Impressive win for Loughinisland

2 September 2020

A COMMANDING Loughinisland performance dumped Bredagh out of the Senior Football Championship at Pairc Esler on Friday night.

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, the Blues controlled most the game and put in a strong second half performance to run out comfortable winners in the end.

From Conor O’Toole in the full back line through to Conor Megoran in the full forward line, this was a game Loughinisland ensured they were never going to lose.

Jody Gormley’s side scored 1-9 after the break and held their south Belfast counterparts to just 1-4 in the final 30 minutes, with Bredagh’s goal coming from a fortuitous free in the dying minutes of the game.

The Loughinisland manager said: “It was an improved performance but you would expect that and we know we have a lot more improving to do.

“For now our goal was to get to the quarter-final initially and see what happens. We’re in the quarter-finals so let’s see who we get in the draw.

“We conceded an early goal in the first half but overall we will be fairly pleased. They won a lot of marks in the middle of the field which I wouldn’t be too happy about and even the goal they got at the end, so there’s still plenty to work on.”

Loughinisland legend Brendan Mason was in the Bredagh hot seat for this intriguing clash and came up against his son Rory, who played a blinder for the Blues.

Rory was his side’s best performer on the night rampaging up and down the wing throughout, he scored five points with three coming from frees and sent a Greg Blaney-esque pass into full forward Paddy McKenny which led to Loughinisland’s penalty.

The Blues started brightly and Dan Gordon pointed in the second minute before Rory Mason added a second from a high kick a minute later.

Following a defensive mix-up in the fifth minute, Bredagh’s Liam O’Keefe slipped past Chris Turley and put the ball in the back of the net with four Loughinisland players on the line to put his side in the lead.

Ben O’Reilly was fouled and Declan McClements stepped up to put the scores level three minutes later before Conor Megoran pointed to nose the Blues back in front. Joe Shields replied from 25 metres out on the left to even the scores in the 11th minute.

Three unanswered points from Conor Megoran, Ben O’Reilly and another monster kick from Rory Mason put Loughinisland three points ahead at the water break.

Bredagh replied with points from Aodhan O’Keefe and Sean Blaney before Aaron McClements fisted over the bar in the 19th minute for the Blues. Blaney replied with a great kick from 35 metres to put Bredagh one behind in the 21st minute.

Paddy McKenny was shown the yellow card and minutes later the Loughinisland

captain was fouled and Mason stepped up to put the ball over the black spot from 35 metres out to put his side two in front and the halfway mark.

In the first minute after the restart, Loughinisland’s Aaron McClements passed to Mason, who lobbed a superb ball into the danger zone, McKenny collected the pass but was fouled in the box. Referee Gavin Finnegan had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, where John McCarthy coolly slotted the ball past Bredagh ‘keeper Sean Armstrong.

Donal Hughes replied from a free in the 38th minute before the Blues hit three points without reply from Declan McClements, Jonny Flynn and Ben O’Reilly. Cormac O’Rawe pointed a free from 40 metres for the south Belfast side to put the scored 1-12 to 1-6 in Loughinisland’s favour at the water break.

Aaron McClements, who had an outstanding game in the middle of the park, scored when the ball came off the upright after the resumption of play. Bredagh’s Ruairi Gillan, who came on seconds earlier in place of Michael Robinson, scored from a free wide on the right at the 14-metre mark.

Cormac O’Rawe was held back and despatched a free over the bar for Bredagh but the Blues took control of the game to see out victory. Rory Mason again pointed from wide on the right before

Declan McClements and Aaron McClements put eight points between the sides.

Bredagh started putting high balls in to the full forward line but Loughinisland’s defence held firm while Damhan O’Toole received a yellow card the Blues.

Aaron McClements scored his fourth score of the game before Bredagh received a free 20 metres out. With Loughinisland’s goalkeeper and three defenders on the line, Donal Hughes squeezed the ball over the line.

Mason scored his third free of the match to see out the win for Loughinisland and complete a resounding victory under the Newry floodlights.

Bredagh: S Armstrong; A O’Keefe (0-1), D O’Hara, P McLaughlin; B Gallen, C Hannigan, M Robinson; J McKenna, M Woods; L O’Keefe (1-0), C O’Rawe (0-3 f), C Hughes; S Blaney (0-1), D Hughes (1-1 f), J Shields (0-1). Subs: R Gillan (0-1) for M Robinson, C Toland for D O’Hara, B Rice for S Blaney.

Loughinisland: C Turley; C O’Toole, P Megoran, S Cochrane; R Mason (0-5 3f), D Gordon (0-1), D McLaughlin; J Flynn (0-1), A McClements (0-3); D O’Toole, D McClements (0-4 3f), B O’Reilly (0-2); J McCarthy (1-0 pen); P McKenny, C Megoran (0-2). Subs: R Deegan for C Megoran, E Nixon for P McKenny, D McDonald for B O’Reilly, P Cochrane for D McLaughlin.

Referee: Gavin Finnegan.

Bredagh 2-8

Loughinisland 1-18

MORGAN FUELS SFC

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