Donard-The Glen in control
West men see off An Tochar in Division 2 Cup clash
DONARD-THE GLEN AN TOCHAR 1-14 0-5
DONARD-THE GLEN powered to an emphatic victory over An Tochar in the Division 2 Cup competition last Friday evening at the Jim Mills Memorial Park.
Strong showings from Harry Mangan, Eoin Kelly, John Hanbidge, Liam Mullen and substitute Alan Daly complimented a decent team performance for Tadhg Fennin’s men with a late Dermot Daly goal for the home side putting the finishing touches to a reasonable shift in front of the posts.
Donard-The Glen held an 0-8 to 0-2 lead at the break having dominated An Tochar all over the field but especially in the home side’s half-back line where Rory Toomey and Mickey Daly were in no mood for conceding ground.
Conor Davis opened the scoring in the first minute with a fine score and the midfielder added their second after 28 minutes when he bulldozed his way through the Donard defence before walloping the ball between the posts.
It was 0-6 to 0-1 at that stage. Donard-The Glen had driven hard at the An Tochar rearguard and had been rewarded with points from Joseph Whyte, Liam Mullen (four, two frees) and one from Eoin Kelly after good work from Rory Toomey.
An Tochar were trying with all of their might to put pressure on the Donard-The Glen goal but strong defending was helping to keep them at bay.
The Roundwood men needed a strong finish to the opening half to give them any real hope but Donard-The Glen’s Gavin Walshe spoiled any hopes of such a thing when the full-forward fired over two excellent points – although the second probably should have bulged Donal Marah’s net – to leave the home side 0-8 to 0-2 ahead at the break.
Alan Daly’s introduction after half-time added more pressure to an over-worked An Tochar defence.
He pointed after eight minutes for the opening score of the second half and the home side led 0-10 to 0-2 when An Tochar enjoyed their best spell with two points in a row, the first from Brendan Swords, the second from Luke Power.
Donard-The Glen struck back with two white flags of their own before Brendan Swords slotted a free for what would be An Tochar’s last score of the game with 10 minutes to go.
Tadgh Fennin’s men finished strongly, an Alan Daly pointed free and one from play sandwiched a wicked goal from the boot of Dermot Daly to leave the Donard-The Glen men comfortable winners on a score of 1-14 to 0-5.
Scorers – Donard-The Glen: Liam Mullen 0-5 (3f), Dermot Daly 1-00, Alan Daly 0-3 (1f), Joseph Whyte 0-3, Gavin Walshe 0-2, Eoin Kelly 0-1.
An Tochar: Conor Davis 0-2, Brendan Swords 0-2 (1f), Luke Power 0-1.