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Inishowen bow out
18.11.08
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Inishowen League...1 (Gill 14) Mayo League...1 (O’Malley 56) by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at Foyle Park AFTER their great run to the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor Trophy last season hopes were high of another run this year, but with a change of format to a three team group it was pivotal Inishowen got off to a good start. However, a 4-2 reversal at the hands of the Galway League in game one meant that Inishowen’s hopes were hanging by a thread going into their second and final group game against the Mayo League at Foyle Park on Sunday afternoon. Inishowen needed to win handsomely and hope that Mayo defeat Galway narrowly in the final game to progress out of the group. |
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Despite the size of the
task, Inishowen set about the challenge with great
belief. Bryan Bell’s boys had Mayo on the back foot from
the kick off. In the fourth minute Eamon Donnelly sent a
fine long pass out to Seanan McColgan on the left wing
and the youngster teed-up Brian Treacy who fired over.
McColgan pace on the left was a potent weapon for the home side and the left-winger had a part in Inishowen’s opening goal in the 14th minute. McColgan collected a Paul Grant pass and cut inside the fullback then passed to an unmarked Gerry Gill just inside the box and the former Finn Harps midfielder confidently side-footed home. Other chances followed. Paul McLaughlin showed excellent control to chest and turn but his volley was blocked out for a corner. |
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Inishowen put Mayo keeper
Emmet Payton under pressure early and often in the first
half and after a half-clearance in the 27th minute Gill
laid the ball back for Malachy McDermott whose venomous
30-yarder flew past the corner of post and crossbar. The Mayo men offered little in an attacking sense in the first half a 35th minute Dessie O’Mally header over was as close as they got and even that was blown offside. In fact Crossan in the home net didn’t have a save worthy of the name to make in the first 45 minutes. Inishowen and Gill really should have made it two right at the end of the first half when Brian Treacy played a superb reverse pass to Gill up the middle. The Moville Celtic player tore in on goal but his flick went just the wrong side of the far post. The alert Gill almost caught Stephen Ryan napping at the start of the second half but the Mayo defender recovered after Gill blocked down his clearance. The visitors gained the upper hand in the second half. Inishowen had Crossan to thank for preserving their lead in the 47th minute after the ball cannoned off the legs of substitute Eugene Gorman straight into the David Cameron’s path. The Mayo man’s shot seemed destined to find the bottom corner only for the big Redcastle stopper to execute a difficult save down low to his right. The home side were struggling somewhat at this stage to contain Mayo’s attackers and in the 53rd minute the quick-footed Andy Neary broke through and was brought crashing down by Paul Grant’s miss-timed tackle which earned the Inishowen man the first yellow card of the game. A minute later Cameron teased Martin Farren into going to ground then skipped past the challenge and crossed low across the box to full-back Ger O’Boyle who drilled just over. Mayo’s pressure told in the 56th minute when Neary rose highest to flick a cross on to O’Malley and this time Crossan had no chance as the forward lashed a half volley into the far corner. That strike left Inishowen needing the football equivalent of snookers but try as they might they couldn’t put Mayo behind the brown ball. Stephen McLaughlin and Joe Doherty entered the fray midway through the second half and this helped Inishowen turn the tide their way once again. Doherty sprayed a superb ball out to the right flank for Gill who chipped invitingly to the back post for Stephen McLaughlin but the Clonmany Shamrocks winger failed to trouble Peyton. McLaughlin then returned the favour but Gill did no better with his header than McLaughlin had done with his. In the dying stages Inishowen piled forward but Peyton made a superb double save to Joe Doherty then McLaughlin from close range. That save preserved a point for Declan Kilkelly’s boys, who must now beat Galway in the final group game to advance. Inishowen: Gerard Crossan, Joe Grant, Paul Grant, Eamon Donnelly, Martin Farren, Jimmy Gallagher, Paul McLaughlin, Malachy McDermott, Gerry Gill, Brian Treacy, Seanan McColgan. Subs: Stephen McLaughlin for McColgan (62), Joe Doherty for Paul McLaughlin (67). Mayo: Emmet Payton, Paul Walsh, Ger O’Boyle, Joe Lawless, Stephen Ryan, Danny Scamill, David Cameron, Andy Neary, Gerry McLaughlin, Ronnie O’Boyle, Dessie O’Malley. Subs: Eugene O’Gorman for O’Boyle (40), James Jennings for Walsh (HT), Alan O’Donnell for McLaughlin (74). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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