Loughinisland book final spot

Loughinisland book final spot

23 September 2015

FOR the second time in this year’s IFC Loughinisland defeated Ballymartin and they must now surely fancy their chances of securing the title.

Jerome Johnston’s outfit were in control for most of the game.

The mastery of Dan Gordon controlled the pace of the duel while Rory Mason’s accurate free taking kept the scoreboard ticking over.

One worry for the winners was the fact that they kicked 15 wides over the hour.

Some of their shot selection was horrendous and if they are to lift the silverware in a couple of week’s time when they face An Riocht, then this will need to be rectified.

The first half was the Ryan O’Hare show.

The chunky Ballymartin corner forward registered four points from play and was the Lilywhite’s sole scorer in this period.

Loughinisland lacked urgency at times as three frees from Rory Mason and open play conversions from Conor Megoran and Aaron McClements had them one ahead at the break.

Eleven wides also came their way. The major talking point arose in the 27th minute.

Referee Mooney, on the advice of one of his umpires, mistakenly red-carded Ballymartin’s Cathal Doyle for striking, even though it was midfielder Michael Cunningham who committed the act.

The Mourne side were incensed and they never really recovered from it.

Loughinisland ran the show in the second half. They outscored their opponents 1-7 to 0-4.

Stefan Mason was thwarted by a superb save from Ballymartin ‘keeper Paddy Greene one minute in. By the 43rd minute Loughinisland had outscored the Lilywhites 0-3 to 0-1.

As the game entered its third quarter Conor Megoran was fouled in the area and John McCarthy blasted the resultant penalty over the bar.

Two Rory Mason frees came either side of a Ryan O’Hare free as Loughinisland were increasingly looking like sealing the win.

With three minutes to go another substitute Paddy McKenny punched to the net after being supplied by Aaron McClements.

Despite a few late points from Ballymartin, Seamus O’Hare’s late free confirmed his team’s place in the final.

Best for the victors were the commanding Kieran Gordon in goal and Paddy Megoran, Dan Gordon and Sean Cochrane in defence.

Aaron McClements linked play well in midfield while Johnny Flynn and Conor Megoran were very active in the forwards.

Ryan O’Hare was impressive for Ballymartin, who had a large number of players that didn’t play to their potential. The game didn’t really catch fire, but there was no mistaking that Loughinisland were the superior team and fully deserved their win.

Ballymartin: P Greene, A Crawford, M Whelan (0-1), Paul Fitzpatrick, J Doran, A Doran, N Kerr, M Cunningham, Peter Fitzpatrick, R Cunningham (0-1), C O’Hare (0-1, 1F), S Hughes, R Phillips, C Doyle, R O’Hare (0-5, 1F). Subs: M Phillips, C Cunningham, R Newell.

Loughinisland: K Gordon, M Cochrane, P Megoran, R Nixon, D McLaughlin, D Gordon, S Cochrane, D O’Toole, A McClements (0-2, 1F), M Brannigan, R Mason (0-6, 6F), J Flynn, S Mason, C Megoran, (0-2) C O’Reilly. Subs: J McCarthy (0-1, 1F), S O’Hare (0-1, 1F), P McKenny (1-0), P Digney, R Deegan, E Orr.