A final day victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Glenree United gave Copany Rovers their third ever promotion in their 21st year of Donegal League football, after a crazy and enthralling match which ended 5-4 in favour of the Cobras in front of a large crowd representing both outfits at Killowen Park.
Glenree started quickly out of the blocks, and took the lead after nine minutes on the clock when Damien Coyle used his lightning pace to break free down the left flank, and he stood up an inviting cross where Brendan McGee headed home from 8 yards.
Glenree were playing with confidence and pushing men forward at every opportunity, but this was to be their downfall after 13 minutes. Goalkeeper Gary Ward intercepted a through ball, and quickly turned defense into attack with a ranging ball down the left wing which was met by youngster David Graham, who was first to react to the defender missing the interception, and he broke free and into the box, where he lashed home in trademark fashion to level the scores.
Copany had the wind in the sails and the flow of the game quickly turned in their favour, as they put the experienced Glenree defense under severe pressure with a smart gameplan involving utilising the pace and tenacity of Padraig Rooney, David Graham, Paul Clarke and Darryl Duncan with quick attacks and angled diagonal balls into the corners.
On 17 minutes, Paul McGroary - making a rare appearance in the Copany side - played an inviting ball down the left flank, which was met by the ever-willing Padraig Rooney, who showed great skill and compusure to hold possession and lay the ball off to the inrushing Paul Clarke. Ballintra native Clarke duly slotted the ball into the bottom corner for the attackers second goal of the season in his second game of the season to add to his impresive tally of last season.
On 23 minutes, Copany's veteran center-back William Given played a perfectly weighted angled crossfield pass to the ever-dangerous David Graham, and as Graham broke free into the area, he clipped the ball over the advancing 'keeper, and Padraig Rooney nicked the ball in front of the defender to net from close range, his first goal upon his return to the Copany setup, and a well-deserved goal at that.
Copany continued to ask questions, and on 29 minutes went 4-1 up when winger David Graham was first to react to a breaking ball from a Padraig Rooney effort, and lashed home from the edge of the area.
Glenree pulled a goal back on 38 minutes, when Brendan McGee took full advantage of some hesitant Copany defending, and lifted the ball expertly over the Copany netminder for a fine finish.
Leading by two at half time, Copany attacked early in the second half through a trademark solo-dribble down the left flank by full-back Darren Kilpatrick. After beating two men, Kilpatrick rifled the ball into the six-yard box from the left-flank, and an unfortunate defender turned the ball past his own keeper to restore Copanys advantage to three goals.
Unfazed, Glenree upped the pressure and obtained numerous free-kicks, and defending these were to prove to be Copanys achilles-heel, as firstly Micheal Gallagher netted Glenree's third when Copany failed to clear their lines from a free-kick, and he prodded the ball past Gary Ward on 57 minutes.
On 66 minutes, Glenree reduced the Copany advantage to a single goal, when Marty McLaughlin headed home an expertly taken free-kick unapposed.
However, on 72 minutes the match was abandoned, and at a league meeting, the result stood meaning the Cobras got the points required to finish in the 2nd automatic promotion place, albeit in acrimonius circumstances.
Nonetheless, the outcome cumulates in a terrific accomplishment for this Copany side - a first promotion in eighteen years - and continues the rapid progress being made under the tenureship of managers Russell Gorman and Stephen Johnston, who have risen the club from the traditional whipping boys into a strong outfit in the short space of 2 and a half years.
In a good team performance from Copany, outstanding in the first period, but somewhat nervous in the second, Padraig Rooney was the undoubted Copany man-of-the-match with a tireless performance up front until his injury on the hour mark. 17 year-old David Graham also stood out for the home side to cap what has been a meteoric rise this season from the Finn Harps youth player, in which he's undoubtedly become a key component for this functional, hard-working and disciplined Copany side. For the visitors, Damien Coyle was always a threat with his pace.
