League :: Rathmullan Celtic 1-1 Copany Rovers
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Match Reports 10/11
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Sunday, 30 January 2011 00:00 |
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League 30/01/11 @ 2:00PM
Rathmullan Celtic 1-1 Copany Rovers
Goalscorers: Raymond Forde (57)
Venue: Flag Pole Field, Rathmullan
An excellent grafting performance gave Copany a share of the spoils against a very strong Rathmullan side.
An excellent grafting performance gave Copany a share of the spoils against a very strong Rathmullan side.
With the team ready and eager, they found themselves in the dressing room without a kit or a manager - Russell Gorman, Raymond Forde and Alan McGirr reportedly stopping off for a full irish and a pre-match pint in Ballybofey. The lads however showed great inventiveness to do their warm up in the dressing room. A 20 minute routine involving solely a competition of gently rolling the ball into the drain in the middle of the floor was eventually fluked by David Graham, despite the incessant trying of Stephen Doherty and Gary McCaffertys six walled shower inclusive wonder-effort.
On the pitch the smiles were gone, with the Cobras determined to keep their run going and attempt to avenge a level of payback on a Rathmullan side that gave them a embarrasing shellacking in Killowen Park.
Despite Copany having the first chance in this encounter, it was Rathmullan who took the lead with their first real attack on 8 minutes. A pin-point cross from the right wing was expertly headed into the corner of net by Eamon Sheridan for a fine goal after a break down the right hand side.
With the aid of a breeze that made reading the flight of the ball difficult for Copany, Rathmullan totally dominated posession in the first half, playing a brand of football much superior than one would typically witness in this division. With Darragh Patton pulling the strings in behind the focal point of the attacks, Eamon Sheridan, and the movement and class of breaking midfielder Eoin Sheridan it appeared Copany were at times chasing shadows, but they showed a commendable workrate and defensive discipline to limit the opposition to shooting from long range.
The second half of this encounter was a very different encounter, as Copany, led by a relentless level closing down by Thomas Given in the middle, began to more than match the opposition, admittedly playing a much different brand of football.
However, Rathmullan nearly doubled their lead when Darragh Patton turned sharply in the box and sent a left footed effort which was tipped onto the bar by Gary Ward. Thankfully, the ball dropped just behind Eamon Sheridan and the impressive William Given was able to clear to safety.
The home side had made a point of building their attacks from their full backs all afternoon, and on 57 minutes Paul Clarke robbed a ball to the Rathmullan left-back and charged down the right hand flank. With only one option in the shape of Raymond Forde, Clarke bid his time, before executing a perfect cross to leave Forde with the task of slotting home from six-yards.
David Graham was beginning to find joy getting behind the Rathmullan right back on a number of occasions as it appeared for the first time that Copany were the more likely side to grab the winner, and they almost did just that on 69 minutes when a close range effort following a typical CT Ball Division goalmouth scramble was smashed off the crossbar and down on (or perhaps even over) the line. Claims of a Copany goal were waved away, although in fairness, it would have been almost impossible for the referee to be sure it was over the line.
As both sides were evenly matched at this stage, cancelling each other out with little or no chances being created, it was going to be inevitable that there was just the one chance to grab the spoils, and that effort fell to Rathmullans sub striker on 85 minutes. A long ball from the left was clumsily, but effectively controlled. However, the striker snatched at his chance putting it wide much to the disappointment of the Rathmullan faithful.
An excellent point and a fine second half performance against quality opposition, a real team effort by the Cobras.
Referee: Ed Moore
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| Position |
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Player |
| GK |
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Gary Ward |
| RB |
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Gary McCafferty |
| LB |
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Darren Kilpatrick |
| CB |
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Alan McGirr |
| CB |
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William Given |
| RM |
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Glen Harron |
| LM |
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David Graham |
| CM |
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Stephen Doherty |
| CM |
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Thomas Given |
| CF |
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Paul Clarke © |
| CF |
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Raymond Forde |
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Glen Duncan
for Darren Kilpatick (45) |
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Daryl Duncan
for Paul Clarke (88) |
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