League :: Letterkenny Rovers Reserves 2-2 Copany Rovers
League 20/01/08 @ 2:00PM -- Letterkenny Rovers Reserves 2-2 Copany Rovers -- Darryl Duncan (32), Thomas Given (44) -- Venue: Leisure Center Pitch, Letterkenny.
Copany conceded a late equaliser as they battled to a hard-fought draw against Letterkenny Rovers Reserves at the new leisure complex in Letterkenny.
A slow start for the second game running saw Letterkenny open the lead on seven minutes. An angled free kick from the left hand side was headed into the Copany area where a Letterkenny player found himself free to nod the ball past Joe Gallagher.
Copany started to gradually come into the game after this without going so much as creating any clear cut chances. However, on 32 minutes Copany were awarded a free kick on the right hand side of the area. Darryl Duncan appeared to be aiming to cross the ball but the ball looped over the 'keeper and into the top corner. Darryl's lack of any celebration seemed to confirm that it was actually a mis-hit cross.
Five minutes before the break, Letterkenny were awarded a penalty when William Given mistimed a tackle and took down the Letterkenny striker. The penalty was struck to the right hand side but Joe Gallagher, celebrating his 20th birthday, dove superbly to his left and palm the ball away to safety.
Just before the break, another birthday boy, Darren Kilpatrick - celebrating his 18th birthday - made another surging run down the right and fed the ball through to Eoghan Gorman. Gorman's pace was causing the Letterkenny defense problems all afternoon, and he made something out of nothing by cutting across the edge of the box. His shot was blocked by the defender, but squirmed loose to Thomas Given who duly obliged from the edge of the box for his fourth goal of the season.
Copany started the second half as they ended the first, and created a couple of real chances to put the game out of sight. First, Thomas Given's ariel ability made something of nothing when he cleverly flicked a long free into the six yard area, but Gary McCafferty's header was agonisingly deflected around the post for a corner.
After 65 minutes, Clint Walsh showed his quality, with a surging run down the left hand flank, and an expertly timed through ball to Eoghan Gorman. Eoghan's attempt to lift the ball past the 'keeper was unlucky, as the 'keeper turned it around for a corner.
With just eight minutes left on the clock, Letterkenny scored their equaliser. A long free kick was drove into the Copany area and the crowded box did Joe Gallagher no favours and the ball bounced into the bottom corner. Letterkenny had been pressing for the fifteen minutes before this and the equaliser seemed to be justified.
However, the action wasn't finished yet, and the impressive Joe Gallagher pulled off another point blank save to deny Letterkenny the lead. Also, just before the end, Darryl Duncan's driven effort from outside the box was acrobatically tipped around the post by the Letterkenny 'keeper for a Corner.
A draw was the result at the end and no sides could have too many complaints about an evenly balanced encounter with Letterkenny stronger at the start and the end and Copany on top for large spells in the middle of the game.
For Copany, Eoghan Gorman was the standout performer, and his pace and skill was too much for the Letterkenny defense at times. Joe Gallagher also deserves an honourable mention for a number of crucial saves in the match.
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