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Charlie’s call no foggy notion 16.12.09

by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent

GOOD sense prevailed when Charlie Doherty abandoned the Ulster Junior Cup clash between Cockhill Youths and Dunree United at St Mary’s Park on Sunday afternoon after a thick fog descended on the pitch shortly after kick off.
Blinding winter sun faced the teams at the start of the match but barely five minutes in the fog fell around the ground and in less than a minute it was impossible to make out what was happening when play was on the opposite sideline.
Charlie Doherty blew on his whistle three times in the 34th minute to call play to a halt. No one disagreed with his decision, not even the Dunree players, who were leading 2-0 at that stage.
Though they won’t be going into the record books, Kevin McColgan and Benny McDaid might draw some small satisfaction from seeing their goals in print here.
The first came on ten minutes when, after a quickly retrieved ball from touch, Mickey McGlynn threw the ball to Ryan Bradley who’d stolen in behind the Cockhill back four and he centered low to McColgan who side footed home at the back post.
Cockhill’s frantic approach was in stark contrast to the Dunree’s measured build up and on 22 minutes Dunree extended their advantage after excellent work from the pacey Philip McGuinness on the left wing.
McGuinness played a one-two with Ryan Bradley to bypass the Cockhill defence before crossing to the back post for Benny McDaid to score – at least that was the consensus on the Dunree sideline, but all they knew for certain at that stage was that a Benny McDaid-shaped black shadow had wheeled away in celebration.
At the other end Aidan O’Donnell chipped Johnny Noone only to see his shot come back off the inside of the Dunree post.
That was shortly before the referee called a halt to play ensuring the safety of the players, the integrity of the contest and that these local rivals will have meet again on a much clearer day.
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