Comfortable win for Blues

Comfortable win for Blues

20 April 2016

LOUGHINISLAND made it two wins from two games as they confidently brushed aside the challenge of Rostrevor at Petit Park on Friday evening.

The game was effectively over as a contest at the break as the Blues put in an excellent first half display which saw them lead by 1-9 to 0-3 as referee Kieran Trainor blew the interval whistle.

The home side led through a Conor Doyle point after a minute, but from then on it was all Loughinisland with Dan Gordon orchestrating the visitors’ attacks ably assisted by Damhan O’Toole, Jonny Flynn and Ryan Stranney.

Rory Mason quickly put Loughinisland level with a point before Aaron McClements gave them a lead they were never to relinquish after five minutes after Stefan Mason soared high to outfield Rostrevor goalkeeper Johnny Parr to create the chance of a score.

Rory Mason grabbed his second point and Loughinisland’s third before Doyle fired over the home side’s second point after ten minutes.

Loughinlsland had plenty of possession over the next twenty minutes and raced at the Rostrevor defence at will. Dan Gordon and Aaron McClements fired over two more points before Conor Megoran scored the game’s only goal when Paddy McKenny picked him out as he bore down on Parr before firing low to the net.

Points from Ryan Stranney and McClements put the visitors eight points clear as the Rostrevor defence came under constant pressure.

Piaras Kane scored Rostrevor’s third point after twenty minutes when picked out by John Fegan but almost immediately Stefan Mason found Rory Mason who sent a screecher just over the bar from close range.

When Paddy Mckenny found the space to fire over the final score of the half to put Loughinisland nine point up at the break the game effectively over.

For all their possession and dominance during the first half Loughinisland were a tad disappointing in the second thirty minutes. Although they created plenty of chances their accuracy fell short of their first half standards and despite having the majority of possession they managed only three points with the home side scoring a similar margin. As was the case in the first half they saw plenty of the ball but were guilty of spurning good chances to put the home side to the sword.

However, in terms of work rate and nulifying the home side’s attack Loughinisland put in a decent shift against a side who are among the favourites for promotion to the top tier in Down.

Kieran Gordon, Dan Gordon and Ryan Stranney grabbed the Loughinisland points while Conor Doyle, Damien Magee and Caolan Mooney registered scores the home side.

Rostrevor: J Parr, J Donaghy, J Rice, J Farrell, A Clarke, N Farrell, R Reynolds, S Cooper, D Magee 0-1, C Mooney 0-1, J Fegan, Jordan Fegan, J Morgan, P Kane 0-1, C Doyle 0-3.

Loughinisland: K Gordon 0-1, P Martin, P Megoran, S Cochrane, P Digney, R Stranney 0-2, J Flynn, D O’Toole, D Gordon 0-2, M Brannigan, A McClements 0-3, S Mason, P McKenny 0-1, C Megoran 1-0, R Mason 0-3. Subs: D McLaughlin for M Brannigan, A Nixon for P McKenny, R Deegan for S Mason, C Turley for K Gordon, D Corrigan for R Mason.

Referee: Kieran Trainor (Longstone).

Rostrevor 0-6

Loughinisland 1-12

ACFL DIVISION 2