‘Islander’s goal run sinks Bundoran

‘Islander’s goal run sinks Bundoran

2 December 2015

A FOUR-goal salvo saw Loughinisland crowned Ulster Club Intermediate Champions in appalling conditions at Owenbeg on Sunday.

The driving wind and rain threatened to ruin this showpiece decider, but Loughinisland belittled the conditions as the Donegal champions wilted.

Loughinisland made a dream start and Seamus O’Hare had the ball in the back of the Bundoran net after only a few minutes.

Conor Killen robbed Bundoran full back James Keaney and quickly picked out the roaming Rory Mason. The county U-21 star immediately flicked the ball across the face of the Bundoran goal for O’Hare to net from close range.

Bundoran responded with a long range point from the talented Gary Clancy, with Mason hitting Loughanisland’s only point of the match in the ninth minute.

The fact that Loughinisland didn’t score for another 41 minutes meant little as both sides struggled to master the wind. There is no doubt that Bundoran saw more of the ball in the first half, but they were continually thwarted by a resolute Loughinisland defence.

The sides went in  level at the break, 1-1 to 0-4, before Jamie Brennan edged Bundoran ahead for the first time in the game with a point from play.

The Donegal side continued to waste scoring opportunities and paid the penalty when Mason carved out an opening for substitute Paddy McKenny and he supplied a cool finish to put his side in front, 2-1 to 0-5.

Bundoran were far from finished and two quick fire points had them back on level terms again as the game entered the final few minutes.

It was then that the Loughinisland machine started functioning on full power.

Rory Mason, who was a constant threat to Bundoran, fired in a speculative shot that goalkeeper Johnny Keenan seemed to have covered.

Whether the ball moved in the air or was misjudged by Keenan doesn’t really matter as it ended up in the net, via the crossbar.

Bundoran couldn’t believe their luck, but even worse was to follow.

Mason was again involved and this time he combined with Conor Megoran to release Sean Cochrane and he flicked the ball to the net.

Bundoran were crestfallen. They simply did not make use of their superiority in the possession stakes while Loughinisland were the exact opposite.

An extremely clinical Loughinisland made the most of some limited possession and packed their defence when required to limit Bundoran’s scoring opportunities.

Raymond Nixon, Paddy Megoran, Jonny Flynn, Rory Mason, Dan Gordon and Aaron McClements were full of guile and purpose for Loughinisland and they can now look forward to a tilt at the All-Ireland title in the new year.

Loughinisland: K Gordon, P Digney, P Megoran, R Nixon, D McLaughlin, J Flynn, J McCarthy, D O’Toole, D Gordon, R Mason (1-1, 1-1f), C Killen, S O’Hare (1-0), A McClements, C Megoran, C O’Toole. Subs: P McKenny (1-0) for Killen (41), S Mason for S O’Hare (43), S Cochrane (1-0) for McLaughlin (50), M Cochrane for Nixon (55)

Bundoran: J Keenan, D McCaughey, J Keaney, P Rooney, P Brennan, S McGowan, J Boyle (0-1), C McCaughey, P McGonigle, N Dunne, G Clancy (0-1), A Russell (0-2), T Hourihane (0-1), C Keaney (0-1), D Hoey. Subs: J Brennan (0-1) for Dunne (half-time), D Spratt for Hourihane (56), F McKiernan for C.Keaney (60).

Loughinisland 4-1

Bundoran 0-7

ULSTER CLUB INTERMEDIATE FINAL