Kevin Doherty was the hero of the hour this evening as Cranford United won the Ulster Junior Shield at the expense of Rasheney.
Cranford United 2 Rasheney FC 1 (after extra time)
An extra-time goal by Doherty when he got the slightest of touches to Chris Carr’s well struck free-kick from 30 yards but enough to deceive Rasheney keeper Sean Friel gave Cranford FC the lead for the second time in this keenly contested final at the Lakeside grounds in Burnfoot , home of Inishowen league team Aileach FC.
That goal came in the 8th minute of extra-time and Danny Mc Bride’s side comfortably held on to add cup success to their promotion season in the Donegal League.
A strong cross-field wind made things difficult for both teams but the game quickly settled into a pattern of both pushing forward at every opportunity. Cranford suffered an early blow when Lorcan Connor had to be replaced in the 10th minute because of injury.
Keelin Mc Groddy would have a big influence on this game and two dangerous crosses from him were just missed by Padraig McGinty and Connor’s replacement Martin McBride.
McGinty had a big hand in the opening goal as he won Seamus Carr’s free-kick and his knockdown was hooked in from close range by Kevin ‘Gooch ‘ Doherty to give Cranford the lead in the 24th minute.
Just a minute later Cranford keeper Conor McBride didn’t get the distance he wanted on a kick from the hands and Charlie Doherty’s quick thinking and long range return was just wide.
Sub Martin Mc Bride almost got to a Kevin Doherty cross at the far post but five minutes later it was 1-1.
Charlie Doherty’s driven free-kick from wide on the right was brilliantly headed home by Brendan Doherty, giving keeper McBride no chance.
In the 41th minute Cranford should have regained the lead, Chris Duffy’s super control and prodding pass put Keelin McGroddy through but Sean Friel adv an edit to deny him with an excellent save.
Rasheney began well in the second-half and Conor McBride had to save well from Damien Friel.
At the other end headers by Cranford centre=back Chris Duffy would become a feature of the half.
He headed wide in the 60th minute from Seamus Carr’s free-kick, shot wide in the 71th minute after James Mc Bride had first miscued, headed wide in the 76th minute and again in the 79th minutes and then was a fine headed effort headed off the line by a defender in the 84th minute.
In between all those Kevin Doherty had a brilliant chance but somehow headed wide from close range.
In the 86th minute McGroddy again made a nuisance of himself in the box and Shane Gordan’s clumsy challenge looked like it should have been punished with a penalty.
Referee Eamonn Doherty thought otherwise and after a incident in the immediate aftermath of that penalty claim Cranford’s David O’Donnell was shown a straight red card.
Cranford held on despite been down to ten to send the game to extra-time. Rasheney were also down to ten men two minutes into that when Michael Toland got a second yellow for a foul on McGroddy and a minute later it was 2-1 to Cranford.
Chris Carr went for goal from a 30 yard free-kick and Kevin ‘Gooch ‘ Doherty stuck out a foot to get a slight contact but enough to deflect it past Sean Friel for what turned out to be the winning goal that gave Cranford FC the Cup.
Rasheney finished with nine players as Brendan Doherty received a straight red card from a reckless challenge which thankfully didn’t make contact with the opponent involved.
So Cup success to add to promotion to Division One of the Donegal League for next season for Cranford FC, a really good season for the club.
Cranford United: Conor McBride, James McBride, Shane McTeague , Chris Duffy, Chris Carr, Seamus Carr (Danny McBride 68), Padraig McGinty , Kevin Doherty, Keelin McGroddy, David O’Donnell, Lorcan Connor (Martin Mc Bride 10).
Rasheney FC: Sean Friel, Peter Doherty (Christy Ivers 98), James McConnellogue (Declan McLaughlin 34), Emyln Doherty, Shane Gordon , Micheal Toland, Brendan Doherty, Anthony Doherty, Damien Friel (David Mc Laughlin 50), Charlie Doherty, Matthew Mc Laughlin (John McLaughlin 80).
Referee: Eamonn Doherty.
