Loughinisland go marching on in Senior Championship

26 August 2020

LOUGHINISLAND’S top flight experience was too much for Darragh Cross in this Senior Football Championship tie at Downpatrick on Saturday.

In a game played in slippery conditions due to the incessant rain, the Blues led from the start and never relinquished the lead throughout the match.

Darragh Cross deserve much credit for their battling display throughout but Loughinisland’s domination the final quarter where scored three unanswered points helped them secure passage through to the next round.

Loughinisland manager Jody Gormley was delighted to get his side through to the next round against tough opponents.

He said: “A local derby, we thought it was going to be tight given the way that Darragh Cross set up so defensively. They were very effective and very difficult to break down, but I think we showed a lot of patience, kept the ball quite well and got the result — that’s what it’s all about.

“We were patient when we had the ball, pressed their kick-out well and put them under pressure. We took the chances when they presented themselves and we’re just happy to be in the hat again.”

The Blues dominated their first ten minutes but hit four wides and had nothing to show for their hard work. Aaron McClements put their first point on the scoreboard with a free from 30 metres in the 13th minute before Darragh’s Oisin McConvey was shown the black card by the referee.

Ben O’Reilly caught a great ball, passed it to McClements who doubled Loughinisland’s lead a minute later.

Darragh were slowly working their way into the game with Matthew Hardy and Joe McKinney combining well in the middle of the park. A three man move including Mark McMahon, Michael Monan and James Murray saw Monan put the first point on the board for Darragh on the 17th minute just before the first water break.

McKinney then charged through the middle and was fouled before Marcus Miskelly levelled the scores in the 21st minute.

McClements was fouled on his way through the Darragh defence and put the resultant free over the bar to restore his side’s lead in the 23rd minute as Eamonn Sweeney was replaced by Eoin Mageean for Darragh Cross.

O’Reilly’s high ball from distance was spilled by ‘keeper Rory Miskelly for a 45 and McClements put the ball over the black spot to put the scores 0-4 to 0-2 in the 26th minute. Down’s Jonny Flynn then gained possession, passed to Dean McLaughlin, who fed Paddy McKenny to put three between the sides just seconds later.

Darragh defender Michael Boyle was then shown a yellow card for a foul on Conor Megoran as Marcus Miskelly scored his second point of the of the match to leave his side two points behind at the halfway mark.

Whatever Paul Murphy and Desi McNeill said to their players helped Darragh claw back the deficit within four minutes of the restart.

Loughinisland’s John McCarthy received a yellow card for a rough tackle on Conleth Sweeney and he pointed from the free in the 31st minute.

Darragh’s James Murray then gained possession. He found Joe McKenny coming through from midfield and passed to full forward Shea Boyle, who was subsequently fouled and put the ball over the bar to level the match.

It was that man Aaron McClements again who scored five of his side’s six points by the 36th minute to put Loughinisland one in front. Eoin Mageean showed guile, skill and composure with a mazy run from wide on the right to the centre and put the ball over from 30 metres to level things again in the 38th minute.

Ben O’Reilly was getting his fare share of possession and fed Conor Megoran to put Loughinisland 0-7 to 0-6 at the second water break.

It appeared the game could swing any way at this stage and Darragh Cross equalised again after Marcus Miskelly scored a magnificent point off the upright from 35 metres. However, that was as good as it got as Loughinisland dominated the final quarter to secure the win.

In a free-flowing move McClements found Ben O’Reilly, who scored a delightful point in the 47th minute. Aiden Nixon came on to replace Rory Deegan for Loughinisland but suffered a reoccurrence of an ankle injury and was replaced by Eddie Nixon just seconds after coming on.

Rory Mason scored a great point from 30 metres with his left foot in the 50th minute just before Mark McMahon received a yellow card for the Darragh Cross.

With victory in sight, Conor Megoran passed to substitute Eddie Nixon and he fisted the ball over the bar for Loughinisland to send his team safely through to the next round of the championship.

Darragh Cross: R Miskelly; P Branny, M Monan (0-1), E Sweeney; M Boyle, O McConvey, C Murray; M Hardy, J McKinney; M McMahon, M Miskelly (0-2 1f), J Murray, S Dineen, S Boyle (0-2), C Sweeney (0-1). Subs: E Mageean (0-1) for E Sweeney, E Sweeney for Boyle, J Flynn for C Sweeney.

Loughinisland: C Turley; C O’Toole, P Megoran, S Cochrane; R Mason (0-5), D Gordon, D McLoughlin, J Flynn, D O’Toole; B O’Reilly (0-1), D McClements (0-5 2f 45m), J McCarthy; R Deegan, P McKenny (0-1), C Megoran (0-1). Subs: A Nixon for R Deegan, E Nixon (0-1) for A Nixon, T McDonald for C Megoran.

Referee: C Gribben.

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