29 October 2006

All County League

An Charraig Mhór 1 - 08 Donaghnore 2 - 06 Carmen`s hopes of further participation in the All County League were dealt a serious setback today at Pairc Comcille today when they went down by a single point to Donaghmore. Crucially, Carmen had to play for 40 minutes without playmaker Brian Gormley who was red carded after 20 minutes - this was only Gormley`s second "red" in eighteen seasons of senior football, the last one being ten years ago. Still Carmen gave as good as they got and even at the death had chances to salvage something from the tie. Three late points by the visitors was enough to seal the win in a competitive game. Donaghmore started strongly with opening points from Richard and Mark Hetherington, but a Barry Daly free and a James Nugent finish to a Conor McAleer interception put Carmen on level terms after ten minutes. Donaghmore had the better of the exchanges in the next ten but could not improve on their position. Then came the Gormley dismissal but instantly it brought a Carmen response as James Nugent slammed the ball to the net for Carmen`s only goal just a minute later. Paddy Doherty pointed in the 28th minute to reduce the margin to two but a long range free by Ronan McNally on the stroke of half time gave Carmen a three point lead at the break. Donaghmore came out for the second half with all guns blazing; within a minute the fullback cut through the heart of the Carmen defence and put Mark Hetherington through for a goal. In the 43rd minute Richard Hetherington expertly despatched a penalty, so from being three ahead Carmen were now three behind. However in the next 15 minutes Carmen played their best football of the hour. Substitute Kevin McNally pointed in the 44th minute a Michael Gallagher, who was also introduced as a sub converted a long range free. McNally levelled it in the 49th minute as Carmen started to move the ball with speed and precision. In the 53rd minute McNally put Carmen back in the lead with a point that owed a great deal to the "never say die" attitude of Conor McAleer who chased a rebound that looked a lost cause. Gabrial McCallan, also a second half sub, put Carmen two ahead with five minutes to play. But Donaghmore were determined to make Carmen`s day an empty one; Richard Hetherinton pointed after a Carmen defensive breakdown and then converted a free in the 57th minute to level the game. The last score fell to veteran Adrian Cush at the end of normal time and despite Carmen`s best efforts in the four minutes of added time, they could not get back on terms. Team: P. McCallan, P. Daly, K. Fox, K. Gormley, Ciaran McAleer, P. Cunningham, P. Hughes, J. Nugent(1-01), K. McCartan, Conor McAleer, B. Gormley, M. Donnelly, B. Martin, R. McNally(0-01), B.Daly(0-1). Subs Used: R. McGarrity(for P. Daly), M. Gallager(0-01)(for B. Daly), K. McNally(0-03)(for Martin), G. McCallan(0-01)(for McCartan)

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