Moynagh drives Lacken to comeback victory

SFC round 2

Lacken 2-9

Castlerahan 1-11

Last years Intermediate champions Castlerahan have found the going tough so far in this year’s Senior Championship as they suffered a second defeat in a row. Leading by six points with a little over 20 minutes remaining, Castlerahan let in two goals and four points in the closing stages to lose by a single point.

Castlerahan came out of the traps fastest as Stephen Cooney played a lovely ball into Oisin O’Connell who hooked the ball over the bar from close range. Cian McCabe got on the end of an Enda Flanagan fist pass and was fouled by Peter Galligan before tapping the free over the bar.

With five minutes on the clock, McCabe put Enda Flanagan through on goal but Flanagan was denied by the post in a let-off for Lacken. After recycling the ball from side to side, Cooney stepped inside the Lacken 45 and blasted the ball over the bar to extend their lead to three with seven minutes played.

Castlerahan corner-forward Rory Smith was fouled 15 metres from the Lacken goal and McCabe made no mistake with the free. Peter Galligan won a free 40 metres from the Castlerahan goal and the new Cavan senior football manager Raymond Galligan sailed the free over the bar for Lacken’s opener.

A driving run from James Galligan ended with a foul by Oisin Kiernan and Galligan made light work of the 47-metre distance. As the second quarter, began lively Castlerahan corner-forward Smith cut in from the left sideline and curled the ball over the bar. Smith was then fouled on the 21st minute and when McCabe converted the free, Castlerahan held a four-point lead.

Having dictated the running, Castlerahan should have been further ahead and in the final five minutes of the half they somehow let Lacken back into the game. A point from James Moynagh started the comeback before Galligan collided with Sean Óg McGearty resulting in an end to Galligan’s evening as he was replaced by Mark Wilson.

A minute into first half injury-time, Shane Moynagh sent over a point from 30 metres before a foul on James Galligan gave Wilson an easy free to settle into his duties. Castlerahan manager Brian Donohoe surely entered the half-time break wondering how they were only a point ahead having controlled much of the play.

Three minutes into the second half Castlerahan were back in control of the ball and after Oisin O’Connell’s shot was caught by Enda Flanagan at the back post he brilliantly centered the ball to Jason O’Gorman to tap to the back of the net.

Enda Flanagan and Oisin Kiernan then added points on the fifth and the eight minutes of the second half to leave the score 1-8 to 0-5 in Castlerahan’s favour.

With the game drifting away from Lacken, Shane Moynagh stepped up gathering the ball on the Cstlerahan 45 he played a one-two with Mark Wilson before blasting the ball to the corner of the net with his left foot.

With Castlerahan stunned James Galligan sent over a 40-metre free to leave just two points between the sides with 19 minutes remaining.

With the game a minute into the final quarter, Shane Moynagh once again drove through the middle of the Castlerahan defense and passed to Mark Wilson inside the 13 meter line. Wilson dummied to get his left foot free and placed the ball perfectly to the back of the Castlerahan net in the only spot available.

Karl Cosgrove levelled the game with a free but with 10 to go, a second James Galligan free restored Lacken’s lead. Aodghán Halton was then shown a black card leaving Lacken down a man until injury time after dragging down Cian McCabe running in on goal with McCabe converting the free himself.

A point from play by Mark Wilson from 35 metres gave Lacken back the lead but again Cian McCabe levelled the sides with a free a minute from the end of ordinary time. As injury time began Stephen Cooney shot wide for Castlerahan, leaving the door open for Lacken to snatch the victory.

Shane Moynagh look bottled up on the sideline but somehow managed to drill his way through a number of Lacken defenders.

With little space Moynagh slipped a hand pass to Karl Clerkin who cutting along the 13-metre line towards the Castlerahan goal, was fouled leaving Mark Wilson with a free to the right of the goals to win the game and his left foot duly delivered the point and the win.

It has emerged since the game that this match was Brian Donohoe’s last match in charge of Castlerahan.

Donohoe was in his second season in charge; Castlerahan won the Intermediate last season. It is understood the move was the result of a meeting of the Castlerahan players which took place after this defeat.

Castlerahan player Fergal Flanagan will now take charge of the side.

Castlerahan: Kieran Daly, Stephen Cooney (0-1), Sean Óg McGearty, Jamie Reilly, Jason O’Gorman, Oisin Kiernan (0-1), Conor Farrelly, David Wright, Cormac Daly, Padraig McGahern, Enda Flanagan (0-1), Karl Cosgrove (0-1f), Oisin O’Connell (0-1), Cian McCabe (0-4f), Rory Smith (0-2)

Subs: Cormac Lynch for P McGahern, Keith Fitzsimons for J O’Gorman

Lacken: Daryl Buckley, Kevin Shanaghy, David Wilson, Aodghan Halton, Shane Finnegan, Peter Galligan, Ryan Coyle, Shane Moynagh (0-1), Craig Lanauze, Karl Clerkin, James Galligan, Darragh O’Reilly, Donal McSorley, Raymond Galligan (0-2f), James Moynagh (0-1)

Subs: Mark Wilson for R Galligan, Finn Riley for P Galligan, Torin Brady for D McSorley, Philip Moynagh for C Lanauze.