Sean McKay fires home the second of his two goals as Con Magee’s defeat Cuchullain’s in the Laverty Cup quarter-final in Dunloy on Sunday
Laverty Cup quarter-final
Dunloy 1-6 Con Magee’s 3-9
Following an impressive victory away to Aghagallon on Friday night, Con Magee’s Glenravel made the shorter journey to Dunloy on Sunday and kept on the winning trail with a convincing win over the Cuchullain’s.
With a stiff breeze blowing towards the Road end the visitors put themselves in pole position when they led by 1-5 to 0-1 at the break, the goal coming from Sean McKay but given the strength of the breeze in their favour the question was, had they done enough?
Those questions were soon answered after the break as the Glen’s lads managed possession much better than their opponents and they displayed a cutting edge in their attacking play which the home side quite simply lacked.
Sean McKay got Con Magee’s off to a great start when he pointed after 30 seconds before firing home the game’s opening goal with only three minutes gone. Shane O’Boyle added a point in the 5th minute before Daire Crawley finally got Dunloy off the mark from a 7th minute free.
Dunloy enjoyed their best spell of the half at this stage but were unable to add to their single point with a number of efforts dropping into the keeper’s hands or sailing wide before Sean Higgins extended the visitors lead with a point in the 15th minute.
Dunloy responded from an Eoghan McGrath free in the 17th minute but the Con Magee’s dominated the closing quarter but were only able to add two further points through Sean McKay and Eoin Hynds to lead by six at the short whistle.
GOOD START NEEDED
If Dunloy were to get back into contention it was vital that they got off to a good start and when Daithi McGuigan pointed a second minute free things seemed to be going to plan but Eoin Hynds responded from a fourth minute free to keep his side six in front.
The Cuchullain’s were now enjoying much more possession as they tried to build from the back with Anton McGrath leading the way with some surging runs but the Glenravel defence stood strong. Oisin McErlane did pull one back with a good point in the 38th minute but again the visitors were able to respond.
The impressive Eoin Hynds pointed a left footed free from out on the right and then Sean McKay was set up by the same player after a good build up to fire home his second goal of the contest and put more daylight between the sides.
The home side continued to battle with Callum Scullion and Anton McGrath adding points but handling errors and poor choices at times led to moves breaking down and when their opponents countered they were much more clinical in everything they did.
A Conleth O’Loan goal with 12 minutes remaining put the contest out of reach though Dunloy did respond with a Daithi McGuigan point and a fisted goal from the same player but it was the visiting Con Magee’s who had the final say with points from McKay and Eoin McCusker to run out convincing winners.
This was a very solid performance by a Glenravel side who had raised a few eyebrows with a win over Aghagallon in Aghagallon on Friday night and they showed on Sunday that that win was no fluke and that they are serious contenders for Laverty Cup honours this season.
They were solid in defence where Sean McCusker, Eoin Hynds and Ruairi Lennon were both strong and creative and combative at mid-field where Eoin McCusker and Christopher Laverty fielded superbly and set up many attacks.
Sean McKay proved a real match winner in attack where Conleth O’Loan, Sean Higgins and Shane O’Boyle also impressed.
Dunloy never really got into their stride and too often a bad first touch and poor choices when in possession led to them being turned over by a Glenravel team who managed the game much better. Patrick Kinsella, Aaron Crawford, Oisin Mc Erlane, Padraig McGilligan, Callum Scullion, Daithi McGuigan and Eoin McGrath worked hard while Anton McGrath was their best on view.
Dunloy: Eoin McMullan, DL Crawley, Patrick Kinsella, Cathoir McCloskey, Oisin McErlane, Aaron Crawford, Ciaran McQuillan, Callum Scullion, Padraig McGilligan, Rory Mullan, Eoghan McGrath, Daithi McGuigan, Conal Doherty, Anton McGrath, Daire Crawley.
Glenravel: Jude Scullion, Declan McAuley, Sean McCusker, Cathal Hynds, Eoin Hynds, Ruairi Lennon, Declan McCloskey, Eoin McCusker, Christopher Laverty, Sean Higgins, Conleth O’Loan, Rian Lennon, Sean McKay, Shane O’Boyle, Daragh Donaghy