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Buncrana promoted to Premier Division
Strand Hotel First Division  15.05.08

Glengad...2
(Patrick McDermott 67, John McDaid 85)

Buncrana...3
(Patrick Fletcher 7, Seanan Murphy 26, Jonathan Eccles 107)

by Michael Stamp, Inishowen Independent, in Carndonagh

Sometimes in football you don’t get your just desserts. You can dominate 80% of a match but if you can’t get those all important goals you pay for it. This was the case on Sunday’s First Division play off final between Glengad and Buncrana; despite having the upper hand for most of the match Glengad were unable to put their gritty opponents to the sword.
Glengad had the first big chance with a Patrick McDermott free kick that Adrian Brown had covered. Glengad had other chances through Paul and John McDermott before Buncrana had their first chance when Brian Bradley’s free was headed just over by Michael Caldwell. The pace during the opening moments was relentless and it seemed like just a matter of time before we had a goal. It seemed that the goal was going to go the way of Glengad when Paul McDermott headed just over.
However against the run of play Buncrana took the lead when the Glengad defence failed to deal with a ball from Greg Bradley leaving Patrick Fletcher unmarked to shoot past Michael McLaughlin. Glengad tried to hit back with John McDermott shooting just wide, a free kick from Patrick McDermott was met by the head of Michael Doherty who forced a good save from Brown.
Buncrana's Pauric O'Flaherty and Glengad's Patrick McDermott battle for this 50-50.
Against the run of play Buncrana doubled their lead through Seanan Murphy. A well delivered corner from Brian Bradley was met with a good header by the unmarked Murphy to give Glengad a mountain to climb. Michael Doherty almost gave Glengad a lifeline with a header that Brown saved well. Glengad dominated the rest of the half but couldn’t find a way into the Buncrana net despite efforts from Terrence Doherty, Bernard Doherty and Ruairí Doherty.
It was more of the same at the start of the second half with Patrick McDermott’s free kicks causing danger and Terrence Doherty coming close with a cheeky lob. A corner from Patrick McDermott was cleared off the line by Buncrana captain Karl Kelly. It was only a matter of time before Glengad made their breakthrough and it came on 67 minutes. Glengad substitute Stephen McLaughlin was brought down by Brown and Patrick McDermott made no mistake to put Glengad back in the game.

Conceding the goal seemed to wake up Buncrana with Darren McGlynn forcing Michael McLaughlin into a save after nicking the ball from Jason Doherty. A third goal almost came from Patrick Fletcher who saw his shot cleared off the line.
Just as it seemed Buncrana were home and dry Glengad got an equaliser late on. Substitute John McDaid sent in a cross meant for fellow sub Stephen McLaughlin but the ball went straight to the net and ensured extra time.

Glengad had the better of the first half of extra time with John McDaid and Stephen McLaughlin having efforts. The best chance of the half also fell to Glengad when a ball from McDaid was dummied by Stephen McLaughlin as far as Terrence Doherty who waited too long to shot and Brown was able to claim the ball.
In the second period Buncrana were dominant with Adrian Doherty’s cross headed just wide by Fletcher. Buncrana had other chances before scoring the winner with three minutes left. Seanan Murphy went good run down the wing and his cross ended up nestling in the top corner of Michael McLaughlin’s goal to put Buncrana up and consign Glengad to another year in the First Division.

Glengad: Michael McLaughlin, Patrick Doherty, Jason Doherty, Patrick McDermott, Shane Doherty, Michael Doherty, John A McLaughlin, Ruairí Doherty, Paul McDermott (Stephen McLaughlin), Terrence Doherty, John McDermott (John McDaid). Sub: Ronald McDaid.

Buncrana: Adrian Brown, Karl Kelly, Brian Bradley, Seanan Murphy, Michael Caldwell, Greg Bradley (Simon McGrory), Bernard Doherty (Adrian Doherty), Darren McGlynn (Oisin O’Flaherty), Pauric O’Flaherty, Patrick Fletcher, Jonathan Eccles. Sub: Michael Furey.

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