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Redcastle edge out Moville 20.01.10
Jackie Crossan Premier Division

Redcastle United...2
(McCormick 26, Donnelly 80)

Moville Celtic...1
(McMonagle 40)

by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, at Foyle Park (Photo: Evan Logan)

REDCASTLE United saw off the formidable challenge of neighbours, Moville Celtic, in a keenly contested local derby at Foyle Park on Sunday afternoon.
A superb strike from 25 yards out by man-of-the-match, Eamon Donnelly, with just ten minutes left on the clock, gave the home team all three points.
Moville will count themselves unlucky not to have come away with a point after they matched their opponents for long periods in front of a crowd of one hundred by the banks of the Foyle.
In the end though, the class of Donnelly, Tracey, McCormick and McIntyre proved the difference for Bryan Bell’s team, who keep the pressure on Clonmany at the top of the table.
It was the visitors who made the brighter start with Moville strikers, Joe Doherty and Nigel McMonagle, proving a constant menace to the Redcastle back-line.
Doherty set-up Shane Canning for an early chance but his shot was smartly saved by Redcastle keeper, Crossan. Minutes later McMonagle latched onto a Canning free-kick but the diminutive forward skewed his chance wide.
Bryan Bell’s men soon settled into their stride however and the home team threatened to take the lead after 15 minutes when Brian Tracey’s
cross flashed across Maurice McGeady’s goal following good combination play between McIntyre and McCormick.
McIntyre, the fulcrum for much of the home team’s attacking play, should have scored minutes later but his header from Tracey’s cross flew over the Moville crossbar.
At the other end Moville captain Shane Canning almost found the net with a long range effort after Joe Doherty’s long throw. Doherty’s Rory Delap style missiles troubled the home defence for much of the game.
The breakthrough arrived for the home team after 26 minutes when Charlie McCormick nodded in Seamus Doherty’s pinpoint cross after the Redcastle left-back combined brilliantly with talented Tracey on the wing.
The trio produced the move of the match and it was a fitting opening goal to a quality encounter between two committed teams.
That goal spurred on Bell’s men and the home team could have been further ahead before Moville hit back.
Redcastle wide man Eamon Donnelly wasted two good chances in the space of 90 seconds, when shooting wide and then over from Eddie McIntyre passes.
A 37th minute clearance from under his own crossbar by Moville Celtic’s Conor McLaughlin saved a certain Redcastle goal before Darren Bredin’s men equalised through speedy frontman, Nigel McMonagle.
The striker latched onto Joe Doherty’s expertly headed flick-on before taking his time and coolly slotting past the helpless Gerard Crossan.
McMonagle had deserved his goal and was a thorn in the side of central defenders, Faulkner and Farren, throughout.
The visitor’s could even have snatched a first-half lead but midfielder, Graeme Doherty, headed wide from another excellent Canning delivery.
The second-half was a close fought period with the momentum swinging back and forth between the teams.
Nigel McMonagle’s early shot was well saved by Crossan after Tony McGeady and Shane Canning combined to carve out a chance for Moville.
While minutes later Redcastle’s McIntyre headed over from McCormick’s perfect centre.
The home team dominated the next ten minutes, going close through Gallagher and the impressive Doherty; but with an hour gone the teams were still level.
McGeady and Coyle were solid in the Moville defence and when the former’s pass released Darryl Doherty, the visitors were on the front foot again.
Martin Farren’s crude challenge on Graeme Doherty earned the Redcastle central defender a yellow card but Joe Doherty wasted the chance by firing the free-kick high and wide.
Moville’s striking partnership then combined brilliantly before Farren intervened with a great block to deny Joe Doherty a certain goal.
A Doherty corner was then headed wide by Graeme Doherty as Moville looked the more likely to gain all three points.
McMonagle should have had Moville in front after 70 minutes when he was put clean through by Declan McGuinness, who collected Joe Doherty’s clever flick. Crossan denied the striker with a great save to keep the score at 1-1.
Darren Bredin’s charges failed to capitalise on their purple patch and were made pay when Eamon Donnelly struck brilliantly after 80 minutes.
Moville failed to deal with a home corner and the Redcastle number seven buried his chance from outside the box. It was a stunning controlled finish giving Maurice McGeady no chance. Moments earlier McGeady had brilliantly denied Donnelly with a fingertip save.
To their credit, Moville continued to battle and could have earned a point with the last action of the game when Kevin Coyle headed narrowly over from Joe Doherty’s injury-time cross.

Redcastle United: Gerard Crossan, Liam Davenport, Seamus Doherty, Martin Farren, Cathal Faulkner, Ray Campbell, Eamon Donnelly, Jimmy Gallagher, Charlie McCormick, Eddie McIntyre, Brian Tracey. Subs: Terence Shields for L. Davenport (54), Stephen Davenport for R. Campbell (62), Ciaran McGrory for C. McCormick (75).

Moville Celtic: Maurice McGeady, Conor McLaughlin, Darryl Doherty, Tony McGeady, Kevin Coyle, Shane Canning, Declan McGuinness, Graeme Doherty, Joe Doherty, Nigel McMonagle, Richard McElhinney. Subs: P.J. Barr for D. McGuinness (73), Danny Murphy for C. McLaughlin.

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