Urris outplayed at Straid
Posted online: Jul 27th, 2010
Busanna Feda O Donaill Intermediate Football Championship
Urris 0-08
MacCumhaill’s 2-10
By Johnny Craig
Sports Editor
Urris’ passage to the second round of the Intermediate Championship
will be determined by a play-off after MacCumhaills atoned for the
Inishowen side’s win at Ballybofey with a comfortable victory in
Clonmany on Saturday evening.
John Friel’s side’s win at Donegal HQ earlier in the month raised a few
eyebrows, against a side who had aspirations of playing in this year’s
Donegal Senior Championship. But in the return leg they were outplayed
for long periods and will need a major improvement if they are to
advance in the play-off.
Urris began the game in determined fashion with Ciaran Friel clipping
the left post with a well struck shot and Peter Devlin forcing a full stretch save from Chris Patton in the Ballybofey goal.
MacCumhaill’s settled and hit the front with scores from play by
Darren O’Leary and Benny McLaughlin but Urris were more than a match
for them in the opening 15 minutes and deservedly equalised with
scores from Donal Kelly and Alan Friel.
That was to be as good as it got for the Inish side however as
MacCumhaill’s hit a purple patch shortly afterwards to put clear water
between the sides.
Following a well taken score from O’Leary on the left they hit the
first of their two goals on 17 minutes when a deep ball in by Bernard
McGeehan found the unmarked O’Leary who turned and drilled the ball
high to the roof of the net.
MacCumhaill’s ruthlessly attacked in the run up to the interval with
O’Leary again splitting the posts and Benny McLaughlin adding another
brace.
Significantly the Ballybofey side registered only one wide in the
first half while Urris had four and although they sent over two late
points from Donal and Eddie Kelly, MacCumhaill’s went in at halftime
in the driving seat with a five point advantage.
Urris started the second half well but failed to turn their possession
into scores and they were punished for that when the visitors
stretched their lead to seven points with scores from McGeehan and
another from Benny McLaughlin.
The hosts were beginning to build good phases of possession and,
although they pulled scores back through the in-form Peter Devlin and
an Eddie Kelly free, too often sloppy passing gave MacCumhaill’s the
initiative to attack on the break.
With ten minutes remaining McGeehan capitalised on indecision in the
in the Urris defense to claim a loose ball and drill it to the net to
put the result beyond doubt.
With seven minutes remaining Urris came a whisker away from closing
the gap when towering midfielder Liam Diver’s fisted effort from a
deep ball in by Mickey Grant stubbed the left post.
As the game drew to a close Shaun McGeoghan sent over a booming longrange score while Eddie Kelly and Mark McLaughlin hit consolation
scores for Urris to reduce their winning margin to eight points.
URRIS: Johnny Noone, Sean Doherty, Martin Kelly, Mickey Grant, Sean
McDaid, Phil Pat Doherty, Damien Harkin, Eddie Kelly, Liam Diver, Mark
McLaughlin, Peter Devlin, Alan Friel, Darragh Doherty, Donal Kelly,
Ciaran Friel. SUBS: Paddy Doherty for M Kelly, Adrian Doherty for C Friel
MACCUMHAILLS: Chris Patton, Mick Connolly, Shane McNulty, Garvan
Mulligan, Gary Dunnion, Joe Dunnion, Pat McNulty, Shaun McGeoghan,
Maurice Lafferty, Packie Gallon, Bernard McGeehan, Chris McDaid, Benny McLaughlin, Darren O’Leary, Paddy Kelly
REFEREE: Sean McLaughlin



