Doire Trasna lay down marker with win over city rivals Sean Dolans

In what looks set to be an intriguing and closely fought Division Three league, Doire Trasna threw down an early gauntlet defeating city rivals Sean Dolan’s by ten points on Saturday morning.

Colly MacEoin’s side – full of pace and attacking verve - certainly hit the ground running at Pairc na Piarsaigh. Indeed, Eoghan Quigg top scored with four points with young guns Somhairle McFadden and Oran Donnelly weighing in with three points each from play. Attacking half back Conor O’Donnell also hit 1-1. The future’s bright for the Waterside club.

Odhran McKane hit a late consolation goal for a Sean Dolan’s side that failed to deliver on their fine early season Neal Carlin Cup form.

Whether it was the ungodly morning throw-in time, the wet slippy surface or early campaign cobwebs, the opening quarter in this eagerly anticipated contest was one to forget. Passes were failing to find their man. Shots were falling short or drifting wide. And the scoreboard moved only once through Caolan McCusker’s lovely curling effort in the 6th minute.

However, once Doire Trasna corrected their misfiring kick outs they quickly built a midfield platform on which this game was ultimately won. With the ageless war horse Caolan Doyle both the commanding the skies and his sides rhythm and tempo, the Pearses hit an unanswered eight points to run in 0-8 to 0-1 up at half-time.

Exciting young prospect, and built like a tank, Matty James opened their account in the 15th minute. Having rectified their early game shooting radar, Oran Donnelly – another teenage sensation – scored their second point in their very next attack.

Eoghan Quigg landed the first of his four points before Caelan O’Connell lasered one over from distance.

A pacy, jinking run culminated in Oran Donnelly’s second point. His third followed soon after in between successive Quigg frees as the hosts grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

Half-time: Doire Trasna 0-08 – 0-01 Sean Dolan’s

Backed by the breeze and playing ‘down the hill’ after the break Sean Dolan’s, competitive in the first half but lacking composure in the final third, still had skin in the game. Indeed when Luke Clarke landed the first two pointer of the match shortly after the restart it hinted that the visitor’s would make a real fist of this.

However, a quick fire 1-3 from the hosts all but snuffed out any Dolan’s hopes of a second half renaissance. Conor O’Donnell’s 40th minute goal was the key score, fired home from close range after some fine build up work involving a number of players.

Somhairle McFadden came to the party in the second half too, his missile of an opening score followed up by two further points as the Pearses rapidly turned the screw.

Black cards to both Odhran McKane and Matty James made little impact on the contest. McKane scored a late goal and a point on his return, but it was too little, too late for Dolan’s. Veterans Kevin Nixon and Joe Gallagher were introduced late on for a side badly missing midfield talisman Eamon McGinley’s presence and high fielding ability.

Caoimhin Thompson worked tirelessly all game, he always does, and goalkeeper Charlie Green impressed with his big booming kicks. A welcome Neal Carlin Cup final will over the Creggan lads a shot at redemption.

For the winners substitute Shea Healy drilled over a point when a goal was on and John McKivergan sailed a fine score over the bar. McFadden’s late points added a final flourish to what was without doubt the Pearses day.

Doire Trasna: Killian O’Neill, Connell Guille, Sean Fleming, David Officer, Conor O’Donnell (1-1), Tomás McCrossan, Caelan O’Connell (0-1), John McKivergan (0-1), Caolan Doyle, Cormac Kelly, Somhairle McFadden (0-3), Matthew James (0-1), Dylan Deery, Eoghan Quigg (0-4, 3f), Oran Donnelly (0-3). Subs: Shea Healy (0-1) for C Kelly (25), Thomas Dobbins for D Deery (35), Colm Connelly for E Quigg (50)

Sean Dolan’s: Charlie Green, Ryan McCallion, Paul Thompson, Ruairi Thompson, Ruaidhri McGurk, Caoimhin Thompson, Charlie Fletcher, Sean O’Donnell (0-1), Paul Clifford, Niall Friel, Luke Clarke (0-2), Oisin Porter, Caolan McCosker (0-1), Odhran McKane (1-1, 1f), Emmett Coyle. Subs: Kevin Nixon for E Coyle (50), Joe Gallagher for P Clifford (50), Shay Doherty for L Clarke (55)