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Cockhill overcome Illies
25.01.11
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Illies Reserves...0 Cockhill Reserves...1 (Fletcher) by Caoimhinn Barr at Stranaclea Road (Photo: Herbie Barr) A STUNNING first-half strike by Alan Fletcher sealed a narrow derby win for Cockhill Reserves at the Illies last Sunday morning. A well-deserved three points now sees the Cockhill third stringers move above their local rivals, who slipped into the bottom two after a disappointing display. On a bright breezy morning, Illies huffed and puffed, creating little in attack while Cockhill comfortably protected their early lead. Playing with the wind at their backs in the first-half, Cockhill dominated possession, pinning Illies back for long periods. In contrast, the home team could not get to grips with the elements; time and again during the second period Illies attacks petered out with a succession of wind-assisted long passes trundling harmlessly over the Cockhill byeline. With Brian King and Alan Fletcher bolstering the spine of the team, Cockhill goalkeeper Stephen Porter was rarely troubled by an Illies attack missing ace finisher Matthew Grant. Playing against the wind, Illies were first to threaten when industrious frontman Joe McDaid burst forward before dragging his right-foot shot just wide of the post. |
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Quick-thinking midfielder
Alan Fletcher almost had the visitors in front moments
later after seizing upon Illies keeper Graham Doherty’s
short clearance before launching a first-time shot
goalwards. Doherty recovered well though to tip
Fletcher’s dipping effort over the bar. Illies winger Eamon Hegarty embarked on a menacing run on the left before a perfectly timed tackle from defender Brian King put Cockhill back on the front foot. With Fletcher and Kevin McDaid working hard in midfield, Cockhill, with the wind at their backs, began to dominate. An Aaron McLaughlin corner was headed clear from under his own crossbar by Illies defender Dominic Doherty before another |
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corner led to the opening
goal. After Kevin McDaid’s corner was only partially cleared Alan Fletcher fired home a stunning half-volley from twenty yards to give Cockhill a deserved lead. Gary Breslin almost doubled the visitors’ advantage within minutes but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Illies defender Dominic Doherty, who chased back brilliantly to keep his team in the game. With Illies struggling to create anything in attack, Cockhill finished the first-half strongly; Alan Fletcher fired an Aaron McLaughlin cross wide of the mark before Christy Hegarty’s shot from distance flew over the bar. A Kevin McDaid shot was well saved by Illies keeper Graham Doherty before Frank O’Connor’s shot at the other end was well blocked during a rare home attack. Helped by the breeze in the second-period, Illies began in buoyant mood with Shane Devlin, David Grant and Gerard McDaid all going close. A long clearance from Graham Doherty then almost caught Cockhill keeper Stephen Porter by surprise; the number one punching the ball behind in the swirling wind. Well marshalled by bearded defender Brian King, Cockhill comfortably withstood the Illies pressure before an Alan Fletcher shot was well saved low to his right by Graham Doherty. Cockhill substitute Mark Gillespie flashed a free-kick just over the bar before a Sean Donaghey snap shot whizzed narrowly wide of the Illies goal. With keeper Graham Doherty propelled into attack for the last twenty minutes, substitute John Grant was stationed between the Illies posts. Gathering a Frank O’Connor pass, Joe McDaid saw a shot well saved before firing wide from the edge of the area. A succession of last home corners failed to supply Illies with the equaliser they coveted as Cockhill held on for a deserved victory. Illies Reserves: Graham Doherty, Noel McGlinchey, Liam O’Connor, Dominic Doherty, Cathal Doherty, Gerard McDaid, Shane Devlin, Eamon Hegarty, Joe McDaid, David Grant, Frank O’Connor. Subs: John Grant, Eddie Masterson, Raymond Doherty, Dominic Coyle. Cockhill Reserves: Stephen Porter, Aaron McLaughlin, Marty Breslin, Brian King, Bruce Waldron, Chrsity Hegarty, Kevin McDaid, Alan Fletcher, Gary Breslin, Sean Donaghey, Sean McDaid. Subs: Mark Gillespie, Sean Gillespie, Andy Graham, Cathal Doherty. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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