SEAN MACCUMHAILLS CONTINUE TO lead the way at the summit of the AllSportStore.com All-County League Division 2 after a home win over Malin last night.
Sean Mac Cumhaills 1-12 Malin 1-9
By Chris Doherty
This game was a dress rehearsal of sorts for their upcoming Championship game in two weeks’ time.
The visitors hit two points in quick succession through Daniel McDaid from play and Darren Mullarkey from a free early on, but Adam Lynch and Stephen Mulligan drew the hosts level.
Malin took the lead before the tenth minute when Seamus Houghton added a score. Malin were given an opportunity when Paul McLaughlin was fouled but Daniel McDaid’s free in found the safe hands of Chris Patton between the posts.
At the other end Mac Cumhaills grabbed an important goal when Wilson, who put in a battling performance all evening, sent a direct ball into the path of Aaron Kelly who held his composure to tap the ball low and hard with his right foot past Darragh McLaughlin in the Malin goals.
Picture caption: Aaron Kelly fires past Darragh McLaughlin for the Sean MacCumhaills goal. Picture by Chris Doherty.
Using the goal as a springboard MacCumhaills pushed on and nearly recorded a second goal but Alan Patton’s palmed effort lacked the power required to challenge the Malin keeper.
Both teams exchanged wides before Joe Dunnion pointed over from play after a direct run through the middle of the pitch.
With 5 minutes to go in the half a foul on team captain Steven O’Reilly afforded Mac Cumhaills the chance to work another point from play with Wilson opting to pass to O’Reilly who launched his shot high into the air and between the posts.
A high challenge on Nathan Gavigan gave Mulligan to convert from the free and Darren McGowan added a score of his own to see out the half with MacCumhaills 1-6 to 0-3 ahead.
The visitors started the second half in blistering form with Malin breaking through the Mac Cumhaills defence and Brendan McLaughlin having a shot on goal only for it to be excellently denied by Patton.
Mulligan pointed from a free but it was Malin who entered a purple patch where they hit four points without reply from Brendan McLaughlin (free) and a trio of frees from Anthony Kelly to claw back the lead the home side had at half time.
Goal scorer Aaron Kelly got Mac Cumhaills next point but Brendan McLaughlin notched Malin’s goal when he cut in from a tight angle and gave Patton no chance in goals and the gap was now 1 point in favour of the home side.
[adrotate group=”52″]Conor Griffin stood out when it was really needed and won possession of a dangerous ball in and won a foul for his troubles. Malin made great strides for another goal but their effort banged off the bar to go over for a point.
Malin took the lead shortly after and were putting the hosts under severe pressure.
A Stephen Mulligan point helped steady the ship but it was the introduction of Barney Lafferty that really turned the game for Mac Cumhaills.
Lafferty converted a free and converted from play after good interlinking play from Mulligan and Wilson. Martin Gallagher was strong at the back in the dying minutes to deny Malin.
Tempers were flaring in the dying minutes and O’Reilly was black carded along with Daniel McDaid being sent off.
[adrotate group=”37″]In a nail-biting finish Mac Cumhaills had the chances to seal the game but saw two efforts go wide but Barney Lafferty showed great determination and strength to point over from play and seal the game by three points.
Sean Mac Cumhaills: Chris Patton; Gerard Grindle, Martin Gallagher, Conor Griffin; Andrew McCloskey, Gary Dunnion, Gary Wilson; Nathan Gavigan, Steven O’Reilly (0-1); Aaron Kelly (1-1), Joe Dunnion (0-1), Darren McGowan (0-1); Stephen Mulligan (0-4), Alan Patton, Adam Lynch (0-1). Subs: Barney Lafferty (0-3) for McCloskey, Darren O’Leary for O’Reilly (black card).
Malin: Darragh McLaughlin; Gary Farren, Connor Farren, Conor Byrne; Thomas McLaughlin, Michael McLaughlin, Paul McLaughlin; Kieron McColgan, Anthony Kelly (0-3,3f); Conor McColgan, Daniel McDaid (0-2), Brendan McLaughlin (1-1); Danny McCarron, Seamus Houghton (0-1), Darren Mullarkey (0-1, 1f). Subs: Stephen McLaughlin (0-1) for T.McLaughlin, Aidan Bambrick for M. McLaughlin.
Referee: James Connors (St. Eunan’s).
Tags:
