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Carn take numerical advantage 22.04.09
14-man Emmets struggle

Carndonagh...2-09
(Burke (1/4), Newton (1-1), Nelson (0-3), Matthews (0-1)

Robert Emmets...0-5
(Lafferty (0-4), McConnell (0-1)

Report: Inishowen Independent

IN A feisty encounter Carndonagh had enough to put away Robert Emmets of Castlefin in Foden on Saturday. The home team have got off to a pretty good start this season winning two of their first three matches, their only blemish being an away defeat to the recently relegated Fanad Gaels. On the other hand Emmets have had a poor start to their year with only one point to show so far for their efforts.
The Castlefin side came to Inishowen with confidence but a moronic sending off before a score was even recorded and a tremendous display by Darren Burke ensured a home victory was on the cards. The home team were boosted by the fact that their reserves had won by a five point margin and started the game positively in an attacking mindset. Emmets were also attacking and unenforced errors from both sides were prevalent in the opening exchanges.
Referee Hugo Wallace was called into action early on having to send off Robert Emmets’ Dean McBrearty for an ugly off the ball altercation with Carndonagh’s Fergal Matthews. From the resultant free Darren Burke recorded his first score of the day. The home side had a chance to increase their lead but Eanna Newton sliced a good chance wide. Emmets hit back with a good point from distance by Michael Lafferty. Carn came back with Burke claiming another point after a quick free by Gerard Doherty. However Michael Lafferty was having an exceptional game and scored two quick points to put the away side in the lead. Carn’s Eanna Newton responded with a point after good work to level the match. Carn had several opportunities to go into the break ahead but a combination of wides and good saves from Paul Lafferty in goals denied them. It was the away side who went into the break with the lead courtesy of a Niall McConnell free.
Whatever was said at half time to the Carndonagh players had the desired effect as they were much improved in the second half. Newton was unlucky not to add to his tally early in the half but soon made amends with a goal that changed the game. Receiving a long ball out of midfield Newton went on a run that the men from Castlefin couldn’t deal with and slammed
home when most on the sidelines were calling for him to simply put it over, a great goal. Burke and Michael Nelson soon added two more points for the home side who were taking full advantage of being a man up.
Emmets were still fighting and Lafferty recorded his fourth score of the game from a free to put three points between the teams. Unfortunately for the away side that was their last score of the match with Burke effectively ending the game with a goal and a point in rapid succession. The point came after a ball forward from Garvan McGrenra but the goal was even more of a team effort. McGrenra won the ball and fed it to Matthews who teed up Burke for a relatively simple goal.
Having a man less Robert Emmets seemed broken at this point and points from Michael Nelson and Fergal Matthews only padded the scoreline for the home team as the visitors were bereft of ideas in attack. In fact the visitors were indebted to keeper Paul Lafferty who pulled off good saves from Burke and Cathal O’Kane to keep the result respectable as Carn looked to put the game beyond doubt. So far so good for Carndonagh, whisper it but a second successive promotion may not be beyond their reach.

Carndonagh: Martin Mooney, Michael Nelson, Michael McLaughlin, Aiden Callaghan, Conor Doherty, Paddy Nelson, Rory Ward, Dominic Doherty,(Declan O’Donnell) Gerard Doherty, Garvan McGrenra, Darren Burke (Christopher McLaughlin) , Ryan Davenport, Eanna Newton, Cathal Doherty, Fergal Matthews.

Robert Emmets: Paul Lafferty, Colm O’Doherty, Conor McConnell, Enda O’Doherty Emmet Callaghan, Rodney Stewart, Michael McGlinchy, Dean McBrearty, Simon McGlinchy, Johnny McLaughlin, Michael Lafferty, Marty McCrossan, Emmet White, Niall McConnell, Paul McCauley.

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