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Reds are kings of the castles 09.01.08

Greencastle Reserves...2
(James McColgan, Michael Farren)

Redcastle Reserves...3
(Brendan Murphy, Stephen Grant, Seamus Farren)

By Liam Porter, Inishowen Independent, at Chapel Lane

A LATE headed goal from Seamus Farren was enough to help Redcastle’s Reserves take victory over Greencastle Reserves in a hard fought but entertaining encounter at Chapel Lane on Sunday.
The visitors have been in excellent form this season and Sunday morning’s victory made it four wins on the trot for them, but they were made to fight all the way by a Greencastle side who battled bravely but who ran out of steam near the end.
The home side did however start brightly and James McColgan forced a good save from Liam Davenport in the 3rd minute as Greencastle pressed for an early goal. That chance seemed to kick start Redcastle into action and five minutes later Brendan Murphy had a good shot saved by Patsy Barr with his feet. A minute later Colm McLaughlin played a great ball behind the home defence but Seamus Farren dragged his shot wide of the target.
At this stage it was all Redcastle and they came close again in the 13th minute when Murphy combined with Emmett Conway on the edge of the box but Conway’s shot flew across the face of the goal.
Conway came close again with a curled effort in the 17th minute and then Grencastle hit back. Martin Cooley raced down the right and found James McColgan and his low shot beat Davenport to make it 1-0 to Greencastle.
The response from Redcastle was swift and they were back on level terms within three minutes. A great ball over the top from Matt Grant found Seamus Farren and his low cross was tapped home by Brendan Murphy despite the protests of the home team who were looking for offside.
Three minutes later the visitors were ahead, this time a wonderful goal from Stephen Grant who waltzed into the box and slid the ball past Barr with a great finish.
At that stage it looked as if Redcastle might push on and add further to their tally in the second half, but it was the home side who took the game by the scruff of the neck at the start of the second half.
With veteran Aidan Farren and the impressive John McDermott keeping things tight at the back Greencastle pressed on and eventually were back on level terms in the 54th minute when Michael Farren was upended in the box and he dusted himself down to slot home from the penalty spot.
After that chances were few and far between but it was Redcastle who did all the pressing in the closing stages. Stephen Grant fired wide from close range in the 79th minute and the Seamus Farren had a shot well saved by Barr.
In the end the pressure paid off and with just five minutes left on the clock Farren rose unmarked top head home from Emmett Conway’s corner and make it 3-2 to Redcastle. Even then there might have been late drama, but Liam Davenport was out quickly to smother a chance for Ryan Doherty in the 88th minute and the visitors held on to prove that on the day they were the kings of the castles.
Greencastle Reserves: Patsy Barr, Christy McLaughlin, Cathal Cavanagh, Seamus Doherty, John McDermott, James McColgan, Michael Farren, Martin Cooley, Ryan Doherty, Sean Doherty, Conor Lafferty. Subs: Aidan Farren for Seamus Doherty 14 mins; Duncan Moir for Cathal Cavanagh 51 mins.

Redcastle Reserves:
Liam Davenport, Trevor Davenport, Tom McDermott, Brian Farren, Seamus Doherty, Emmett Conway, Seamus Farren, Matt Grant, Brendan Murphy, Colm McLaughlin, Stephen Grant. Subs: Niall Cavanagh for Tom McDermott 67 mins; Liam McLaughlin for Matt Grant 75 mins.

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