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Carn’s relegation worries eased 13.10.11
 All County League Division 3

by Damian Dowds at O’Doherty Park, Foden (Photo: Herbie Barr)

SEVEN days after beating high-flying Buncrana, Carndonagh sent lowly Downings deeper into the relegation mire with a five point victory at Foden on Sunday evening.
Both sides were tentative and slow to settle down in a dour first half. Downings had the benefit of the wind in the first half, but made little of it and the sides were tied at 0-3 to 1-0 at the break.
Carn set the foundation for victory in the third quarter, with Donnacha Gallagher hitting 1-2 in a five minute spell on the resumptions, and further points from Eanna Newton and Rory Ward had them 1-7 to 1-1 clear with 15 minutes remaining. Downings then had their best spell of the match, and reduced the deficit to four points, but two fine Ryan Davenport points, the second in injury time, made sure that Carn’s remarkable late season revival continues. Considering that Downings are in the relegation mire too, Sunday’s game saw a swing of four league points going Carn’s way.
While some of their teammates were slow to settle, Ryan Davenport, Paddy Nelson, Oliver McConalogue and Eanna Newton got up to speed quickly and Carn had the better of the opening exchanges, although they only had a fifth minute Donnacha Gallagher point to show for it. Shooting into the wind, Carn were guilty of five first half wides, and dropped the ball short into keeper Paddy McGroddy’s hands on a further three occasions.
Downings too were struggling to find their scoring boots, hitting aimless ball into the full forward line and five first half wides before Eric Roberts hit an unlikely 21st minute goal. Oisin Boyce played a long ball into the full forward line that Roberts struggled to control. The ball hopped towards the endline, to the left of the posts, but Roberts swung his left boot bamboozling keeper Declan O’Donnell who looked on in disbelief as the ball flashed across the face of goals and nestled in the net just inside the right hand post.
Whether it was a fluke or a cracker, only Roberts will know, but Marco Van Basten would have been proud of it.
Carn might have panicked but didn’t. Donnacha Gallagher picked out an unmarked Gerard Doherty for the tall midfielder to point from the left, and in the 27th minute Rory Ward set Ryan Davenport off on a long solo up the right wing and the latter hit a fine equaliser.
Donnacha Gallagher pushed Carn ahead within 20 seconds of the restart with a point from the left corner, and he found the net on 35 minutes. Eanna Newtown and Rory Ward combined to set up Gallagher who rifled the ball low to the net. And when Gallagher added a point from play immediately after the goal their lead was up to five points.
Eanna Newton got on the scoresheet soon after as Carn led by 1-6 to 1-0 by the 37th minute.
Colin Gallagher pulled a point back for the Downings men, and with both sides introducing subs the game opened up somewhat. Rory Ward capped a fine individual performance with a point when he drove forward from defence, exchanged passes with sub Ritchie Cunningham, and split the posts.
Gary McClafferty won and converted a close range free, but Ryan Davenport responded with a good point from play.
With Carn easing off, Downings got in for two late points from corner back James McFadden and substitute Aaron McClafferty, to reduce the deficit to four points. Davenport struck again for another good point after taking a pass from Fergal Matthews and Carn comfortably retained possession to run the clock down and record their second successive win.

Carndonagh: Declan O’Donnell; Mickey Nelson, Joe Lafferty, Ronan O’Connor; Paddy Nelson, Gerry Simpson, Rory Ward (0-1); Oliver McConalogue, Gerard Doherty (K) (0-1); Ryan Davenport (0-3), Donnacha Gallagher (1-3), Pádraig Doherty; Paddy McCallion, Eanna Newton (0-1), Garvin McGrenra. Subs: Ritchie Cunningham for McGrenra (37 mins); Fergal Matthews for P. Doherty (45 mins); Dominic Doherty for P. McCallion (51 mins).

Downings: Paddy McGroddy; Michael Bradley, David Haye, James McFadden (0-1); Danny McBride, Declan McBride, Oisin Boyce; Shane McClafferty, Shay Coyle; Sean McBride, Colin Gallagher (0-1), Sean Boyce; Eric Roberts (1-0), Gary McClafferty (0-1), Andy Connors. Subs: Brendan McGee for S. Boyce (39 mins); Aaron McClafferty (0-1) for A. Connors (42 mins).

Man-of-the-match
Donnacha Gallagher top-scored for Carn, Paddy Nelson drove forward from defence at every opportunity, and Oliver McConalogue and Gerard Kinnego fielded well around the middle, but Ryan Davenport was the man-of-the-match. The half forward was busy and energetic throughout, linking well between defence and attack, and hit two important late points to break Downings’ momentum.

Score of the match
Eric Roberts’ screamer across the face of goal and into the net was a simply stunning finish, although it was a hit and hope shot that could have went anywhere.
Carn’s goal was better worked, with Eanna Newton and Rory Ward combining to set up Donnacha Gallagher who steamed in from the right and struck a composed finish under Downings’ impressive goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.

The great escape?
Since beating Urris on 24 July (only their second victory of the season), Carn have since beat Milford, Buncrana and now Downings, drew with St Naul’s, and lost to Naomh Bríd.
Having spent most of the season adrift at the bottom of Division 3, Carn are now fourth from bottom with Milford, Downings and Naomh Colmcille below them, although each of clubs have games in hand.
Carn have three games remaining – against Naomh Colmcille, Milford and Burt – and escaping relegation lies entirely n their own hands – something that didn’t look likely half way through the season.

Referee watch
Tony Gallagher had another good game, although it was easily reffed with both teams playing the game in an honest spirit. Carn may have been a little unhappy that some late challenges went unpunished, but playing the advantage is always preferable to being too whistle happy.

For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.
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