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Rashenny claims Fr O'Gara Cup
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Rashenny...1 (Ryan Harkin ’35) Clonmany Shamrocks Reserves...0 by Michael Stamp, Inishowen Independent, at St Egney’s Park, Dunree THERE ARE few things in football that can be as disappointing as a cup final. Never mind the pain of losing as a partisan fan but the games always disappoint as a spectacle. With a trophy on offer after 90 minutes of football neither team wants to make a mistake which leads to cagey defensive football that is dull for the neutrals. Couple this caution with the pride at stake in a local derby and a poor match is pretty much guaranteed. This proved to be the case on a hot Sunday afternoon in Dunree when Clonmany Shamrock’s Reserves took on Rashenny in the Father O’Gara Cup Final. Rashenny’s last triumph in this competition came 11 years ago, in the 1996/97 season, and they came out with all guns blazing. Rashenny almost took the lead early on when Eamon Mahon’s header hit the bar after a John McLaughlin corner. |
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Rashenny were the better
team in the first half and had the ball in the net after
nine minutes when Ryan Harkin slotted home, however it
was rightly ruled offside. At this point Clonmany were
defending resolutely and trying to catch their opponents
on the break. This tactic almost paid off when SP
Doherty headed just wide from an Andrew Doherty free
kick. Clonmany goalkeeper Paddy Harkin was called into action when Ryan Harkin was left one-on-one but the Clonmany keeper did well to clear the danger. With all their pressure it seemed inevitable that Rashenny would score and they drew first blood after 35 minutes. A good ball in from Eamon Mahon caused indecision in the Clonmany defence and Ryan Harkin was well placed to hit home. With an obvious height advantage Rashenny’s game plan of playing high balls was working to perfection and the |
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smaller Clonmany men were
reduced to abandoning their usual style of football and
trying to compete in the air. Clonmany were much better
in the second half however but the game was still sloppy
with both sides making mistakes. Rashenny had an
excellent chance to double their lead when Alan Friel
sent a great ball through to Denis Hegarty but his shot
was well saved by Paddy Harkin who managed to gather the
ball before Anthony Doherty could get to it. Harkin was by far the busier keeper being forced to pull of saves from John McLaughlin and an outstanding stop from Barney Doherty. Clonmany hit back with efforts from Edmund Doherty and Dessie Doherty but both were pretty tame efforts that Kieran Friel had well covered. Clonmany almost gifted Rashenny a second goal when a mix up between Ivan Doherty and Harkin led to the centre back heading past his own keeper but Doherty did well to clear for a corner. Clonmany were exerting a lot of pressure but couldn’t get any reward with Mickey Harkin and Dessie Doherty both having shots saved. Despite their best efforts Clonmany couldn’t force extra time and Rashenny captain Paul McConologue raised the cup. Rashenny: Kieran Friel, Brian Devlin, Paul McConologue, Vincent Brennan, Liam Diver, Eamon Mahon, Alan Friel, John McLaughlin, Denis Hegarty (Damien Friel), Ryan Harkin (John Doherty), Anthony Doherty (Barney Doherty). Subs, Simon Friel, Brian Grant, Shaun Doherty. Clonmany Shamrocks Reserves: Paddy Harkin, Emlyn Doherty, Declan Grant, Ivan Doherty, Andrew Doherty (Ciaran Doherty), Edmund Doherty, Mickey Harkin, Dessie Doherty, Karl Harkin, Sean Doherty (Aidan Doherty), SP Doherty (Kevin Harkin). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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