Conor McDaid strikes late winner as Cappry Rovers defeat Castlefin Celtic

Conor McDaid’s late winner could have a big say in the race for promotion in Division One as Cappry Rovers defeated Castlefin Celtic in Cappry Park.

Chances were limited in a close game between second and third, with the hosts taking the lead through Jack Long, although Jordan McKinney’s header levelled things up.

And it looked like it would stay that way, but McDaid was in the right place at the right time in the 94th minute to fire home at the near post and keep Cappry in second place behind Kerrykeel ‘71.

There were very few chances in the first half as both sides were well matched, but the hosts had a bit of an opening as Conor Scanlon fed Jack Long, who was through on goal, but his touch let him down.

Castlefin had half-chances through Jordan McKinney and Corrie-lee Bogan, but neither effort found the target, while Joe Boyle was brave in denying Paul Farrell from getting on the end of a dangerous cross.

Emmet White made a good sliding tackle to stop Luke McGlynn as Cappry reacted to a loose pass.

That was all the first half had to offer, with a couple of yellows for the away side in Cathal Kennedy and Jordan McKinney.

The second half had much more to it, with Castlefin getting an early scare as Daniel Marley shot from the halfway line, which went through the legs of Kevin McColgan, but the goalkeeper got back to stop it on the line.

The hosts did end up taking the lead soon after, Luke McGlynn doing well down the left to beat his man and lay the ball off to Jack Long at the corner of the box, with the midfielder finding the far corner of the net.

They could have doubled that lead a minute later as Castlefin pushed up for a free kick, which was cleared and missed by Emmet White, McGlynn going through 1-on-1, but his chipped effort went inches wide.

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Sean Kennedy got a touch on a Cathal Kennedy cross that went just wide of the target, but Michael Dunnion’s side got the leveller with 20 minutes to go.

It came from a free kick on the left 35 yards out, with Corrie-lee Bogan crossing in and finding Jordan McKinney, whose looping header went over Joe Boyle and into the net.

Both sides had chances after that, with Sean Kennedy flicking the ball over his marker and shooting on the volley, but Boyle made a good save, while the follow-up from McKinney’s cross was well cleared by Callum Long.

Cappry threatened next through a 1-2 between Jack Long and Barrie McGhee, the former getting a shot away but shooting wide, while a Cathal Kennedy shot from range at the other end went just wide of the top right corner.

Ronan Coyle headed wide from a McGlynn corner, and Jack Long had a shot towards the near post spilled by McColgan, who gathered at the second attempt as the game looked to be heading for a draw.

But Jamie Doherty’s side found the winner in added time, Michael Carroll getting possession in the middle and feeding Barrie McGhee down the left, who crossed and as the ball bounced off a Castlefin defender, Conor McDaid was in the perfect position to first time it into the near corner and secure the win.

A minute extra was played, but Castlefin couldn’t muster up a final chance as Cappry stay second and move five clear of the visitors, who move down to fourth after Milford United’s win.

Cappry Rovers: Joe Boyle; Callum Long, Conor Doherty, Aaron Kelly, Mickey Lafferty (Michael Carroll 85); Conor McGinty (Ronan Coyle 77), Jack Long, Conor Scanlon (Barrie McGhee 63), Daniel Marley; Conor McDaid; Luke McGlynn.

Castlefin Celtic: Kevin McColgan; Cathal Kennedy, Daniel Foy, Emmet White, Stephen Roulston; Dean Kelly, Jordan McKinney, Sean Kennedy, Kiernan Larkin (Thomas Devlin 78); Corrie-lee Bogan; Paul Farrell (Brian Dooher 71).