THERE was a sense of confusion as St Eunan’s moved to joint-top of the Brian McCormick Sports All-County Football League Division One with an August Bank Holiday Monday win over Malin.
St Eunan’s 1-11 Malin 1-7
Leading by a point at the bitter end and in effort to secure a cushion, Sean McVeigh’s attempted punch over the crossbar fell short and Malin’s Charlie Byrne was being penalised for carrying the ball over his own goalline as he caught the dropping ball.
As Malin disputed the decision, match referee Seamus McGonigle awarded St Eunan’s a goal and blew for time.
Some of the Malin officials claimed there was still time to play although the referee had called for the ball in the 31st minute of the second half. There was some head scratching from plenty of those in attendance. Many folk weren’t sure of the actual score but one thing was for sure, the game was definitely over.
After a slow enough start to both halves, Maxi Curran’s side leap-frogged St Michael’s to join Naomh Conaill on the table’s top with 18 points, although the Glenties team have a better score difference and have played once less than Eunan’s 13 outings.
St Michael’s are a point behind both having played two games fewer than the O’Donnell Park residents.
After a tepid opening where the visitors led 0-2 to 0-0 courtesy of frees from Matthew Byrne and Andrew Kelly, St Eunan’s finally got on the scoreboard on 20 minutes through a McVeigh point. Ninety seconds later Patrick McGowan fired over a leveller.
Malin, who had lost their first eight outings this term but have shown some form of late, were the better side to begin with and John Paul Clarke, the St Eunan’s goalkeeper, had to make a save down low with his feet on four minutes from Dan McDaid after a 45 fell short.
But with St Eunan’s growing into the contest with the wind at their backs, they went ahead through Odhran McGinley’s finishing of a patient move.
Conall Dunne’s two frees – St Eunan’s fourth and fifth points in seven minutes – gave the hosts a three-point advantage. Conor Gibbons then rounded off the half’s scoring as St Eunan’s went in 0-6 to 0-2 in front at the break.
Malin had the elements and the first two scores of the second half through Seamus Doherty and McDaid to halve their deficit and might’ve got closer had it not been for a little erratic shooting.
The visitors were made pay when St Eunan’s spun off three points in as many minutes, through McGinley, Lee McMonagle and Gibbons, before Dunne’s free to go 0-10 to 0-4 up at the midpoint of the second half.
Then, on 48 minutes, there was another talking point. A brilliant run from deep by Stephen McLaughlin saw the wing-back cut through the St Eunan’s defence, only to see his progress halted by the outstretched leg of Clarke in the St Eunan’s goal.
Referee McGonigle flashed the black card and awarded a penalty. There was some disagreement as David Tyrell, the substitute goalkeeper, was denied entry to the field of play till the next play.
As he stood on the touchline, Darragh Mulgrew, the St Eunan’s centre-back, stood in for the Malin penalty, which was easily dispatched by Brendan McLaughlin.
Although McMonagle scored for the hosts, Liam Bradley’s team then kicked a couple of points through Brendan McLaughlin and McDaid and from being six down at a stage, Malin had come back to 0-11 to 1-6 behind.
That lead was trimmed down to one by Stephen McLaughlin as the heavens opened. With the contest in the melting pot, it was St Eunan’s who came through following Charlie Byrne’s unfortunate own goal and the whistle – less than a minute into injury time – concluded the contest.
ST EUNAN’S: John Paul Clarke; Connall O’Boyle, Sean Hensey, Kieran Sharkey; Michael Miller, Darragh Mulgrew, Conor Parke;  Cormac Coghlan, Kevin Rafferty; Conor Gibbons (0-2), Sean McVeigh (0-1), Odhran McGinley (0-2); Patrick McGowan (0-1), Conall Dunne (0-3, 3f), Lee McMonagle (0-2). Subs: Oisin Carr for Coghlan (41), Conor McEniff for McGowan (43), David Tyrell for Clarke (49, black card), Peter Devine for O’Boyle (56)
MALIN: Darragh McLaughlin; Conor McColgan, Damien Harkin, Gary Farren; Stephen McLaughlin (0-1), Charlie Byrne (1-0, own goal), Michael McLaughin; Anthony Kelly (0-1, 1f), Seamus Houghton; Christy McLaughlin, Matthew Byrne (0-1, 1f), Darren Malakey; Brendan McLaughlin (1-1, 1-0 pen), Seamus Doherty (0-1), Dan McDaid (0-2).
REFEREE: Seamus McGonigle.
Tags: