Extra time heartbreak for off target ‘Islanders

Extra time heartbreak for off target ‘Islanders

19 September 2018

LOUGHINSLAND were left to rue an inordinate amount of wides when they gave way to Warrenpoint in Castlewellan on Saturday afternoon.

This quarter-final tie was there for the taking, but you just don’t shoot 14 wides and win games, simples.

Declan McClements and Alan Davidson exchanged early scores as did Stefan Mason and Ruairi McCormick before two super scores from Davidson edged Warrenpoint into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 19 minutes.

Warrenpoint had lost their ‘keeper Gary McMahon to a torn thigh muscle at this stage, but Loughinisland steadfastly refused to test his replacement and continued to get the wrong shooters on the ball.

However, they did put pressure on the new custodian’s kick-outs and registered points from Rory (0-3) and Stefan Mason and Declan McClements to take a 0-7 to 0-4 lead after 30 minutes. 

With the game in the 36th minute Warrenpoint rode their luck and when Loughinisland missed what seemed an easy free, Niall McAleenan’s side went straight down the field and reduced the arrears to two points with a score from John Boyle, 0-7 to 0-5.

Loughinisland really should have been out of sight by this stage, but they weren’t and paid a heavy penalty.

Davidson and Dan Gordon swapped points at the start of the second half before two excellent scores from Ross McGarry brought the sides level after 35 minutes.

Rory Mason then put on the burners and scored a delightful goal after a searing run, but Warrenpoint slowly levelled matters with points from McGarry (0-2) and John Boyle, 1-8 to 0-11.

Stefan Mason and Aaron Joe Magee swapped scores to maintain the status quo before Loughinisland jumped into a 1-11 to 0-12 lead with points from Aaron McClements and Paddy Mckenny.

The 60 minutes were up, but Warrenpoint took the game to extra time with points from Donagh McAleenan and a sensational equalising point from McGarry. 

Two Davidson points in the first period put Warrenpoint in the driving seat and Loughinisland suffered an even bigger blow when Rory Mason was red carded for dissent.

Aaron Joe Magee made it a three-point game at the start of the second period, but DEclan McClements kept Loughinisland interested with a nice score. Loughinislan realised it wasn’t going to be their day when Aidan McLaughlin found himself with only Ballyholland’s rookie ‘keeper to beat, but Frank Aiken defied the odds with a match-winning save.

Warrenpoint went down the other end and restored their three-point lead with a point from Aaron Magee and although Loughinisland battled to the bitter end, it was not to be for Brendan Mason’s boys.

Loughinisland: C Turley, S Cochrane, P Megoran, C O’Toole, D McLaughlin, D Gordon (0-1), J Flynn, D McClements (0-3), A McClements (0-1), R Mason (1-3), J McCarthy, P McKenny (0-1), P Digney, S Mason (0-3, 1 45), C Megoran. Subs: R Deegan for C Megoran, P Cochrane for Digney, A McLaughlin for S Mason, G McDonald for D McLaughlin, M Cochrane for D McLaughlin,  S Mason for McCarthy.

Warrenpoint: G McMahon, A Lynch, R McAleenan, C McCartan, R Magee, J Boyle (0-2), R McCormick (0-1), J Grant, R Boyle, R Mallon, D McAleenan (0-1), A J Magee (0-2), P Murdock, A Davidson (0-6), R McGarry (0-5 2f). Subs: F Aiken for McMahon, A Magee (0-1) for Grant, A D’Arcy for Murdock, R Cowan for R Mallon, Grant for D’Arcy, A Magill for McGarry.