Back-to-back wins for Eoghan Rua as they hold on for win over Newbridge

The Coleraine side raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter.

After missing a tap-in goal chance in the 16th minute Eoghan Rua almost paid a high price as the home side hit seven unanswered point to draw level. A Colm McGoldrick point from a free stemmed the tide as the visitors took a one point lead into the break, 1-6 to 0-8. Neither side managed to dominate for the longer periods both had in the first half with scores much hard to come by. Newbridge shaded the midfield exchanges but a combination of some solid Coleraine defending and poor finishing by the home side left them just short at the finish, Declan Mullan’s 61st minute point ensuring victory for Eoghan Rua.

In recent years Newbridge and Coleraine have had close, hard fought battles with no quarter asked and none given, this latest renewal was no exception. The visitors got off to a dream start with a goal in their first real attack. With Sean Leo McGoldrick back for his first outing since his injury just 6 minutes into the first game of the season against Ballinderry he was quickly at the centre of the action.

He was involved in the move that finished with Colm McGoldrick driving to the net from close range just over a minute in. Eoghan Rua went on to hit three points in a row, Ciaran McGoldrick (2) and Colm McGoldrick from a free scoring, before Newbridge got onto the scoreboard in the 10th minute.

After wasting a couple of good chances Peter McGrogan pointed following a ‘45’ that was dropped short. Eoghan Rua then regained the initiative with another two points, Stephen Coyles tapping over the rebound after Kieran Lagan’s shot for a goal was well saved, Colm McGoldrick then adding another from a free. It could have been all but game over just a minute into the second quarter when Ciaran McGoldrick cut in along the end line and fisted across the face of the goal to an unmarked Colm McGoldrick who seemed to have the easiest of tasks of palming into a gaping goal from inside the ‘small square’ but his effort actually hit the post and was cleared. That let-off seemed to spur the home side into action as they went straight up the field to grab their second point through Ryan McElhone.

Newbridge then all but took over, with their midfield of Justin Bradley and Ryan Carron dominating possession, going on to hit six points without reply by the 27th minute. Ryan McElhone (2) Odhran Scott, Paddy McGuigan, Ryan Carron and Michael Bateson hit six unanswered points between the 21st and 27th minutes to tie the scores at 0-8 to 1-5. The tide seemed to have turned inexorably in favour of the home side but in the final minute of the half Colm McGoldrick edged Coleraine back in front, 1-6 to 0-8, the point coming from a free.

Just a minute into the second half the sides were level again. Scores were a lot harder to come by in the second half as both sides were less potent in front of goal. In the third quarter Coleraine hit three wides in a row before another Colm McGoldrick point from a free edged them ahead again, Hugh Casey and McGoldrick adding further point for a 1-9 to 0-9 lead.

Newbidge then enjoyed a dominant spell but they were very wasteful, Odhran Scott’s point their only reward ten minutes from time. That was to be their last score as Declan Mullan edged his side three clear in added time. In the seven minutes of injury time Greenlough squandered more chances to get something from the game, that in the end was the difference between the sides, Eoghan Rua just that little bit more accurate in front of goals.

Eoghan Rua: Ryan McGeough; Eamon Conneely, Liam McGoldrick, Liam Frizelle; Ciaran Lenehan, Ciaran Lagan, Ruari Mooney; Niall Holly, Declan Mullan; Jimmy Boyle, Kieran Lagan, Sean Leo McGoldrick; Ciaran McGoldrick, Colm McGoldrick, Stephen Coyles.

Substitutes used: Hugh Casey for J Boyle, Gregory Bradley for S Coyles.

Eoghan Rua scorers: Colm McGoldrick (1-5, 0-5 frees), Ciaran McGoldrick (0-2), Stephen Coyles (0-1), Hugh Casey (0-1), Declan Mullan (0-1).

Meanwhile, Eoghan Rua made Under-14 it two league wins out of three with a 5-13 to 3-3 victory over Loup last Tuesday night. Eoghan Rua elected to play with the strong breeze and settled quickly with a goal and a point from their captain Aidan McGonigle. This was followed with a point from full back Oisin Roughan. Dara McGoldrick netted to  make it 2-2 to no score. Loup replied with a goal in the eighth minute.

This was followed by 5 unanswered points from Eoghan Rua, two from both Joseph Mulholland and Connor Moore and one from Aidan McGonigle. Loup scored two points leaving it 2-7 to 1-2 after 20 minutes. The last five minutes of the first half saw the Coleraine side score 1-4 with points from Dylan Brown, Connor Moore and Lorcan McMullan and 1-1 from Aidan McGonigle.This left the half time score 3-11 to 1-2 in favour of Eoghan Rua.

The second half was much more even with Eoghan Rua scoring 2-2 to Loup’s 2-1.Dara Mooney and Connor Moore netted for Coleraine while Pearse McGonigle and Lorcan McMullan added points

Eoghan Rua’s victory was based on a strong defensive display by goalkeeper Leo Passmore and fullbacks Aidan McGinley, Oisin Roughan and Jack McKenna.The half backs Finn McEwan, Conal McGinn and Kieran Lafferty did a great job in limiting Loup’s scoring especially in the second half when Eoghan Rua were playing against a strong breeze.The work of the half forwards was outstanding typified by a brilliant second half block by Dara McGoldrick.The final score read Eoghan Rua 5-13 to Loup’s 3-3.