BRIAN DORRIAN WAS content with the second half put in by his Donegal League side to seal their place in the knock-out stages of the Oscar Traynor Cup.
The Killybegs native, who also looks after the Sligo Rovers Under-19 side, saw a 5-2 win over the Sligo-Leitrim League in miserable conditions at Drumoghill.
Photo caption: Tommy Mc Fadden, Donegal Creameries/Arivo representative pictured presenting Donegal League Chairman John Joe Mc cafferty with High Protein drinks for the Oscar traynor Panel. Included are team Captain Barney Lafferty, Manager Brian Dorrian and squad members Gary Merritt, Christopher Sweeney and Chris Malseed. Photo courtesy of Gary Foy, League PRO
“We’re happy enough after a difficult afternoon with the weather,” Dorrian, whose side were 1-0 up at half-time after a goal from Eoin Sheridan, said.
“In the first half we had enough chances to see it out but only went in the one goal up at half. Sligo-Leitrim would’ve been happy enough with that.
“I knew a lot of their boys from my time in Sligo. Credit to them they tried to play all the time. They’re a younger team than last year and they’ll be better again next year.
“Then they got an early goal in the second half and they would’ve been happy with that. We defended well after that and played on the counter-attack.”
At 1-1 it looked precarious for the Donegal League for a spell as they faced into a gale but a brace from Gary Merritt, as well as goals from Jamie Boyle and Paul Sweeney.
“We’re delighted to get through,” Dorrian (pictured above) added. “Delighted for the players and the league itself. It gives it a boost in regard qualifying for the last 12.”
Merritt, the Milford United striker, scored five goals in the three group games after bagging a hat-trick on opening day at Cavan-Monaghan.
He would’ve been content enough with his performance yesterday as he netted twice and contributed much more besides. Dorrian wasn’t critical of his front man for missing two penalties – one which stuck the inside of the post before visiting goalkeeper Graham Lee saved the second with his legs.
“To be fair to Gary he was big enough to hit the two penalties and he showed the class he had,” Dorrian said. “He knows what to do when he gets into the area.”
As difficult as the weather made it – referee Joe McHugh had to withdraw the players in the 70th minute to take cover from a hail storm – Dorrian was very complimentary towards the host club at the Moss.
“Conditions were terrible but fair play to Drumoghill FC,” he said. “They could do nothing about the wind and there was a hail shower in the second half. The referee rightly took the players off. It didn’t make it easy but as I said, we’re glad to have got through.”
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