A goal in each half by Paddy McDermott and one in between from Christy McLaughlin gave Glengad Utd this come-from-behind and hard-earned derby win at a cold and wet Caratra Park in Culdaff to put them top.
Culdaff 2 Glengad United 3
Christy McLaughlin went close in the third minute of Glengad, cutting in from the right side but Darragh McLaughlin denied him with an excellent block save and then having fallen behind in the 8th minute when Michael Coyle found space in the box and powerfully headed home Darren Mullarky’s corner the visitors found themselves on the back foot and had to produce a determined and hard working performance to take home all three points.
After Coyle’s opener both sides had chances to score, Terence Doherty should have equalised in the 14th minute when Michael Bryne put him through, while a minute later Micheal Coyle created a chance for Dermot Diver but the big defender shot just wide. In the 24th minute Benny McLaughlin found Darren Mullarky in the box but he shot across goal when well placed.
Glengad had plenty of possession but their play in the final third was letting them down, but in the 33rd minute they drew level when Matthew Bryne let fly from 30 yards and when his shot came back off the underside of the crossbar Paddy Mc Dermott pounced to head home the rebound. In the final minutes of the half both Terence Doherty and Mc Dermott had good chances but failed to apply the required finish.
However it didn’t take Shane Bryne’s men too long to take the lead after the break. McDermott produced a super cross-field pass and Christy McLaughlin drilled the ball low past keeper Darragh McLaughlin in the 46th minute.
Glengad upped their game and after a few near things they made it 1-3 in the 63rd minute when Christy McLaughlin returned the favour for Mc Dermott as the latter reacted quickest to Mc Laughlin’s cross and forced the ball over the line from close range.
To their credit in what were very difficult conditions, with a cold biting wind and heavy rain both teams continued to give their all and Culdaff FC never gave up.
Glengad’s Shane Canning somehow scrambled a goalbound shot from Benny McLaughlin off the line in the 77th minute but Glengad’s good fortune didn’t last too long as a minute later Benny Mc Laughlin burst through on the left and hammered a super rising shot past Kevin McLaughlin to set up a tense last ten minutes.
Glengad held on but it took a brillant full length save from keeper Kevin Mc Laughlin in the 92nd minute to deny Benny Mc Laughlin’s goalbound headed following a free-kick.
Culdaff: Darragh McLaughlin, Dermot Diver, Eugene McLaughlin, Dillon Ruddy, Paul McLaughlin, Conor Farren (Aiden Cunningham), Noel McLaughlin (Paul Mills), Michael Coyle, Brian McCandless (Jack O’Brien), Benny McLaughlin, Darren Mullarky.
Glengad United: Kevin McLaughlin, Stephen McLaughlin, James McKinney, John Gerard McLaughlin, Matthew Bryne , Adam Bryne, Christy McLaughlin, Shane Canning, Terence Doherty (Seamus Doherty) , Michael Bryne, Paddy McDermott.
Referee: Charlie Doherty
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