Milford hold on for an important two points against Red Hughs
Milford 2-17Red Hughs 2-15
Milford held on for a valuable two points in an entertaining battle with Red Hughs to overtake their opponents in the Division 2 table in Moyle View Park on Sunday.
Despite first-half goals from Jack Gillespie and Oisin Duffy, the home side led at half-time with a Cathal McGettigan goal and points from Shane Black and Darragh Black doing the damage as they went in 1-10 to 2-4 ahead.
Milford, with the aforementioned trio combining for their total of 2-17, Shane Black hitting the second-half major, were wasteful with point attempts in the second half, ending with twelve wides in total, but the visitors will have rued missed chances for goals.
Two pointers from Calvin Bradley (2) and Liam Carlin kept them in the contest and they could have drawn the game had Gillespie converted a free from outside the arc with the last kick, but it was Milford that came away with the points in a tight battle where the pair were level five times before Black’s second goal that gave the hosts a cushion they just held on to.
It was the hosts that hit the front early in the contest, albeit a contentious point that left the Red Hughs bench aggrieved as Shane Black’s effort was given, but Conor Gallagher responded quickly at the other end.
Oisín Duffy put the visitors briefly ahead before Shane Black levelled it again from out on the left, and a McGettigan two-point free that was brought forward put the hosts in front.
A well-worked move from Red Hughs almost broke down as Calvin Bradley’s pass was intercepted, but they worked it back around again to Jack Gillespie, and he fired for goal in via the crossbar.
Shane Black kicked over from outside the ‘45 to restore the lead for the Moyle View Park men, but the game was levelled after another contentious point, this time for Conor Gallagher.
Darragh Black’s sweet laces effort from outside the arc and a free from Shane Black put the lead to three, but a brilliant solo run down the left from the pacey Oisin Duffy levelled the game once again as he fired into the bottom right corner.
Darragh Black put the locals back in front, and it got better for them in added time as a Shane Black two-point free attempt was dropping short, but captain Cathal McGettigan punched in from close range into the top corner.
Aaron McGlinchey got the last point of the half swiftly after, but the game could have been levelled when Bradley won the kick-out high up and found Gallagher, whose low strike went under ‘keeper Killian Hagan, but Shane Black got back on the line to block it, leaving it 1-10 to 2-4 in favour of the home side.
A Gillespie free and a quick back to front from Darren O’Leary’s men finished with a Duffy point left the minimum in it, but a brilliant dummy and curler from Shane Black was a good response.
But Liam Carlin levelled the game again with an effort from just outside the arc.
Darragh Black and a McGettigan free had Milford back in front, and it could have been better when Shane Black shot for goal, but his attempt went just wide of the net.
But a big moment followed coming into the final quarter, first as Cathair Browne almost got Carlin in for a goal but his pass was too high to fist in, with the ball coming out to McGlinchey who saw his shot blocked and Gallagher’s shot for a point came off the bar.
From that, Milford went forward with Shea Durning finding Darragh Black with a kick pass and he in turn got the ball up quickly to Shane Black, and he made no mistake this time in finding the net.
Bradley kicked a two-pointer for the Cross men, as McGettigan (free) and Browne traded points.
Darragh Black then hit the post when going for goal, while a Duffy two-point attempt at the other end was punched down only to Browne, who had a shot off the ground blocked.
McGettigan and Darragh Black made it a five-point game, but Red Hughs closed that gap again as Duffy curled over and Bradley fired over from outside the ‘45 for a two-pointer.
Duffy’s ball into Tim Callaghan saw the substitute fire wide, but it was brought back, and Callaghan kicked over the mark as there was just the point in it in added time.
And while Shane Black kicked a free, there was a chance to draw, but Gillespie fired wide from outside the arc, which was the last kick of the game as Milford held on for the win.
Milford scorers: Shane Black 1-6,1tp,1f; Cathal McGettigan 1-6,1tpf,2f; Darragh Black 0-5,1tp.
Red Hughs scorers: Oisin Duffy 1-3; Calvin Bradley 0-4,2tp; Jack Gillespie 1-1,1f; Conor Gallagher 0-2; Liam Carlin 0-2,tp; Aaron McGlinchey, Cathair Browne and Tim Callaghan 0-1 each.
Milford: Killian Hagan; Peter McCleary, Peter Curran, Kieran Sheridan; Ryan Orr, Paul Ryan, Kyle Black; Lorcan Friel, Eoin O’Donnell; Killian McBride, Darragh Black, Patrick Ferry; Shane Black, Cathal McGettigan, Rory O’Donnell.
Subs: Shay Durning for Ferry (44), Shea Cannon for McBride (48), Conor McLaughlin for K Black (51), Ryan McElhinney for McCleary (56).
Red Hughs: Luke Kelly; Adam Doherty, Thomas McMenamin, Jason Callaghan; Shane Gallagher, Darragh McMenamin, Pauric McMenamin; Aaron McGlinchey, Conor Gallagher; Oisin Duffy, Jack Gillespie, James Doherty; Liam Carlin, Calvin Bradley, Cathair Browne.
Subs: James Gallagher for A Doherty (44), Tim Callaghan for T McMenamin (48), Ryley Stewart for J Doherty (51), Conor Gavin for P McMenamin (56).
Referee: Charlie Creevy (Letterkenny Gaels).