GAA: Missed chances prove costly for Eoghan Rua

Coleraine dominated around the middle of the field for most of the opening half, winning most of the breaking ball while Sean Paul Henry won his fair share of clean possession in the air. That dominance was enough to set up a good supply of decent possession but a series of missed opportunities left Eoghan Rua ahead by just a point 0-5 to 0-4 at the break.

Loup were ahead within two minutes of the restart however , 0-6 to 0-5 and midway through the half led by two 0-8 to 0-6. Shortly after the mid-point of the half Coleraine’s cause was not helped by the loss of their centre back Barry McGoldrick to a knee injury. Still, with just over five minutes left of normal time only two points separated the sides as Loup held a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage. The home side finished strongly with two further points to seal victory.

With the packed defence the order of the day scores were hard to come by for both sides. Indeed this game was a poor spectacle as it never really got into any sort of rhythm, the almost constant shrill note of the referee’s whistle sounding for a series of frees led to a stop start encounter. The first four scores all came from frees, Barry McGoldrick twice for Eoghan Rua with Anthony O’Neill replying each time for the home side.

Midway through the half Eoghan Rua had the only real chance for a goal in the game but Sean Leo McGoldrick’s shot from close range went just the wrong side of the post, a goal then would have put Coleraine four points up. The sides traded two points each in the second quarter, Sean Paul Henry’s fine midfield fetch and strong run ending with a fisted point levelling matters in the 29th minute at 0-4 each. In added time Colm McGoldrick’s point had Coleraine 0-5 to 0-4 at the break, a slender one point advantage which did not reflect their superiority over the opening half.

That lead did not last long as within 30 seconds of the restart Loup were level and within a minute they were ahead, the deadly accurate Anthony O’Neill pointing a free. The sides then traded points, for a change both scores coming from open play as Barry McGoldrick reduced the gap to one before Ciaran Devlin put the home side two ahead again ten minutes in.

Eoghan Rua then lost McGoldrick to injury as the sides exchanged points again, a long range effort from Aidan McVey putting Loup three up before Ciaran McGoldrick replied for Coleraine to keep them right in touch seven minutes from time at 0-9 to 0-7 down. That was as good as it got for Eoghan Rua they did not register another score over the last ten minutes. Meanwhile Loup finished well with points from Aidan McVey and Anthony O’Neill for a four point win to maintain their fine start to the season.

Eoghan Rua team: Ryan McGeough; Ciaran Lenehan, Niall Holly, Ciaran Lagan; Anton Rafferty, Barry McGoldrick, Paul Daly; Sean Paul Henry, Ruari Leonard; Sean Leo McGoldrick, Ciaran McGoldrick, Richard Carey; Colm Hanlon, Colm McGoldrick, Conor Carey.

Substitutes used: Liam McGoldrick for B McGoldrick

It will not get any easier for Eoghan Rua Coleraine as they take on unbeaten Kilrea at Pairc Eoghain Rua this Sunday afternoon (senior at 3.30 and reserves at 2.00).