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Bradley rescues Dunree with late strike 24.11.11
Strand Hotel First Division

Dunree United...1
(Bradley 90+3)

Moville Reserves...1
(Lafferty 45)

Caoimhinn Barr reports from St. Egney’s Park (Photo: Herbie Barr)

CENTRAL defender Ryan Bradley was the hero as Dunree United salvaged a point with an equaliser in the third minute of injury time against Moville Reserves on Sunday afternoon.
With the clock ticking down and the visitors leading courtesy of Conor Lafferty’s first-half strike, Bradley turned in Philip McGuinness’ cross at the death to earn an unlikely draw for the below-par Linsfort men.
Moville boss John L. Coyle will wonder how his team, in control throughout, failed to cement the three points while Dunree manager Stephen Doherty will have been delighted to get something out of a game in which his players never really got out of second gear.
With Mickey Craig and John Paul Thompson in commanding form at the back, Moville rarely looked like losing their opening period lead and, but for the brilliance of Dunree keeper David Eccles, could have won by two or three clear goals.
The visitors controlled possession in central areas with Christy McGeoghan, Michael Brendan Doherty and Shaun Doherty catching the eye with some excellent football that had Henry Connolly and Liam Baldrick under pressure all afternoon.
Typically excellent in attack, Conor Lafferty should really have won it for the Moville second stringers but his 80th minute effort crashed off the bar from eight yards with Eccles beaten.
To their credit, Dunree kept going until the end and were eventually rewarded when Ryan Bradley found himself in space in the box before keeping his cool to sidefoot past Ralph Bredin from ten yards.
Moville could have been ahead inside the first minute when Christy McGeoghan headed Conor Lafferty’s cross over the top after good foraging on the edge of the area by Kevin McDermott.
Dunree could have broken the deadlock themselves less than three minutes later but Thomas McKinley skewed wide after being put in the clear by an incisive Philip McGuinness pass.
Home keeper David Eccles was out quickly to save at the feet of Moville frontman Kevin McDermott before ambitious Shaun Doherty set his sights high and wide from all of forty yards.
At the other end Mickey Craig blocked Constantin Banica’s effort before Dunree’s Thomas Mulhern blasted over from eighteen yards. Mulhern then took advantage of a mix-up in the visitors defence before lifting over Ralph Bredin and the goal from the edge of the box.
That spurned opportunity sparked Moville into life and John L. Coyle’s visitors went on to dominate the remainder of the first-half with some scintillating passing and movement.
Under pressure, Kevin McDermott flicked John Gillen’s cross over the top before Dunree keeper Eccles made a fantastic stop, low to his left, to deny Moville midfielder Michael Brendan Doherty.
The Dunree number one was quickly off his line again minutes later to deny Christy McGeoghan after good work by Kevin McDermott and Christy McLaughlin before Michael Brendan Doherty half-volleyed wide of the target.
Racing clear onto Gearoid McQuillan’s long ball, Moville striker Conor Lafferty was denied by another superb Eccles save with his feet before McQuillan drilled over from distance.
With the half drawing to a close Dunree were back on the front foot with Thomas McKinley and Liam Baldrick firing over before Moville finally broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Picking up possession on the right, Michael Brendan Doherty fed Conor Lafferty, who smashed past Eccles from a tight angle.
The Foylesiders began the second period in confident mood with Lafferty latching onto another McQuillan ball over the top only to be thwarted once more by the excellent David Eccles.
Moville defenders John Paul Thompson and Mickey Craig snuffed out the threat of Dunree trio Bernie Doherty, Liam Baldrick and Kevin McColgan before Kevin McDermott’s stinging shot, at the other end, was brilliantly tipped over by Eccles following Shaun Doherty’s raking pass from the left.
Conor Lafferty then arrowed high and wide from distance before setting up Shaun Doherty, whose shot was comfortably gathered by Eccles.
The visitors should have sealed all three points with ten minutes remaining but Lafferty was out of luck when his controlled effort crashed off the crossbar after Christy McGeoghan’s perfect centre.
That miss was to prove ultimately costly as, with the seconds ticking down, Ryan Bradley turned in Philip McGuinness’ cross from the right to earn Dunree a point they scarcely deserved.
Dunree United: David Eccles, Kevin McColgan, Bernie Doherty, Barry Nixon, Ryan Bradley, Thomas Mulhern, Liam Baldrick, Henry Connolly, Constantin Banica, Thomas McKinley, Philip McGuinness. Subs: Neil Moran, Benny McDaid, Sean Doherty, Mickey Grant.
Moville Reserves: Ralph Bredin, Christopher McLaughlin, Gearoid McQuillan, Mickey Craig, John Paul Thompson, John Gillen, Christy McGeoghan, Michael B. Doherty, Shaun Doherty, Conor Lafferty, Kevin McDermott. Subs: Jimmy Holmes, Frankie McGuinness, Shaun Downey, Shane Skelly.

AT A GLANCE

Man of the Match
Liam Baldrick and Bernie Doherty caught the eye for Dunree while Ryan Bradley also deserves a mention for his late winner. On the Moville side, Shaun Doherty, Conor Lafferty and Kevin McDermott excelled but the award goes to central defender Mickey Craig, who didn’t put a foot wrong all afternoon.

Turning Point
Conor Lafferty’s first-half goal looked like being the game’s key moment until his 80th minute effort crashed off the bar to let Dunree off the hook. The home side took full advantage of their late lifeline to earn a crucial point in the race for promotion to the Premier Division.

Ref Watch
Referee Martin McGonigle had an excellent game in the middle. Tried to let the game flow and kept his cards in his pocket. Had no real big calls to make and was entirely fair to both sides throughout. Moville thought they should have had a first-half penalty when Kevin McDermott was sent sprawling in the box but an award would have been harsh.

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