Gordon leads mighty Blues

Gordon leads mighty Blues

27 April 2016

THE scoreline suggests there wasn’t a lot between these sides but Loughinisland were a class apart at Fontenoy Park on Friday evening as they keep their unbeaten start to the Division 2 campaign intact at the expense of Liatroim.

The visitors led by 3-4 to 0-4 when Brendan Rice blew the half-time whistle having played some top drawer football laced with fast, accurate passing and topped off by some excellent scores.

The opening quarter saw Loughinisland assume control with Dan Gordon lording the midfield sector, getting good support from Damhan O’Toole Mickey Brannigan, and Ryan Stranney. 

The Blues led by three points courtesy of Brannigan and two Rory Mason frees before Paul Digney found the net after Aaron McClements had worked the ball in from the sideline before picking out Digney unmarked at the back post.

PJ Davidson thumped the ball over Chris Turley’s bar from a 45 metres to put the home side on the scoreboard after 17 minutes and a minute later they had doubled their tally when Pearse Og McCrickard  created room to shot and score.

Aaron McClements stretched Loughinisland’s lead to five points when taking an excellent point with Jonny Flynn, Paddy Megoran and Paul Digney involved in the move.

Davidson managed to evade the tight marking Sean Cochrane to grab Liatroim’s third point but Loughinisland upped their game and Rory Mason picked out Aaron McClements who flicked the ball past Dan Morgan for the blues’ second goal.

Listroim’s final score of the half came from the boot of Davidson once again but just before the break Loughinisland bagged their third goal when Stefan Mason collected the ball in centre-field and soloed clear of Miceal McCartan. Mason worked a one-two with Conor Megoran and finished his 70-yards run when thumping a low left foot shot to the net.

At the start of the second half Megoran thumped home his side’s fourth goal of the game and Dan Gordon quickly added a point.

With twenty minutes to play Loughinisland manager Michael Walsh made a number of substitutions early in the second half with Dan Gordon the most notable to be replaced.

Up to this point Gordon had ruled supreme in midfield and once he was replaced they found it difficult to keep the same grip on the gam. Liatroim, to their credit, galvanised themselves and put in a sterling effort in the final ten minutes to put some respectability to the scoreline.

With ten minutes left to play Loughinisland led by 4-8 to 0-5 but two goals from PJ Davidson and points from Paul Middleton, Davidson and Darren O’Higgins boosted the Fontenoys.

Aaron McClements capped a fine performance with the final score of the game for Loughinisland. As well as those already mentioned for the winners Paddy Megoran caught the eye with a solid performance in the full-back role while Chris Turley’s long kick-outs played an important role in getting Loughinisland into their opponents territory, particularly in the first half. 

Loughinisland: C Turley, S Cochrane, P Megoran, P Martin, P Digney (1-0), R Stranney, J Flynn, D Gordon (0-1), D O’Toole, M Brannigan (0-1), A McClements (1-4), S Mason (1-0), P McKinney, C Megoran (1-0), R Mason (0-3). Subs used: R Deegan, D McLaughlin, W Russell, A Nixon, E Orr, D Corrigan.

Liatroim:  D Morgan, J Moorehead, D O’Higgins (0-1), C O’Higgins, S Og O’Rourke, C Doyle, M McCartan, S O’Higgins, O Duggan, O Clarke, P Middleton (0-1), R O’Hare, P Og McCrickard (0-2), PJ Davidson (2-4), D O’Higgins.

Referee: Brendan Rice (Warrenpoint).