Captain Dan pulls strings for ‘Island in second half display

18 November 2015

LOUGHINISLAND secured a place in this year’s Ulster intermediate championship final with a clinical performance against Monaghan champions Doohamlet O’Neiills at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh, on Sunday.

Doohamlet led by a Barry McGinn point when Loughinisland suffered a blow with the loss of Dominic McClements to a black card after only eight minutes and went further ahead when Jamie Walshe scored their second point after eleven minutes.

Towards the end of the first quarter Seamus O’Hare knocked a close free over the bar for Loughinisland and a minute later they went in front when Conor Megoran fired a low shot past James Casey.

There was little to separate the sides at this stage, but Loughinisland managed to increase their lead when Seamus O’Hare slotted over another close range free after Aaron McClements had hit the turf following an illegal tackle.

McGinn closed the gap to two points with a 30-metre free and then left just one between the sides with another point after Dean McLaughlin had been dispossessed out on the right wing.

As the first half came to a close Rory Mason converted a stoppage time free kick to put the Blues two up at the break.

Doohamlet briefly looked as if they would muster a fight as they grabbed the first two scores of the second half from Barry McGinn to draw level.

However, led by captain superb Dan Gordon, Loughinisland upped their tempo in noticeable fashion and rocked Doohamlet with two goals and four points in a purple spell which ultimately won them the game.

Rory Mason grabbed the four points, two from frees, while Aaron McClements created a chance for a goal for Gordon which the former Down star fired to the roof of Casey’s net.

Then Gordon turned provider as the game entered the final quarter, squaring the ball to Paddy

McKenny, who flicked Loughinisland’s third goal to the net.

It was 20 minutes into the half before the Monaghan side registered a score and once again it came from the boot of Barry McGinn.

Even when they did manage to break through the Loughinisland defence, Doohamlet found goalkeeper Kieran Gordon in sublime form as he pulled off three top drawer saves to further frustrate the Monaghan side’s attack.

Loughinisland grabbed their fourth goal of the game when Paddy McKenny set up Stefan Mason, who calmly thumped home a left footed shot.

As the game entered the dying seconds Barry McGinn finally managed to beat Gordon when -kicking a close range free to the net.

Loughinisland’s win and the manner in which they did it will make them firm favourite to defeat Donegal champions Bundoran in the final.

Between the sticks Kieran Gordon didn’t deserve to concede a goal while defenders Paul Digney and Dan Gordon were the pick of the rearguard

Damhan O’Toole and Aaron McClements were competitive around the centre field area while Paddy McKenny, Rory Mason, Jonny Flynn, and Conor Megoran were industrious in the forward line.

Loughinisland: K Gordon, P Digney, P Megoran, R Nixon, D McLaughlin, D Gordon (1-0), C O’Toole, D O’Toole, A McClements, R Mason (0-5), S O’Hare (0-2), J Flynn, D McClements, C Megoran (1-0), J McCarthy. Subs: P McKenny (1-0) for D McClements (black card), S Mason (1-0) for S O’Hare, C Killen for D McLaughlin, R Stranney for J McCarthy, C O’Reilly for D O’Toole, M Brannigan for C Megoran.

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