U21A Football Championship – Preliminary Round

Sunday 26^th October

Report by Niall Kelly from Father Maginn Park

Con Magee Gaels 1-09        Dunloy 2-08

Dunloy’s good fortunes in the ‘big ball’ code continued again today with a last gasp goal from substitute Jay McAlonan getting them over the line against Con Magees in the U21 Championship. With Eamonn Ward establishing a two point lead on the sixty-third minute for the hosts, the sea of umbrellas packed along the permiter of a damp and miserable Fr Maginn Park would’ve been forgiven for thinking surely that was that. However, on the sixty-sixth minute, a long, hopefull ball in from Oisin McCamphill met a sea of bodies on the edge of the square with McAlonan leaping highest to fist goal-bound and wrong-foot substitute Fergal McKay in goal, who was powerless to stop the net rippling. The resulting kick-out was commandeered by Dunloy as Tom McFerran then pointed his fourth of the day before Kevin Park’s full time whistle sounded to seal an incredile turn-around. The men from the Glens cut forlorn and puzzled figures as they trudged off.  For much of the game, it was they who seemed most likely to progress and although it was a tight encounter, they were usually a step ahead on the scoreboard but the Cuchullain’s resilience made the difference in the end.

To be frank, conditions were horrendous in this one.  A stiff, swirling breeze packed with plenty of incessant drizzle played havoc with player’s ball-handling. The surface fell victim to conditions as the game progressed with slips a plenty.  Free-flowing football was a serious ask in this one and it would be the team who made the least mistakes who would prosper.

Both made a positive start but it was Dunloy who drew first blood as Ben O’Kane got his bearings right on the fourth minute. The Glenravel response was an emphatic one though as Harry Fyfe set Daire Higgins on a path towards goal. The young full-forward bided his time before rifling low and hard as his effort nestled in the bottom right of Eoin O’Kane’s net, kissing off the post for good measure.

Fyfe then popped over one of his own finishing off a fine move before Higgins pointed from an incredibly tight angle, judging the wind to perfection as it nudged the ball to the left of the post.

The visitors sought to respond and were mixing things up in their offensive pursuits as they weren’t afraid to go direct. One such flighted ball in caused problems as Daire McMullan jumped highest and was desperately unlucky when his fisted effort came back off the post when he looked certain to dispatch.  Glenravel then came inches to doubling their goal tally as Shea O’Broin outjumped netminder O’Kane to fist an effort goalbound only to be thwarted thanks to a heroic block on the line from Sean Óg Blaney who collided with the post for his bravery.

O’Broin did open his account on the twenty-seventh minute though. A sycthing cross-field ball from Cormac McKeown gave him the space required to blast over from range as the Glenravel lead was now five points with the short whistle approaching.

Dunloy though were not to be fazed and they finished the half in spectacular fashion. A curling effort from Tom McFerran on the twenty-ninth minute reduced arrears before Reece Cunning embarked on a bustling run forward which opened up the host’s rearguard. The fleet-footed number seven then thumped his effort low and hard to give Deaglan Carey no chance in goal as the teams retreated for shelter with a single point the difference at 1-03 to 1-02 in favour of the home side.

The introduction of Glenravel’s Niall Hynds at the interval paid dividends immediately from the throw in. The towering midfielder stole possession before assisting Fergus Donaghy who made no mistake with his effort as it sailed over the black spot.

Again though, the Cuchullains would respond in positive fashion. A superb two pointed effort from Tom McFerran levelled matters once again before they took the lead with Oisin McCamphill opening his account thanks to an improvised attempt over his shoulder midway through the half. 

With the game finely balanced, Glenravel then brought Colla Ward to the fray and his pace and trickery was beginning to find openings in the Dunloy defence. Ward offloaded to Shea O’Broin on the fiftieth minute who unleashed a towering effort from well beyond the arc. It didn’t have the legs to go directly over but such was the height of his effort, it bounced in front of the keeper before dropping over the bar.

With the lead back in control of the hosts, they sought to push higher on the Dunloy kick-out and this bore fruit. A barrage of Glenravel bodies smothered the midfield and provided the fulcrum of further attacks. A superb invidual effort from Niall Hynds extended the lead before O’Broin pointed from a free on the fifty-fifth minute and it all seemed rosy for the men from the tenth glen.

In what would be the over-riding theme of the game, Dunloy battled back once again. Aodhan McGarry judged the distance to perfection as his two pointed effort from the placed ball soared over the bar to reduce the lead to one as the game went into added time. Glenravel were first to the resulting kick-out though to set Eamonn Ward on his merry way. The pacy number seven finished off his bustling run in style splitting the posts to trigger a roar from the home-faithful as it appeared for all the world, they were home and hosed with the referee’s whistle imminent.

However, with the last two kicks of the ball. Dunloy would deal dagger blows to their hosts. Oisin McCamphills hail-mary ball in to the edge of the square was met by Jay McAlonan’s fist and the trajectory of the ball changed paths, navigating its way to the Glenravel net. Dunloy completed the heartbreak with the Tom McFerran providing the last action of an incredible finish.

Hard luck to Con Magee Gaels. Beaten finalists last year, they harboured genuine hopes of going one better this year. The manner in which it was taken from them will sting for a bit but they maintain the nucleus of their sqaud for next year where they will seek to rectify things.

For the Cuchullains, winning is a hard habit to shake. Their never say die attitude is admirable and they will be formidable opponents for Creggan next week. With many of their panel involved in their victorious senior set-up, today’s game will have provided great fuel for their battle with Newbridge next Saturday evening. It is clear to see that Gaelic Football is in a great place in the village of Dunloy.

Teams:

Con Magee Gaels:

D Carey; E Carey, R McCormick, N Dickson; C McIlhatton, S McAuley, E Ward (0-01;) C McQuillan, L McQuillan; C McKeown, S O’Broin (0-04 – 0-02 & 1tp,) F Donaghy (0-01;) H Fyfe (0-01,) D Higgins (1-01,) P McDonnell

Substitute scorer:

N Hynds (0-01)

Dunloy:

E O’Kane; M Traynor, S Óg Blaney, A Doherty; D Kinsella, A McGarry (0-02 – 1tp,) R Cunning (1-00;) JM McShane, L McFerran; T McFerran (0-04 – 0-02 &1tp,) D Laverty, B O’Kane (0-01;) B McCloskey, D McMullan, O McCamphill (0-01)

Subsitute scorer:

J McAlonan (1-00)

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW

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