Iskaheen side clinch Burt
tournament
18.03.10
ISKAHEEN'S Naomh Pádraig
won the inaugural Downey-McLaughlin Memorial
seven-a-side competition in Burt last Saturday, coming
from behind to defeat Buncrana in an exciting final.
In all, 11 teams took part in the day long competition
which was held in memory of Burt club members Gary
McLaughlin and Darren Downey who lost their lives in the
road traffic collision last May. All moneys raised at
the tournament will be donated to the Foyle Hospice.
Group 1 pitted Letterkenny Gaels against Brian Óg’s
Steelstown with the Letterkenny side winning by seven
points. Both sides qualified for the quarter-finals.
Urris dominated Group 2, racking up a big win over Derry
side Ardmore before defeating Moville by four points.
Moville hit six goals past Ardmore to qualify for the
quarter-finals.
In Group 3, Burt lost out to Lifford in the opening game
and when John Mitchel’s defeated Lifford in the second
game it set up a must win game for Burt in the final
game against the Liverpool side. However, John Mitchel’s
– featuring local men Conal Reddin, Joseph Donaghy and
William McLaughlin – won by a point to eliminate the
hosts and advance to the quarter-finals along with
Lifford.
Group 4 was an all-Inishowen affair. Buncrana pipped
Naomh Pádraig Iskaheen by a goal in the opening game and
beat Division 2 rivals Malin in the second game to win
the group. The final game saw Muff outwit Malin, winning
by a single point to advance to the quarter-finals.
The quarter-finals saw Letterkenny Gaels beat Moville by
two points and Urris have a point to spare over Lifford.
Buncrana were much too strong for Steelstown while the
match between Naomh Pádraig and John Mitchel’s went to
penalties after the sides drew 1-7 apiece. Goals from
Anthony McColgan and Oisin McColgan, and superb
goalkeeping by Christy Lynch, who saved the final
penalty from William (Heifer) McLaughlin, save Naomh
Pádraig advance to meet Letterkenny Gaels in the
semi-final.
Letterkenny Gaels had surprised themselves to get as far
as the semi-finals, and with tiredness setting in, they
fell to a seven point defeat to the eventual winners.
The other semi-final saw Buncrana overcome Urris.
Buncrana netted three goals early on, and set up a
defensive cordon in front of their posts that Urris
couldn’t breach.
And so to the final. Buncrana were quickly out of the
blocks and with goals from Ryan Bradley and Christy
Bell, they led by 2-5 to 1-3 at half time, Naomh
Pádraig’s goal coming from the boot of Oisin McColgan.
Buncrana extended their lead early in the second half,
but Muff dragged themselves back into the game.
Goalkeeper Christy Lynch broke up the pitch and slammed
an unstoppable shot to the top left corner to reduce the
deficit and with time ticking down they trailed by just
two points. On the cusp of full time Anthony McColgan
hit 1-1 in quick succession and the title was on its way
to Muff.
Afterwards, Jackie Downey presented Naomh Pádraig
Iskaheen captain Eunan Keaveney with the
Downey-McLaughlin memorial cup.
The organising committee thanked referees Paddy
McGonagle, Hugo Wallace and Ciaran Molloy for
officiating at the tournament. |
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For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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