Goals galore at Sean Dolan's, but it's Lissan who progress

Sean Dolans 3-11

Lissan 4-19

Sean Dolan’s had only themselves to blame as their Junior Championship hopes ended in a thrilling and high-scoring game against Lissan at Piggery Ridge on Saturday.

Dolan’s have done reasonably well in the Championship this season, beating Ardmore and drawing against Doire Trasna, and they came into this game knowing that a win might well get them to the quarterfinals. But for all that knowledge and preparation, they still somehow found themselves a goal down after just 10 seconds. And it was goals that were a blessing and a curse for Dolan’s in a breathless game in Creggan as twice they found the Lissan net, only to concede at the other end within seconds. Had they somehow kept their focus and discipline to build on their goas at those crucial times, the final score line could have been much different and their journey in the Junior Championship might have lasted a game longer at least.

But all the credit goes to Lissan, who took full advantage of Dolans’ defensive liabilities – not only that, their resilience and gumption to get up and go again after conceding big goals was the difference between the two teams on the day, and an attribute which should carry them deep into this competition.

Lissan still have to play Ardmore, but after wins over Pearses and Ballerin already behind them, they have secured their place in the knock-out stages with room to spare, and they will be more than confident of going beyond the last eight given the qualities they have shown so far.

Unbelievable

The sun was hammering down on the Piggery Ridge pitch, but referee Mervyn McAleese had barely blown his whistle before the ball was nestling in the Dolan’s net, a miscommunication between defender and goalkeeper giving Joey Devlin the simplest of tap ins into an empty net.

Paul Clifford and Eamon McGinley got the home side off the mark, replying to Martin McCracken’s score to make it 0-2, 1-1 five minutes in, and Dolan’s could have had a goal themselves when Caolan McCosker went all the way in a determined drive before rolling the ball across the face of goal, but Clifford couldn’t get the touch needed to carry it into the net.

Two more for McCracken and another from Devlin ensured that Lissan were settling into this game comfortably, and although Liam McNulty responded, the visitors hit back with a free from Iarlaith Donaghy and another from Devlin to lead 0-3, 1-6 at the midway point of the first half.

But Dolan’s dragged themselves right back into contention with a much-needed goal when a clever pass from McGinley saw a defensive mix-up, and McNulty was able to tap in to give his team hope.

But rather than build on that, Dolan’s crumbled, conceding a penalty immediately at the other end. Donaghy’s effort was brilliantly saved by Sean O’Donell, but still Lissan reacted quicker to the rebound, Luke McElkennon lobbing the ball back into the square where Enda Quigley rose high to punch it into the net to make it 1-3, 2-6.

Lissan were sharper and more dangerous overall, and for every Dolan’s point, there was a response from Lissan, David Monaghan, Luke McElkennon replying to Caolan McCosker. Emmett Coyle and Luke Clarke kept the scores coming for Dolans, but it was end to end and I took another great save from O’Donnell to deny Quigley a second goal after a lightning-fast break has three Lissan attackers on one Dolan’s defender.

The defending may not have been great, but the spirit of both teams certainly was, and Dolan’s grabbed their second goal in the final minute of normal time when Emmett Coyle did brilliantly to set up Clifford for a tap in. That made it 2-7, 2-9 and Dolan’s were heading towards half-time with some momentum at least.

Or so it seemed. With time still on the clock, Lissan went right down the other end, and David Monaghan cut inside to beat O’Donnell and the good work of the Dolan’s goal had been wiped out quickly yet again.

Half time 2-8, 3-9

After conceding just 10 seconds into the game, the message was to tighten up at the back must have been put to the players at half time. Yet they clearly didn’t listen as Lissan had their fourth goal less than a minute after the restart. Eoin Murray passed over the top and it was a great take by Joe McElkennon who ran on to score as the Dolans players looked to the skies and all around them.

For all their defensive frailties, Dolans’ remained in the game, and when they were awarded a penalty five minutes in, Liam McNulty hammered it into the net to make it 3-9, 4-10, and it was clear this game wasn’t over yet.

Dolan’s had a big chance for another goal within two minutes McNulty set up Friel, but he shot straight into the arms of Eoin Murray. It was a big chance.

Following that, Lissa began to pull away again with four successive scores from McCracken, Devlin, Monaghan and Donaghy, which gave them a nine-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Caolan McCosker and Kevin Nixon kept Dolan’s alive, but for all their efforts, it was Lissan who finished the stronger, McCracken hitting the post ahead of points for Murray, Donaghy and McCracken again, as a brilliantly entertaining, if not brilliantly disciplined game came to an end.

Scorers

Sean Dolan’s: Eamon McGinley (0-2, 1’45), Caolan McCosker (0-2, 1f), Liam McNulty (2-1), Luke Clarke (0-2, 1f), Paul Clifford (1-2), Emmett Coyle (0-1), Kevin Nixon (0-1).

Lissan: Lissan: Eoin Murray (0-1), Iarlaith Donaghy (0-4, 1 ‘45), Joe McElkennon (1-0), David Monaghan (1-2), Luke McElkennon (0-1), Martin McCracken (0-5), Ciaran Quigley (0-1), Enda Quigley (1-0), Joey Devlin (1-5, 1f).

Teams

Sean Dolan’s: Sean O’Donnell, Caoimhin Thompson, Ryan McCallion, Ryan McLaughlin, Niall Friel, Ruairi Thompson, Paul Thompson, Ethan Doherty, Eamon McGinley (0-2, 1’45), Caolan McCosker (0-2, 1f), Liam McNulty (2-1), Luke Clarke (0-2, 1f), Paul Clifford (1-2), Conor McCosker, Emmett Coyle (0-1)

Subs: Kevin Nixon (0-1) for Ethan Doherty 20’, Dylan Carr for Liam McNulty 46’, Tiarnan Gallagher for Emmett Coyle 59’.

Lissan: Paudi Donaghy, Niall Murray, Shane McGlone, Callum Conway, Conor Murray, Matthew Loughran, Eoin Murray (0-1), Iarlaith Donaghy (0-4, 1 ‘45), Joe McElkennon (1-0), David Monaghan (1-2), Luke McElkennon (0-1), Martin McCracken (0-5), Ciaran Quigley (0-1), Enda Quigley (1-0), Joey Devlin (1-5, 1f).

Subs: Shea McKernan for Callum Conway 41’.

Referee: Mervyn McAleese.