Cappry Rovers get off to a winning league start at Kerrykeel's expense

Cappry Rovers got their TDA Division 1 campaign off to a winning start as they came from behind to defeat Kerrykeel ‘71 in Cappry Park.

Their first league game back at their newly relayed home pitch after a couple of seasons away, it took a while for both teams to settle, and chances were few in the first half until Jonathon Friel put the visitors ahead in added time.

Callum Long levelled the game soon after the restart, and goals from substitutes Conor McDaid and Paddy McNulty put them in control with 15 minutes to play.

Friel headed in from a corner in added time to set up what could have been a nervy ending, but it was too little, too late as Cappry held on.

Cappry had a couple of early crosses dealt with, while they also tried to play the ball in behind the Kerrykeel defence to Sean McBride, Daire Quigley finding the striker, but Shane Sandilands was out quickly to smother the ball.

Kerrykeel’s first chance really should have ended in a goal as James Kerr dispossessed Darren McGowan just outside the box and, with a two-on-one, he opted to pass across to Jonathon Friel instead of shooting, but with half an open net, the striker could only find the side netting.

Barrie McGhee had the ball in the net for the hosts after being played in by Shaun McMenamin, but Patrick Martin judged the attacker to have been offside, while McBride had an effort sail wide. 

James Kerr had an effort at goal saved by Eoin Gallen, while McMenamin had a tame shot at the other end as chances were limited.

But the visitors took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Martin McAteer’s free went to the back post where Shaun Carr headed across to Friel, who took a touch before bundling the ball in to take a lead into the break.

Cappry started the second half brightly, McGhee having a shot sting the palms of Sandilands, while a Luke McGlynn cross was parried by the 'keeper and just cleared before McBride could shoot.

But they didn’t have too long to wait to get the equaliser, a good move involving McGhee, Conor McDaid, and Callum Long, with Long playing a neat 1-2 with McDaid before receiving the ball just inside the box, and he curled into the corner.

They threatened to go ahead soon after the goal as McBride’s cross to McDaid was volleyed wide, while McBride almost rounded Sandilands, but the number one got down on the ball.

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McGlynn had another shot held by Sandilands, and McGhee went even closer as the ball fell to him in the box, but his effort came off the corner of the woodwork.

McGhee again was cursing his luck as he was in the perfect position to receive Paddy McNulty’s cut back to side foot first time towards the far corner, but Sandilands produced a superb one handed save to push it away for a corner.

But Jamie Doherty’s men got ahead from that as Brendan McLaughlin curled in for Conor McDai,d who headed into the top corner with 70 minutes gone.

They went further ahead five minutes later as Paddy McNulty kept himself onside as he picked up a pass from McGlynn, and he took a touch before poking past Sandilands.

Both sides went close after, Martin McAteer unable to get a full connection from Kerr’s cross as the ball trickled across the goal, while McGhee dragged an effort wide at the other end.

The home side had chances on the break but couldn’t extend their lead, and it was Hughie Walsh’s side that threatened a comeback as Friel glanced a header in from a James Kerr corner in the 95th minute, but there wasn’t time for another chance for the visitors.

Cappry Rovers: Eoin Gallen; Callum Long, Darren McGowan, Aaron Kelly, Brendan McLaughlin (Daniel Marley 80); Shaun McMenamin, Jack Long, Luke McGlynn (Darragh Boyle 82), Daire Quigley (Conor McDaid ht), Barrie McGhee (Tommy McNulty 84); Sean McBride (Paddy McNulty 61).

Kerrykeel ‘71: Shane Sandilands; Oisin McFadden, Patrick Heraghty, Shaun Carr, Shane Friel (Matthew Stewart 25) (Dean Friel 54); James Kerr, Martin McAteer, Shaun Kerr, Callum McAteer, James Coyle; Jonathon Friel.

Referee: Patrick Martin