Late goals bring Inishowen League’s Oscar Traynor reign to a cruel end

THE INISHOWEN LEAGUE’S grip on the Oscar Traynor Cup was loosened in the most cruel manner by Leinster Senior League at Maginn Park this evening.

Inishowen League 0 Leinster Senior League 2

Late goals by Eoin Lanigan and Ian Tuohy broke Inishowen hearts and condemned the defending champions to a stomach-churning defeat.

Lanigan looped a header past Paddy Harkin in the 87^th minute and, in the final minute of the game, Tuohy slotted home from the edge of the box.

Diarmuid O’Brien’s Inishowen had played for 77 minutes with just ten men after Brendan McLaughlin’s sending off in the 13^th minute, but they looked to have held on for extra time when Lanigan broke the deadlock.

Tuohy floated in a dangerous cross and Lanigan flicked a sweetly-struck header into the far side of Harkin’s net.

Before Inishowen could summons a response they were undone again when Tuohy picked up possession on the edge of the box and fired into the bottom corner.

It was cruel on Inishowen, who would have fancied their chances with the full compliment. Even with a man down, they battled gamely and deserved a crack at extra time.

Inishowen have been consistent performers at this level in recent years, this game representing their fourth semi-final in a row, O’Brien’s men losing the final in 2013 and a semi-final in 2014, both to AUL, before getting their hands on the prize last year.

O’Brien kept faith with the same eleven that defeated Galway League in the quarter-final last month.

That meant inclusion for defender Oisin McColgan and midfielder Matthew Henry, who’d been absent from club duty in recent weeks. QPS centre-back McColgan shook off a knee injury to play and Greencastle’s Henry, on the books of Derry City last season, was given the green light having recovered from an ankle complaint.

Henry’s return to the Inishowen League this season to his native Greencastle has given O’Brien a big boost.

The addition of McLaughlin, back with Culdaff having spent time at Cockhill, further strengthened the ranks, but when he was sent off after just 13 minutes it was apparent that Inishowen stood at the foot of a mountain.

The striker was on the receiving end of a bad challenge by Daniel Loughran, one that went unpunished, but as he got up McLaughlin kicked out at the Leinster midfielder and referee Thomas Egan reached straight to the back pocket to brandish the red card.

Loughran himself was fortunate not to have been cautioned for the initial tackle on McLaughlin and the robust midfielder escaped until the 25^th minute when he was finally carded.

Loughran’s foul on Anthony Doherty drew the yellow card with the Inishowen contingent feeling that the numbers could have been evened up at that point; an argument that certainly had merit.

Remarkably, Loughran again survived reprimand following a foul on Henry early in the second half and it was no surprise that he was substituted before he’d be banished.

Inishowen’s response to the sending off was commendable and they fashioned a good opening when Henry set McMonagle through, but he shot across Evan Gaffney and past the far post.

Full-back Matthew Byrne tried his luck from distance, but had too much elevation with an ambitious attempt.

Late in the first half, Leinster began to make the numerical advantage count, creating three glorious chances – but Inishowen survived.

Lanigan was the man on the end of all three opportunities, but Inishowen counted their blessings as they headed for solace at the interval.

Lanigan fired wide at close-range after being fed by a superb pass from Ian Tuohy, before he broke onto a through ball by Carl Redmond only to slide wide after slipping beneath the advancing Harkin.

In stoppage time, a turn-and-volley from Lanigan flashed over the top and the stalemate remained at the changeover.

Inishowen continued to hold the fort, with Chris Strassles denied by Harkin before Leinster right-back Ian Cloone looked to have opened the scoring.

A blistering shot from way out whizzed past Harkin, but just missed the top shelf. Such was the ferocity of the blast, there were some in the attendance who actually thought it had gone through the net.

Last May, goals by Stephen McLaughlin and Kieran McDaid fired Inishowen to their first ever Oscar Traynor title when they defeated Limerick League 2-1 at Maginn Park.

The introduction of McDaid and Terence Doherty breathed new life into Inishowen’s attack.

Doherty and McMonagle combined for Inishowen’s best opportunity in the 72^nd minute, with Doherty’s delicate touch past Gaffney, from McMonagle’s square pass, just undone by the Leinster goalkeeper.

Gaffney saved from a Doherty pot-shot after McMonagle broke away, the ball getting caught under his foot just as he had the finger poised on the trigger with the target firmly in sight.

And with extra time looming, Leinster struck those two decisive blows, O’Brien stood with head in hands and they’ll now be haunted with that lingering: What if?

Inishowen League: Paddy Harkin; John G McLaughlin, Oisin McColgan, William McLaughlin, Matthew Byrne; Stephen McLaughlin, Shane Canning, Matthew Henry (Kieran McDaid 62), Nigel McMonagle; Anthony Doherty (Terence Doherty 62), Brendan McLaughlin.

Leinster Senior League: Evan Gaffney; Ian Cloone, Derek Griffin, Graham Dixon, Carl Redmond; Chris Straessles, Daniel Loughran (Stephen Kiernan 55), Dermot Kennedy, John Paul Reilly (Daniel Dempsey 76); Eoin Lanigan, Ian Tuohy.

Referee: Thomas Egan (Sligo/Leitrim).