Sunday 17 July 2005
LOUGHMACRORY 2 - 07 1 - 08 CLAN NA NGAEL
Depleted seniors overcome Clan na nGael
Loughmacrory picked up their ninth league win of the season but only after holding off a Clan na nGael by two points. By half time Loughmacrory had built up an eight points lead but Clan na nGael fought back well in the second period closing the gap to two points at the finish. Loughmacrory conceded the first two points of the game before getting into a rhythm and the next six scores were to come at the opposite end of the field, Ronan Ward getting ‘the Lough’ going by swinging over a couple of excellent points from play to level matters.
Ciarán Ward then gave the home side the lead for the first time, Niall Kelly doubled that lead minutes later and Ronan Ward converted a free kick to make it five points in a row. But it was the next two scores, coming in the final two minutes on the half, which were to prove the match winners for the home side. When Stephen Donaghy’s shot was only partially blocked on the line Ronan Ward was on hand to blast to the net and a minute later Donaghy was upended as he bore down on goal and Ward calmly stepped up to plant the resultant penalty of the inside of the keepers left upright for his second goal in as many minutes.
Loughmacrory now looked pretty safe, but the visitors were given new hope with a goal and a point in the opening minutes on the second half cutting Loughmacrory’s lead to just two points. Ronan Ward steadied the Lough’ ship when he pointed a free kick and the home side appeared to have weathered the storm when Gerard Donaghy split the posts with a neat curler following a great block by midfielder Gary Conway. The Clan men did come back with two further points of their own but it was too late to make any difference and the league points stayed by the Lough.
