Doohamlet 0-9 Rockcorry 0-7

Streamline Coaches Intermediate Football League, Round 2  -  Sunday 18th April 2010

 “Spirited Performance Not Enough as Rock Lose Close Encounter”

Team: Jamie Smith, Colin Reilly, Damien Matthews, Garry Calvert, Keith Daly, Johnny Reilly, Niall McKeown, Martin Carroll, Liam Connolly, Paul McKeown, Mark Daly, Coiln Quinn, Mark McGuirk, Dwayne Rooney and Conor McGeough.

 Subs: Pauric Reilly for Conor McGeough

We travelled to the Monaghan county training grounds in Cloghan, on Sunday 18^th April, in what was a home venue for the Doohamlet side. Unfortunately, we were missing a number of players with injuries namely Noel Carroll, Stephen McGuirk, Ciaran O’Hart, Mickey Conlon, Eoin Fitzpatrick and Barry Patterson.

Doohamlet opened the scoring after twenty-five seconds with a fisted point. We responded in the 3^rd minute when Garry Calvert came forward to show the attackers the way, leveling the contest by sending over in style a point from twenty-five metres after receiving the ball from Paul McKeown. Doohamlet regained the lead almost instantly when a high ball lobbed into our goal-mouth was deflected over the bar by Jamie Smith.

In the 6^th minute Mark Daly tapped over a free kick after Niall McKeown was stopped by a frontal challenge to draw the side’s level. The next run of play saw both teams kick wides before Colin Reilly fouled his opponent, in the 12^th minute, and the Doohamlet free taker put the ball over the bar. A couple of minutes later Mark McGuirk was awarded a free kick and Mark Daly slotted the ball over the bar to draw the sides all square.

Mark Daly arguably kicked the point of the game in the 14^th minute from a free kick on the sideline on the twenty-one metre line and with the outside of his boot curled the ball straight between the posts to put us one up. Doohamlet responded with a fine point from play in the 19^th minute and three minutes later we were awarded a free kick on the 45m line which Mark Daly took quickly to Paul McKeown and he sent a measured pass into Colin Quinn who rounded his opponent lovely but unfortunately his shot at goals, from an acute angle, went wide. Doohamlet regained the lead in the 25^th minute with a superb point from play and increased their lead moments later with another well taken point to leave the half time score Doohamlet 0-6 Rockcorry 0-4.

At the break team management made a switch moving Mark Daly into midfield with Liam Connolly going to the half forward line. Doohamlet started the half the better and kicked two wides within the first couple of minutes and in the 4^th minute they had a goal opportunity but thankfully Jamie Smith prevented them extending their lead when he brilliantly saved their shot. A number of half chances came our way but unfortunately led to nothing. However, after seven fruitless minutes we managed to score when Dwayne Rooney slotted over a terrific long range point. Jamie Smith proved his alertness in the 16^th minute and made another great save to deny Doohamlet a goal but unluckily the rebound went to a Doohamlet player and he fired the ball over the bar.

Paul McKeown was fouled in the 19^th minute after making a solo run towards goals and Mark Daly sailed the free kick over the bar. Doohamlet kicked a further wide in the 20^th minute and two minutes later they landed another shot in to the hands of our goalie Jamie Smith. At this stage Doohamlet were piling on the pressure and Martin Carroll fouled his opponent on the twenty-five metre line and their free taker tapped over a straightforward free to open up a two point gap. We managed to reduce the deficit when Liam Connolly collected a pass from Pauric Reilly who found Dwayne Rooney and after turning in style he was brought down and Mark Daly tapped over the free to leave just a single point between the sides going into the last five minutes. As we went in search of the equaliser we were unable to get the ball into a scoring opportunity or draw a free kick. However, poor defending and giving possession away down the other end resulted in us giving away a free kick that Doohamlet duly converted to leave the final score Doohamlet 0-9 Rockcorry 0-7.

On reflection, this was a close and competitive game with the sides being level no less than four times throughout the match. It will be no consolation to the team that despite an admirable performance where we showed great team spirit and character we still lost the game. If we are to win close encounters then we need to start eliminating unforced errors and be able to put scores on the board!