CHAMPIONS: Carn with the Ulster Junior Cup
Ulster Junior Cup Final – Maginn Park – www.inishowenfl.ie
Superb Doherty strike earns Carn first ever Junior Cup
Carn FC 2-0 Moville Celtic
Played in showery conditions in Maginn Park before a big crowd on Sunday evening the opening half was a tense affair played at a high tempo.
Carn made the early running forcing a corner and then seeing Declan McGonagle race into the area and go down under a challenge but referee Harvey was perfectly positioned to wave the appeals away.
On 7 minutes Moville created a good chance when Shane Canning fed Raymond Campbell on the left and his low cross fell just behind the in-rushing Nigel McMonagle.
On 16 minutes Sean Doherty fired just over from twenty yards before the same player released Joe Doherty who fed McMonagle inside but his effort sliced away to the right.
Joe Doherty then fired a free kick from the edge of the area well over.
Moville had the most of the possession but were finding the Carn defence hard nuts to crack.
Carn started the second period the better with a Danaiel McLaughlin cross finding the unmarked Michael Byrne but his header was saved by Sean McGuinness.
A Byrne corner then found Gerard McEleney whose reaction header drifted just past the angle.
On 69 minutes they opened the scoring after Matthew Byrne fed Daniel McLaughlin on the left and he stepped inside a defender to advance before slipping the ball into Shane Doherty who fired a superb left footed effort to the roof of the net from fifteen yards.
Moville pressed hard then with Shane Cannign well wide with a long range effort before a Mark Henry cross glanced off Carn defender Kevin Hirrell and over the bar.
From the corner both substitie PJ Barr and Eamon Reddin had successive efforts blocked and cleared.
Henry’s looping cross then found another substitute Ryan McClenaghan but he headed well wide.
Moville’s best chance came on 81 minutes when McClenaghan fed Joe Doherty whose neat flick sent substitute Tony Boyce clear but Gerard Crossan advanced to spread himself and block superbly.
Minutes later it was all over when McLaughlin again advanced on the left and crossed for Cathal Doherty to sweep the ball home from six yards.
Moville pressed to the end but again the Carn defence stood up to the challenge.