South West Laverty Cup (semi Final)
Laverty Cup semi-final
Erin’s Own Cargin 1-05 Con Magee’s Glenravel 1-07
A 31st minute penalty strike, despatched with assurance to the corner of the net, proved the difference and the key to success as Glenravel secured victory and a place in the Laverty Cup final at the expense of a gallant Cargin team on a sodden Shore Road pitch on Friday evening.
A heavy downpour a couple of minutes into the start of a semi final contest involving the home club Erin’s Own Cargin and Con Magee’s Glenravel, made conditions extremely difficult as the action got under way.
Glenravel’s Colla Ward’s defied the conditions first as he sent a 5th minute free kick between the posts to open the visitor’s account.
The home side tried to respond with Jack O’ Neill and Ryan Mc Peake leading the way but Darragh O’ Boyle’s 6th minute shot went just wide of the post with a major score on his mind.
With the early deluge abating conditions did improve some and Cargin opened their account with Cillian Scullion sending confidently between the sticks after a well directed kick out from Daniel Mc Cann was forwarded to the full forward by Conleth Hamill.
Glenravel went ahead again with a Joe McKay 15th minute point but with scores proving hard to come as both sides wasted opportunities in the strong breeze before Cillian Scullion defied the elements when he fired between the posts to leave the sides level again.
Con Magee were enjoying more possession as the game progressed and finished the opening period in front with late scores provided by Niall Hynds with a super long range effort followed by a 30th minute addition from Ronan Mc Donnell.
Glenravel got off to a great start to the second half as the man in charge pointed to the spot after Ronan McDonnell had been fouled inside the square and a penalty was his decision.
Shea Mc Auley fired to the back of the net just out of reach of net minder Daniel Mc Cann and the visitors had earned a 1-04 to 0-02 advantage which looked good in difficult conditions.
The Glensmen with Niall Hynds leading the way at mid field added another point as Joe Mc Kay despatched a 30 metre free between the posts and then their net minder Declan Carey denied the impressive Cillian Scullion at the other end when a goal looked on.
Things were livening up as Cargin keeper, Daniel Mc Cann stood tall to deny Feargal Mc Donnell in the 37th minute but Niall Hynds followed with a point a couple of minutes later directing his long range effort directly between the posts in the 40th minute to secure a 1-06 to 0-02 advantage.
The visitors looked on their way to the Laverty Cup decider as the second half progressed, but Cargin were far from finished and Dara McAuley and Cillian Scullion combined to place Patrick O’ Neill to fire to the back of the net and when the same player followed with a point it was game on.
Carl McCann added another to close the gap to two and set the scene for a grandstand finish and the momentum was now with the home side.
A smart long range point from central defender Shea McAuley steadied the Glenravel ship and move the visitors three ahead but a foul on late replacement Fiontan Hardy was punished when Cillian Scullion sent the resulting free over the bar.
That was as close as Cargin got however as the Con Magee’s defence stood firm in the closing stages to cross the winning line 1-07 to 1-05 ahead to gain a place in the Laverty cup decider.
Cargin: Daniel Mc Cann, Sean Mc Peake, Eoin Scullion, Tom Mc Cann, Dara Mc Auley, Jack O’ Neill, Niall Quinn, Jack Harney, Carl Mc Cann (0-01), Dara O’ Boyle, Patrick O’ Neill (1-01), Conleth Hamill, Sean og Bovill, Cillian Scullion (0-03), Ryan Mc Peake
Subs
Fiontan Hardy
Ewan Mc Laverty
Glenravel: Declan Carey, Conrad McIlhatton, Ronan Mc Cormick, Joe Leech, Cahir Mc Naughton, Shea Mc Auley (1-0 – penalty), Oran Mc Clintock, Niall Hynds (0-01),Callagh Mooney (0-01), Joe Mc Kay (0-01), olla Ward (0-2f),Niall Mc Keown, Fergal McKayl (0-01), Peadar Mc Donnell (0-1), Oisin McKeown.
Referee: P Burns (St Comgall’s)