Danske Bank Dr MacLarnon Cup final replay: Friday 7.30pm in Celtic Park, Derry: Holy Trinity Cookstown v St Eunan’s Letterkenny
The happier, more relieved team when Barry Cassidy blew his final whistle in the Athletic Grounds had to be Holy Trinity Cookstown.
Outplayed for most of the first half, they hit back with two late points to leave only two in it at the break, 1-4 to 1-2. Then Conor O’Donnell finished a sweeping Letterkenny move in the 35th minute for a 2-5 to 1-3 lead and, with the wind behind them, the Donegal side was expected to push on.
However Holy Trinity hit a purple spot, dominated midfield and scored the next five points to level the game. Goalie Conor Loane was needed in the last minute of injury time to make a point blank save with his needs and deny O’Donnell a winner.
Central to that period of Cookstown pressure was full-forward Tiernan Mackle who put in a big shift, presenting for the long ball pass, strong under the high ball and also chasing back. However he had to be withdrawn in the closing minutes with what seemed to be concussion and if that is the case, he will not be permitted to start the replay – and that would be a huge blow to Holy Trinity’s chances.
Defender Mark McKearney and midfielder Pauric Lagan both impressed for Cookstown, even when they were struggling during the opening half, but the team overall needs to lift their performance to the level delivered during the second half on Monday.
St Eunan’s understandably did not want to dwell on the late shot selection of Conor O’Donnell to go for goal when a point would probably have secured a sixth title. After all he was their only scorer from the 21st minute in the game!
They got off to the perfect start (a goal from Brian Diver) and were very dominant in the opening half, carrying ball well at the Cookstown defence, but they didn’t translate that dominance into enough scores to put daylight between the teams.
Although Pádraig McGettigan took several good catches in the opening half, he didn’t, or maybe wasn’t allowed to, dominate in the manner that he had imposed himself in other games.
None of the forwards could claim to have used possession wisely and free-taker Shane McDevitt looked to be suffering the effects of the injury that restricted his involvement coming into the game.
Monday was a game set up for defences. Both teams kept it fairly crowded when under pressure and found it difficult to turn the game into counter-attacks.
Away from the glare of the Athletic Grounds with a smaller crowd in attendance, we could possibly see a different game – but on Monday’s evidence, St Eunan’s will feel they missed out on the chance to lift the Cup and should edge home tonight.
