Cuchulainns 3-14 Redhills 1-6
A haul of 3-6 from in-form corner forward Evan Doughty proved the difference as Cuchulainns claimed a 14-point victory over Redhills in this round 4 fixture of the ACFL 1B in Mullagh on Friday last.
Showing two changes to their starting line-up from the last outing, the winners recovered from a slow start to take a 1-5 to 1-2 lead into the break. And the result was never in doubt after Doughty netted his 2nd at the start of the second half.
Redhills, showed some signs of the form of recent years when they came within 1 point of the home team just after half time but ultimately could not cope with the running of the Cuchulainn forwards and mainly Doughty.
The hosts established an early 0-2 to 0-0 lead thanks to scores from Doughty and Brian McGee. Conor Sheridan eventually opened Redhills account with a beautiful point in the 10th minute.
The game lacked any real quality at this stage and over the next 15 mins Doughty, Conor Smith and Brian McGee tapped over along with Turlough Mooney for the away team.
The visitors then got a timely boost when a long ranging free kick dropped short of the small rectangle was punched to the net in off the cross bar by full forward Cormac Brides to level the score. Cuchulainns replied instantly when a fine run move was finished off by Doughty to give him his first goal of the day to leave the score at 1-5 to 1-2 at half time.
Within 5 mins of the 2nd half Redhills came within a point of the hosts after 2 expertly taken points from Pierce West and Cormac Brides. The game was there for both teams at this stage but it was the home team that powered on with another goal from Doughty along with points from Smith, McGee, Seamus Clarke and Rory O’ Connell.
Doughty was on target again to finish off his hat-trick before Conor Power slotted over a fine point to finish off the scoring with the home team running out convincing winners.
Cuchulainns – Mark Clarke; John Flanagan, Conor Flanagan, Shane Murphy; Adrian Taite, Gary Daly; Christopher Tully; Seamus Clarke (0-1), Aoghan Daly; Gavin Daly; Conor Smith (0-2), Rory O’ Connell (0-1), Brian McGee (0-3), Evan Doughty (3-6), Adam O’ Reilly. Subs: Diarmuid Foxe for Christopher Tully, Shane Smith for Adam O’ Reilly, Finn Taite for Gavin Daly, Paul Taite for Seamus Clarke, Conor Power (0-1) for Gary Daly, Kevin O’ Connell for Shane Murphy.
Redhills – Paul Martin; Martin Brady, Alan Brady, Colin Carragher; Killian McSherry; Andrew Dunne, Fergal McDermott; Pierce West; Derek Fay; Conor Sheridan; Patrick Gumley, Turlough Mooney; Darragh Duggan; Cormac Brides; Gary Kelly.
Referee – Martin Brady(LK).
