Eoghan Rua record second win in a week at Swatragh
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Owen Roe player Mark McTaggart takes down the Glen Maghera player during Sunday’s Division Two league clash at Cappaghmore.
TWO more crucial points in their first ever senior league campaign were secured by Eoghan Rua, Coleraine, following a superb away win over Swatragh last week, the Bannsiders winning with six points to spare, 1-14 to 1-8, the final score.
This was the Coleraine side's second teak tough outing in four days on a heavy Swatragh pitch, coming as it did after the hardfought win over a dogged Craigbane side the previous Sunday.
The Eoghan Rua side which took the field at Swatragh showed a number of changes: out were Ciaran McGoldrick who suffered a broken leg in an incident which saw Craigbane's Fergal Crossan sent off in the last couple of minutes and Mark Mearns and Ciaran Mullan who both sustained shoulder injuries in the same match.
To add to management worries, Denis Frizelle and Martin McGonigle were also unavailable.
Despite the enforced personnel changes, the likes of Pat Cassidy, Aidan Dillon and Jon Trolan all came in to do a great job as the Coleraine outfit turned in a really dogged team performance to deservedly come out on top. Coleraine made a great start in the heavy underfoot conditions with three points in the opening four minutes, Barry and Colm McGoldrick along with Sean Paul Henry scoring.
The home side then hit back with three in a row, Mickey Friel and Sean McGuckin (2) their men on target. Coleraine then briefly took the lead with a Ciaran Lenehan point but by the end of the first quarter Swatragh were in front following a Robert McWilliams goal.
The ebb and flow of the game continued as Coleraine leveled with two quick points before Sean McGuckin had Swatragh back ahead by one in the 20th minute.
The Eoghan Rua outfit then established a foothold on the game over the last ten minutes of the half as they eked out a two point interval lead with scores from a Gregory Bradley free and Colm McGoldrick.
Within seconds of the restart Colm McGoldrick almost had a goal but his low shot across goal just went the wrong side of the far post.
Not fazed by that missed chance the young McGoldrick took a pass from Jon Trolan to point and extend Coleraine's lead to three in the second minute.
The visitors continued to dominate proceedings in the opening ten minutes of the second half as points from Sean Leo and Barry McGoldrick pushed them four clear.
