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Late
Point gives An Riocht win - 05/11/02
A LAST minute point from Sean Paul Smyth
could well prove to be the score which keeps An Riocht in
the first division.
The score came when the game had gone into injury time and
when Loughinisland had come from five points down to level
and seemed certain to get the draw which their efforts had
deserved.
An Riocht had looked the more purposeful side in the opening
minutes but twice attacks broke down when good interceptions
by Dan Gordon set up counter attacks which yielded a point
from Mark Valentine. Gary Mason lining out at corner forward
for Loughinisland was off target from free kicks as the
Blues missed chances to go further ahead.
Points from Gary Cunningham and Smyth put the Mourne side
in front at the end of the opening quarter before Mason
found the range to point two frees and only a good save
from Brendan McVeigh denied Gary Gordon a goal. The save
inspired An Riocht to lift their game and in the second
quarter midfielders Paul Murney and Paul Colgan took control
against Gordon and Molloy.
An Riocht were the better side in the second quarter and
went in front with points from John Clarke and Smyth. Two
minutes before the break full forward Brian Sloan got on
the end of a good move to finish a pass from Damian Cunningham
to the net to leave the half time score - An Riocht 1-05
Loughinisland 0-04.
Gary Mason, who had closed the first half scoring a point,
was on target again within a minute of the restart when
he pointed a 45 to leave only three points between the sides.
Scoring chances were few and far between as the second half
progressed and with ten minutes remaining. An Riocht had
gone five in front leading 1-08 to 0-06.
Gary Gordon was now partnering Molloy at midfield and this
partnership had turned the game back in favour of Stephen
Molloy’s side. Five unanswered points (three from Gary Mason)
had the scores level and the game had gone into injury time
when Smyth won possession from a kick-out to stab over the
all important winner.
A performance like this at the start of the season would
have had Loughinisland manager Stephen Molloy feeling very
satisfied but at this stage of the season he knows that
results are more important than performances. Now having
lost the opening game of the three series round robin he
knows that his team must now win against Downpatrick and
Warrenpoint if they are to survive.
TEAMS An Riocht: Brendan McVeigh, Joe McVeigh, Liam McVeigh
Declan O’Reilly, Jim Clarke, John Lavery, Conor Annett,
Paul Murney, Paul Colgan, Gary Cunningham 0-01, John Clarke
0-02, SP Smyth 0-03, Damian Cunningham 0-03, Brian Sloan
1-00, Ciaran McVeigh.
Loughinisland: Sean Carville, John Russell, Brendan Ward,
Paddy Magorrian, Darren O’Neill, Joe Doran Conor O’Toole,
Dan Gordon, Alan Molloy, Aaron McKeown 0-01, Gary Gordon,
Matt Fitzpatrick, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Mark Valentine 0-01,
Gary Mason 0-08.
Referee L Morgan.
(Report taken from Down Democrat Web
SIte)
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