Steelstown top Group A despite Limavady championship scare

Steelstown 1-10 Limavady 1-7.

If Steelstown are to make further progress in the Intermediate Championship performances like this will have to be more ruthless.

They looked to be cruising with a 1-08 to 1-03 interval lead but they managed to add just further two points in the second half, both scores from frees. Admittedly they had been reduced to 14 men just before the interval when midfielder Ryan Devine saw red for a foul on Ruairi Hassan but that alone does not explain such a meagre second half return.

The Brian Ogs had been mighty impressive after being hit by an early Limavady first half goal at Pairc na Cunna. Ben McCarron was outstanding in that opening half but in the second period they played a short hand passing game and time after time ran aground against an improved home defence with Manus Quigley prominent.

Indeed, had Limavady believed a bit more in their own ability they could well have served up a major shock given the number of chances they created in the last quarter and that will be a worry for Eamon Gibson whose side were playing only their second game after Glack conceded the meeting between the two clubs.

The Brian Og’s were fortunate when a late Jack Deery rocket went inches wide inches and a goal tat that stage would have put the home side level at a time when they were well in the ascendency.

A massive downpour prior to the start of the game left the pitch a bit slippery in places and made ball handling difficult. Over the hour Limavady wasted too much possession with long

balls into their full forward line. In the initial period the Steelstown full back line was rock solid, but after half time Cormac Quigley began to win the breaks with Steelstown full back

Shane O’Connor.

The first half produced some sweet football. The Wolfhounds dominated the opening 10 minutes and led by 1-1 to 0-2. They had the opening score from Oisin Hassan in their first

attack. Then, after keeper Martin Dunne had saved from Ruairi O’Kane, Richard King hammered the rebound to the net. Cahir McMonagle and McCarron, from a free, had responded for the city men.

King converted a free just before the water break but on the resumption a brilliant McCarron point, his second in succession, drew the teams level.

Limavady’s long game was having no joy against the opposing full back line but by now Steeklstown were in full flow. Seven minutes from the interval Jacob Duffy put his team ahead for the first time. Then came the inevitable goal and it was McCarron’s sublime pass to Jacob Duffy that made the score 1-6 to 1-2.

Cahir McMonagle, the lively Steelstown number 14, added to the list before King, from a free, interrupted the Steelstown flow. A fine finish after a solo run by Rory Maguire

left the half time score 1-8 to 1-3 and the visitors seemingly well in charge.

Eight minutes in to the second half Cormac Quigley hit over a long range free but play was becoming scrappy with fouls and mistakes the order of the day. It wasn’t until the 44th minute that Steelstown got their first score of the half and that came from a close range McCarron free.

By now the Brian Og’s had brought Neil Forester, Darren McDaid off the bench, followed soon after by Andy Moore, and Forester’s speedy solo runs cut through Limavady but most of them came to nothing.

Quigley and Oisin Hassan converted frees and in between that Jack Deery might well have turned the game. Former Derry minor keepers at either end, Marty Dunne and Oran Hartin, pulled off some outstanding saves over the hour. Five minutes from the end Hartin produced a wonderful save from McCarron but in the follow up the home defence gave away a free and McCarron converted.

A Richard King free concluded the scoring and despite some confusion over the final scoreline, hot favourites Steelstown breathed sigh of relief after an uneasy victory.

Steelstown. Marty Dunne, Ryan McCloskey, Shane O’Connor, Kevin Lindsay, Eoghan Concannon, Mickey McKinney, Jason McAteer, Ruairi Devine, Emmett Deane, Gareth Logue, Rory Maguire (0-1), Oisin McMenamin, Jacob Duffy(1-1), Cahir McMonagle (0-3,1m), Ben McCarron (0-5,3f). Subs: Darren McDaid, Neil Forester, Andy Moore.

Limavady: Oran Hartin, Jamie McLaughlin, Tom Deery, Manus Quigley, Kieran McGlinchey, Conor Boyd, Ruairi O’Kane, Jack Deery, Harry McLaughlin, Sheagh McLaughlin, Ruauri Hassan, Aaron McGregor, Oisin Hassan (0-2), Cormac Quigley (0-2f), Richard King (1-3,3f). Subs: Eugene O’Kane, David Brolly, Liam Boyd.

Referee: Terence McGilligan (Slaughtmanus).