended John Joe Doherty – might have doubled their advantage, but Mullarkey was denied by O’Donnell.
Shane Byrne’s team were rocked, but their vast array of final experience – this was their ninth final in the last two season – saw them work their way back into the tie.
They were level in the ninth minute when Doherty, after picking up possession from a long ball over the top, shot wonderfully past the goalkeeper.
Doherty’s position wide on the right was acute and his shot, swerving into the far corner, belied what seemed an impossible angle.
The Crua men took the lead in the 20th minute. From Matthew Byrne’s throw-in, Seamus Doherty found an acre of space in the middle and his deft pass in behind the Culdaff rearguard was weighed perfectly.
Terence Doherty did the rest, lobbing over the advancing goalkeeper McLaughlin and into the net.
Terence Doherty headed at McLaughlin and Seamus Doherty headed over the top, but Culdaff fired another warning shot across the Glengad brows.
Mullarkey’s cross was met by Michael Coyle’s head and Noel McLaughlin’s goal-bound volley was deflected around the back by a Glengad defender and, from the subsequent corner, Keddy fashioned a chance, but shot over from just inside the box.
Paddy McDermott should have extended Glengad’s lead but rolled wide from Michael Byrne’s pass before Terence Doherty fired into McLaughlin’s hands when presented with a hat-trick chance.
When Fildara looped over McLaughlin to make it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time, there looked to be no way back for Culdaff, who were in the final for the third time and seeking their first win after previous defeats to Swilly Rovers and Illies Celtic.
In the opening minute of the second half Seamus Doherty tested McLaughlin, who gathered at the second attempt with Nigel McMonagle lurking, while Paddy McDermott saw another effort deflect wide.
Fildara drilled over after McMonagle’s through ball carved Culdaff open, but John McFeely’s men gave themselves a lifeline when Mullarkey’s prodded effort from close range squirmed past O’Donnell, who proved the hero with a string of late saves.
But not before they had a final scare when Brendan Fildara’s long-range free whistled past the post.
Glengad United: Shaun O’Donnell; Stephen Fildara, John G McLaughlin, Jason Doherty, Matthew Byrne; Christy Fildara, Seamus Doherty, Michael Byrne, Nigel McMonagle; Terence Doherty, Paddy McDermott.
Culdaff FC: Darragh McLaughlin; John McFeely (Peter Doherty 67), Dermot Diver, Dillon Ruddy, Darragh Folan; Noel McLaughlin (Keith Norris 56), Conor Keddy, Brendan Fildara, Darren Mullarkey; Michael Coyle, Paul McLaughlin
Referee: Terence Moyne.
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