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Carryduff
win but held scoreless in second half - 09/03/03
East
Down MFL Section A Round 6
Carryduff
2-10 Lorcha na Farriage 0-10
By Marc MacSiomoin, Dundrum
In all truth this game was effectively
over at half-time. Carryduff had raced into a thirteen point
lead and by most standards this would have been an unreachable
task for any trailing team. However, Lorcha dug deep in
the second half and did themselves proud by reducing the
defeating deficit to only six points and by holding Carryduff
scoreless.
Straight from the throw in it was evident
that this game would be played at a frantic pace with many
scores. Evidence of this was provided in the first two minutes
when Carryduff managed two points and a goal courtesy of
McMahon. Play then immediately shifted to the other end
with Paul McComiskey tapping over. Then direct from Alder's
kickout, Barry Mageean rose the highest to palm off to O'Hare
who brushed past a helpless Maguire to rifle over from an
acute angle. All this action and only five minutes on the
clock. Unfortunately for Lorcha, this was where Carryduff
attained control of affairs.
Three minutes after O'Hare's point, Molloy
started the offence with a nice taken score. Despite increased
pressure from the Lorcha defence, especially the bullish
Kearney, Carryduff hit three points in consecutive minutes
through O'Neill, Gilmore and McLaughlin. Matters got worse
for Lorcha when the immensly influential Mageean had to
go off with a back injury on twenty two minutes. Lorcha
reshuffled and the 'Duff gained on this misfortunate happening
with three major scores courtesy of O'Neill and the increasingly
powerful Gardiner. Just as things couldn't get any worse
for Lorcha, Carryduff found the back of the net for the
second time on twenty eight minutes. The game looked over,
but Paul McComiskey's point a minute later may just have
proven that the game was not yet a hopeless cause for the
away side. An extremely eventful half ended with yet another
Carryduff score but they would not see the flags raised
again in the entire match.
Half Time: Carryduff 2-10 Lorcha na Farriage
0-03
At half time Lorcha reorganised again and
this was to prove more effective in containing Carryduff.
With the impetus on getting scores, Lorcha hit two inside
two minutes thanks to McComiskey. Despite a lot of possession,
Carryduff were continually closed down by the highly active
Lorcha full back line of Rooney, McKibben and Kearney. The
threat of the versatile McLaughlin was also quelled by a
hugely commanding performance from Neil McComiskey. Lorcha
found themselves on the score sheet again on thirty seven
minutes with a sweet left foot effort from Arran Doyle glancing
over the bar. Increased pressure saw O'Hare notch up his
second score of the game and put Lorcha back in the mix.
Following this was a period of gruelling physical style
football which saw the 'Duff's Matthew Quinn receive his
marching orders for a truly violent unprovoked kick at his
opposing man. Lorcha now had the advantage and on fifty
minutes, substitute Kavanagh hit between the sticks to rouse
his fellow teammates.
With the weather deteriorating, the last
ten minutes was always going to be tough, and when the going
gets tough, Lorcha get tough. This is what precisely happened
and with the never say die attitudes of Doyle, N.McComiskey
and McKibben, Lorcha stormed forward at every chance. Immediate
rewards were reaped when with five minutes left Paul McComiskey
sent over another flyer. The momentum was in full swing
and Lorcha were playing with a gruel and desire in which
they usually reserve for the bigger teams. At every chance
they pressed forward but the inability of the forwards to
maintain possession cost them dearly. Lorcha could only
manage one more score through O'Hare deep into injury time.
The whistle blew and Carryduff sighed a huge breath of relief
as they knew that they were nearly the victims of a legendary
comeback.
Overall, this was yet again a game of two
halves. Carryduff had the first with Lorcha grabbing the
second. The game really required more of a team effort than
individual performances as was the class of both teams.
Carryduff had a brilliant performance from Alder in goals.
His management of defence and variation of kick outs were
sound throughout. Shevlin, Graham and Gillespie showed up
best in a defence which was run ragged in the second half.
Barry O'Neill and Gardiner were on top at midfield in the
first half but in the second thirty they were completely
ousted by a far better physical Lorcha match. Up front McMahon,
Conway and the speedy McLaughlin were best for Carryduff.
Lorcha can be grateful to their entire defence who never
dropped out of the game despite the intensity of the pressure
they were under. At midfield Arran Doyle was something else.
Nothing could stop him in his quest for possession. He single
handedly destroyed the 'Duff midfield in the second half
whilst gaining himself a point. Up front McComiskey and
O'Hare dictated play with good assistance from McShane,
Kavanagh and Fitzsimons. The game was eventful with Carryduff
probably edging it with a more polished style performance
in the first half.
Lorcha's main problem was their use of
possession which at times was generally wasted. Two close
teams fielded today but Lorcha must feel the most dejected
in the knowing that they are capable of a lot better play.
They suffer from an uncurable syndrome. When they are up
against the likes of Bryansford and Kilcoo, they play their
hearts out and come off with a tight ending, yet when they
travel to the supposedly lesser teams, they look a different
package altogether.
Lorcha na Farriage: Hogg, Melville, McKibben,
Kearney, Robb, N.McComiskey, Rooney, Mageean, Doyle (0-01),
P.McComiskey (0-05), O'Hare (0-03), McShane, Brown, Fitzsimons,
Grant. Sub: Kavanagh (0-01) for Mageean.
Referee: G.P Mulholland
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