GAA: Big win for Eoghan Rua

However, it was a different story in the second half as the Coleraine men hit 2-8 to the home side's 0-1 to run out comfortable 2-14 to 0-4 winners in this Division One game last Sunday afternoon.

The game changed early in the second half as Magherafelt suffered the loss of their top forward Emmett McGuckin, who recently starred for Derry Under-21s, to a serious leg injury following an accidental collision in the Eoghna Rua penalty area. The young forward was taken off on a stretcher with what seemed to be an ankle injury just four minutes in.

Just before that incident Eoghna Rua had struck for their first goal and following an eight minute delay for McGuckin's injury they quickly added a second to take an unassailable 2-6 to 0-3 lead. It was no great surprise that the Magherafelt men's heads dropped as Coleraine went on to dominate the final quarter adding eight more points with just one in reply.

Magherafelt enjoyed parity in the opening quarter as midfielders Kieran McGlone and Murtagh O'Brien enjoyed some success against Eoghan Rua pair Sean Paul Henry and Niall Holley. They opened brightly as they won a free in their first attack which was converted by Paul Dillon in the first minute.

Eoghan Rua, playing against the wind, took a little time to settle but a sweeping move out of defence involving Mark Mearns and Sean Leo McGoldrick led to a foul on Colm McGoldrick, Gregory Bradley striking over the close range free to level matters after four minutes. A fine cross field pass from Anton Rafferty set Ciaran McGoldrick free down the right, his passage was halted illegally, Barry McGoldrick stepped up to tap over from 20 metres out.

Emmett McGuckin and Christopher Spiers were causing early problems for the Eoghan Rua defence. After McGuckin ended a storming run with a wide in the seventh minute he drilled over a long range free a minute later following a foul by big midfielder Sean Paul Henry. Young corner forward Spiers was wide from long range before Eoghan Rua were back in front again.

A long ball, high to the edge of the square, was contested by Magherafelt goalkeeper, Barry Gillis and Gregory Bradley with the Eoghan Rua man getting his fist to the ball to knock over the bar. The lead only lasted a couple of minutes as Spiers caused problems again, his run was stopped abruptly with Paul Dillon's free only partially cleared, it was Spiers who was quickest to react as he first timed the loose ball over the Eoghan Rua bar.

That was as good as it got for the home side as Eoghan Rua went on to dominate the second quarter. Henry and Holley began to wrest control around midfield for Coleraine and with Barry McGoldrick sweeping up in behind he had solid support from Mark McTaggart and Anton Rafferty in the Eogha Rua defence.

Mark Mearns offered support going forward and the pace of Ciaran McGoldrick caused the home side difficulties. Good work by McTaggart at the back and support from Paul Daly set up Ciaran McGoldrick to run at the Rossa’s defence, his lay off gave Sean Leo McGoldrick the space and time to put Eoghan Rua into a lead they would not relinquish. Further points from Gregory Bradley, from a free and Barry McGoldrick from play had Eoghan Rua 0-6 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

A couple of early wides from Eoghan Rua preceded the start of the end of this game as a contest. Three minutes in McTaggart, who moved seamlessly out to centre back, started the move which was carried on by Leo Sweeney and Colm McGoldrick and ended with Gregory Bradley beating Gillis from close range for Eoghan Rua’s first goal. Magherafelt launched an immediate attack in return but Emmett McGuckin seen his shot go wide of the post. Unfortunately just moments after that attack McGuckin was driving forward again but in the act of shooting he accidentally collided with Niall Holley and suffered a leg injury that seen him stretchered off the field. Magherafelt never recovered from that injury blow and after the eight minute delay Eoghan Rua grabbed their second goal. Niall Holley did well to break up a Magherafelt attack, he released Sean Paul Henry down the right, the big midfielder drove forward before hitting the ball long to Colm McGoldrick who gathered behind his marker, the Derry Under-21 player advanced before driving low past Barry Gillis.

Further points from Gregory Bradley and Barry McGoldrick had Coleraine 2-8 to 0-3 ahead and well on the way to their third win from four outings. Magherafelt’s only point of the half came 24 minutes in but it was to be their only real response as Eoghan Rua completely dominated the final quarter.

Eoghan Rua opened up the home defence almost at will as they hit six points without reply. Barry McGoldrick started that onslaught with a point from a free 45 meters out, Ciaran McGoldrick then finished off a tidy move sweeping over a point. Two points in a row from Gregory Bradley were then followed by a double strike from Sean Leo McGoldrick, he pinged two majestic left footed efforts.

Magherafelt had no real answer in that last quarter despite the efforts of Joe Keenan at the back, Murtagh O’Brien and Kieran McGlone in midfield and the energetic Spiers up front.

Eoghan Rua team: Ryan McGeough; Mark Mearns, Mark McTaggart, Sean McWilliams; Ciaran Lenehan, Barry McGoldrick, Anton Rafferty; Sean Paul Henry, Niall Holly; Paul Daly, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Leo Sweeney; Gregory Bradley, Colm McGoldrick, Ciaran McGoldrick.

Substitutes used: Aidan Mullan for A Rafferty, Hugh Casey for Ciaran McGoldrick, Bernard Mullan for M Mearns.

Eoghan Rua scorers: Gregory Bradley (1-6, 0-2 frees), Barry McGoldrick (0-4, 0-2 frees), Colm McGoldrick (1-0), Sean Leo McGoldrick (0-3), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-1)

Magherafelt: Barry Gillis; Damien Donnelly, Barry Kerr, Darren O’Neill; Paul Purvis, Joe Keenan, Daniel Heavron; Murtagh O’Brien, Kieran McGlone; Emmett McGuckin, Phillip McCabe, Paul Dillon; John Young, Frank Biblock, Christopher Spiers.

Subs used: Darren McGuckin for E McGuckin, MichaEL Monaghan for Damian Donnelly.

Magherafelt scorers: Paul Dillon (0-2, 0-1 free), Emmett McGuckin (0-1 free), Christopher Spiers (0-1).