ACFL II Loughinisland v Carryduff [McCartan Park Loughinisland 4 May 2017]
Sixty minutes of determined, committed football saw Carryduff deliver an impressive win, much to the satisfaction of the support that travelled to Loughinisland. Pressuring the Loughinisland defence from the outset Carryduff had registered two wides in the opening minutes (Ronan Beatty, 2nd and James Guinness, 3rd) before James Guinness opened Carryduff’s account in the 4th minute. The sides traded wides before Stefan Mason‘s opening score for Loughinisland levelled the game six minutes in. Loughinisland dropped a number of efforts throughout the half short into Mark Hynes hands throughout the first half. Immediately after failing to convert a 9th minute free kick, James Guinness pointed for Carryduff (10th) but Loughinisland levelled the game immediately with a fine point from play from Gary Stranney (11th). In the thirteenth minute Stefan Mason’s converted free out Loughinisland into the lead for the first and only time in the game. Loughinisland keeper Chris Turley pulled off a great save (14th) when James Guinness was bearing down on goal. He could perform no such heroics a moment later when Ronan Beatty (15th) finished to the Loughinisland net. James Guinness added another Carryduff point from play in the 17th minute.
Loughinisland responded, upping their game with a flurry of attacks between the eighteenth and twenty third minutes. Stranney converted a free (18th) but their passing in to their inside forward line let Loughinisland down badly as two intended passes went wide over the end-lines. Substitute Conor Megoran kicked fine point in the 23 minute. Joe McFlynn’s converted free (25th) steadied Carryduff and the rangy forward sold a beautiful dummy to bluster his way through the Loughinisland rear-guard and bag Carryduff’s second goal twenty six minutes in. As the pressure mounted James Guinness (27th) kicked his third point and the Loughinisland defence found themselves under intense pressure. Dromara whistler Eugene O’Hare eventually decided it was time to register his dissatisfaction with persistent fouling and Loughinisland full-back Paddy Megoran was the first to have sight of a yellow card. James Guinness converted the free kick (28th) to provide Carryduff with a seven point advantage at the break. Half-Time Loughinisland 0-05 Carryduff 2-016.
Loughinisland opened the second half with a flurry and drew two frees from the Carryduff defence. Conor Stranney pointed the first (31st) but saw his second effort bounce wide off the upright (32nd). Joe McFlynn converted a Carryduff free (33rd) before James Guinness’s effort from the sideline drifted wide. As the tempo increased Carryduff centre-back Josh Connery picked up a yellow card after responding to Loughinisland tackling.
Keeper Chris Turley converted a 45m free (38th) for Loughinisland before Damhan O’Toole picked up a yellow card for Loughinisland. Despite Loughinisland dominating the possession stakes entirely for the next seven minutes they simply failed to register a score as the Carryduff defence responded resolutely pressuring every effort – the result was four wides within a five minute period and a huge injection of confidence into the Carryduff players.
James Guinness (45th) picked up a yellow card for his exuberance but Joe McFlynn capitalised (48th) sinking a fine point from play for Carryduff.
Mr O’Hare had a busy evening issuing further yellow cards to Loughinisland’s Aaron McClements (46th) and Peter Cochrane (51st) as everything was being thrown into trying to assuage the persistent Carryduff attacks. In an impressive passage of interlinking football that started in the Carryduff full back line the visitors moved the ball at pace upfiled and the support play saw wing back Donal McKeever getting on the end of a perfect passing combination and he rocketed the ball to the Loughinisland net.
With a ten point cushion, Carryduff finished the game out in style with James Guinness claiming three points in as many minutes between the 54th and 57th minutes.
Final Score – Loughinisland 0-08 Carryduff 3-12
Job done, the travelling Carryduff support made their way to Brennan’s for celebratory ice-cream to top off a very satisfying evening in the early summer sun.
The Carryduff Team was; – Mark Hynes, Paddy McConnell, Conor McFlynn, Neill McGowan, Conor McCullough, Josh Connery, Donal McKeever, Jonny Henry, Conor Cassidy, Owen McCabe, Joe McFlynn, Daniel Guinness, Ronan Beatty, Sean McGonigle, James Guinness. Substitutes;- Darragh Connolly (for Conor McFlynn, 34), Ronan Lawlor ( for C Cassidy, 53), Conor Rooney ( for J Guinness, 58), Peter Lavery, Mark Morris, Seamus McCann, Lawrence McGonnigle.
The Loughinisland Team was;- Christopher Turley, Peter Cochrane, Paddy Megoran, Sean Cochrane, Dean McLaughlin, Damhan O’Toole, Conal Fay, Dan Gordon, Jonathan Flynn, Stefan Mason, Aaron McClements, Gary Stranney, Rory Deegan, John McCarthy, Conor O’Toole. Substitutes Conor Megoran (for J McCarthy, 8), Ethan Orr (for Dean Mclaughlin ,200, Michael Brannigan (30) Rory Deegan ( for Damhan O Toole, 40), Cormac O toole, Niall McClements, Niall Flynn, Conor Gordon, Tiernan Khalili, Aidan Mclaughlin, Ryan Mason
Referee; Eugene O’Hare [Dromara]
