Wins for Carrickmore, Killyclogher & Coalisland

Friday 17.06.2011

Club

The Carrickmore versus Dromore game drew a large crowd to Pairc Cholmcille as the top two sides in the league went head to head. Dromore had something of a dream start with two goals from Sean Mc Nabb in the space of a minute but Carrickmore refused to panic and scores from Barry Daly and Ciaran Mc Aleer closed the gap to three points midway through the first half. A Colm Mc Cullagh point for Dromore left it 2-1 t0 0-3 but Finbarr Magill again closed the gap to three. Then came the first of two sendings off in the opening period when Paul Hughes received his second yellow card. Dromore were unable to capitalise on the extra man and it was Carrickmore who finished the half strongest with a point from Caolan Daly and a goal from ace marksman Kevin Mc Nally. Indeed it got worse for the visitors as top forward Eoin Mc Cusker received a straight red just before the break.

Carrickmore continued their good form after the break with two points from Mc Nally and another from Barry Daly. Niall Sludden responded for Dromore to leave the score 1-8 to 2-3 in favour of the home side with fifteen minutes remaining. Any chance Dromore had of a comeback all but disappeared when Peadar Mc Mahon finished a fine move with a goal on seventeen minutes.

With six minutes left Carrickmore were reduced to thirteen men when Paul Daly received a second yellow card but the thirteen men held out to win comfortably 2-10 to 2-4. They now move top of the table having inflicted on Dromore their first defeat of the season.

Killyclogher’s chances of avoiding relegation received a huge boost tonight with an important win over basement club Cookstown. Playing at home they got off to the perfect start with a goal from Conor Meenan after five minutes when a speculative lob evaded the keeper and ended up in the net. Points from Simon O’Neill and Sean O’Kane edged the homeside into a 1-7 to 0-3 lead as Cookstown struggled to find any sort of form in the first half.

However The Fr Rocks were a different side in the second half and with Conor Mullan driving them forward they took the game to the home side. Mullan and Micky Mc Veigh got goals for the Fr Rocks while Brian Meenan netted for Killyclogher. Brian Mulligan and Conor Mullan landed several fine points for Cookstown as they threw caution to the wind and went for broke. Indeed they had closed the game to just two points with two minutes left 2-10 to 2-8. Simon O’Neill had a thirteen metre free to ease Killyclogher nerves but he missed it. Sadly for Cookstown late points from James Carlin ensured Killyclogher held on to win by four.

It was a classic case of too many missed chances coming back to haunt you as visitors Coalisland overcame Donaghmore  tonight.  The hosts scored 3-9 and still managed to lose after kicking 20 wides over the 60 minutes.  Donaghmore got off to a wonderful start when Pauric Gallagher goaled inside the opening minute but Coalisland fought back well and managed to go into the break 1-5 t0 1-4 ahead thanks to points from Eoin Carberry, Gerard Toner,Patrick O’Farrell and a Jarath O’Hagan goal.

Carberry was back on the scoresheet shortly after the break and with scores from Dermot Thornton the Fianna extended their lead to 1-8 to 1-5.  Donaghmore were still in touch however and found themselves in front following points from Shane Mulgrew (2), Gary Hetherington and a Richard Hetherington goal.

Hetherington was causing Coalisland all sorts of bother and rammed home a second goal, Donaghmore’s third, to ease the St Patrick’s men to a four point lead with less than ten minutes remaining.  It was Coalisland however that finished the stronger and a Dermot Thornton goal in the 27th minute coupled with points from Carberry managed to get them over the winning line by a single point.  Final Score Donaghmore 3-9 Coalisland 2-13.