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Spoils shared in local derby
09.09.09
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Cockhill Celtic...1 (Gill ’50) Buncrana Hearts...1 (Duffy ’67) by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at St Mary’s Park WITH Letterkenny Rovers streaking ahead of all comers in the Ulster Senior League, there was little more than local pride at stake on Saturday evening as Cockhill Celtic hosted Buncrana Hearts in a 5pm kick-off. But local pride is a powerful draw, and a large crowd attended St Mary’s Park in the hope of seeing some fireworks. They weren’t to be disappointed either, after a first half that was notable mostly for a rake of meaty tackles, the second half provided two goals, a scatter of yellow cards and one red card. Gerry Gill opened the scoring five minutes after the break when James Bradley capitalised on a moment’s hesitation in what had otherwise been a watertight Buncrana defence. Bradley surged into the left side of the box before cutting the ball back to the unmarked Gill six yards out. Gill stroked his shot low past Hearts’ custodian Rory Kelly to give his side a deserved lead. |
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Buncrana responded
strongly, particularly through centre half Gary Duffy.
Cockhill stopper Stephen Conroy had to be alert to save
a 20-yard free kick that Duffy swung round the wall in
the 52nd minute, and Conroy needed a second attempt to
cleanly collect a 30-yard strike from Duffy on the hour
mark. Cockhill looked particularly dangerous from set pieces throughout, and Paddy McLaughlin cracked a free kick from the edge of the D off the crossbar in the 64th minute before Buncrana brought themselves back into the game through that man Duffy. Pádraic McLaughlin played a free kick from the half way line into the box and Duffy rose highest to send a looping header over Conroy and inside the left |
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hand post. Cockhill had barely taken the kick-off when they found themselves down to ten men. Buncrana’s Johnny McCarron picked up a yellow card for a clumsy tackle beside the Cockhill technical area, but players, management and supporters alike were left shaking their heads when referee Stephen Toner issued a red card to Garbhan Friel for pushing McCarron after that tackle. The game petered out after that. James Bradley shot wide for Cockhill after Paul McKinney had sprung the offside trap to set him up, and Gary Duffy unleashed a 35 yard screamer that crashed off top right corner of the goalposts. The rebound fell to Decky Fullerton who was tackled in the box, but referee Toner waved away Buncrana’s appeals for a penalty. Two minutes from full time Buncrana keeper Rory Kelly got his hand to a smart free kick that Paddy McLaughlin had lofted over a six man wall. The first half was not as exciting as the second. Nevertheless, centre half John McElroy and centre forward Gerard McLaughlin had good battle where quarter was neither asked nor given. Buncrana’s best chance of the half came on the quarter hour when Decky Fullerton chipped in a free kick from the right wing and Gary Duffy got in behind the Cockhill rearguard but steered his shot over the bar. Cockhill created more chances. Garbhan Friel cut in from the left in the 34th minute and but with Rory Kelly rooted to the spot, Friel hit the crossbar and the chance was gone. Gerry Gill drifted in from the left soon after to get himself into a good position, but Pádraic McLaughlin cut out the danger. Gill almost opened the scoring on the stroke of half time. Liam O’Donnell picked up the ball inside his own half and dribbled past several Hearts players before being taken down outside the box. Gill swung the resulting free kick over the wall, but the ball went just inches over the bar. But it was the second half that provided most of the excitement, but the draw means local bragging rights will have to be parked until next season. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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