Laragh prevail in thriller
LARAGH prevailed from a nip and tuck game with close rivals and intermediate side An Tóchar in their Division 2 football league encounter in Laragh. A goal from wing back Jamie Cullen five minutes from time proved to be the decisive moment as it gave Laragh the lead for the first time in the match.
An Tóchar moved out of the traps the quickest and sailed ahead after an exchange of early point’s when full forward Conor Davis finished emphatically to the back of the net. The goal followed a long direct ball which 3 or 4 players contested but Davis was cute enough to stay out of the tussle and when the ball broke perfectly into his path there was only one destination it was heading to.
Davis added another point from play to stretch the lead to four as Laragh struggled to find their way into the game. But to their credit Laragh didn’t lie down. Keith Lawlor had a very good game and caused huge problems for the Roundwood back division. His quick turning and pace won 2 frees in quick succession which the excellent John Nolan converted to cut the deficit and he then had a shot tipped onto the post by Roundwood keeper Peter O’Toole.
The rest of the half was a tit for tat affair as the sides exchanged points with Roundwood never relinquishing the lead and holding a two point advantage at the interval as the free taking of John Nolan and Conor Davis dominated the scoreboard.
The second half began in the same vein as the first as Davis and then Nolan converted frees. Laragh seemed to be slowly but surely getting on top however. The midfield pairing of Nolan and David McDonald were getting the better of their Roundwood counterparts as the pressure was ramped up on the Roundwood backs. Steve Olahan pointed before John Nolan hit an inspirational score to draw the side’s level and it seemed for all the world that Laragh would kick on as all the momentum seemed to be with them.
The levelling score sprung Roundwood into action as Graham Sutton restored the lead with a well taken point following a relatively easy Davis free coming back off the post.
Davis kicked another free to extend the lead and it seemed that despite all their good play and pressure it wasn’t going to be Laragh’s day as the minutes were quickly evaporating.
Then arrived the decisive moment in the 56th minute. Laragh worked the ball up well where David McDonald found himself in space 25 yards from goal. A point was on but he spotted substitute Myles Conway free inside 14 and although Conway had his shot brilliantly saved wing back Cullen had charged up the field and was on hand to boot the rebound into the net and give Laragh the lead for the first time.
John Nolan showed nerves of steel to double the lead with a free near the left touchline and although An Tóchar heaped on the pressure in the remaining few minutes Laragh stood strong and came away with a very important and deserved victory.
Scorers - Laragh: John Nolan 0-7 (0-6 frees), Jamie Cullen 1-0, Keith Lawlor 0-1, Jack Dunne 0-1, Mark Miley 0-1, David McDonald 0-1, Stephan Olahan 0-1.
An Tóchar: Conor Davis 1-9 (0-8 frees), Graham Sutton 0-1.
Laragh: James Nolan, Stephen Curley, Peter Merrigan, Ciaran Byrne, Craig McCoy, Gary Cullen, Jamie Cullen, David McDonald, John Nolan, Eamon Kennedy, Stephen Olahan, Jack Dunne, Keith Lawlor, Mark Miley, Dan Power. Subs: Myles Conway for Dan Power, Andrew Kenny for Stephen Curley, Fergal Olahan for Jack Dunne.
An Tóchar: Peter O’Toole, Stephen Connor, Conor Short, Eoghan Maragh, Gavin Kenny, Brendan Swords, Brendan Kennedy, Liam Kenna, Liam Gaffney, Eamon Wolohan, Stefan Collier, Peter Byrne, Graham Sutton, Conor Davis, Mark Kennan.
Referee: Trevor Culbert