Home defeat for battling Urris 14.05.10
Division 3 Football

Urris...1-09 Bundoran...1-12 by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, (Photos: Herbie Barr) BATTLING Urris came up three points short despite a spirited challenge against Bundoran at Crampsie Park on Saturday evening. The result sees the south of the county men leapfrog their Inishowen counterparts in the hotly contested land of Division Three football. Though the home team will have been disappointed to lose having led by two points at half-time, Bundoran finished the game much the stronger and could have further iced their cake had they turned possession into white flags. Without star man Eddie Kelly, Urris manager John Friel moved Phil Pat Doherty to midfield to partner Liam Diver and the combative duo found themselves under increasing amounts of pressure as the game wore on. The visitors were in front as early as the second minute when Mikey McEniff clipped over a free from twenty metres.

Bundoran had doubled their advantage in the fifth minute after Tommy Hourihane fisted over following a flowing move involving Ciaran McGinley and the roving Christy Keeney, who turned in a man-of-the-match shift. A home foray toward the hill end goals saw Alan Friel fire wide before Donal Kelly confidently opened the Urris account minutes later. The impressive half-forward gathered a breaking ball and stroked over from 25 metres out. Not to be outdone another Urris half-forward, Darragh Doherty, got in on the act to level proceedings with an expert kick from an acute angle. Alan Friel tacked on an easy free to put the Inishowen men into the lead for the first time in the game. Bundoran could have made a decisive breakthrough but Niall Dunne’s goalbound effort was well saved by Urris’ Ciaran Friel before Declan Rafferty had the visitors back on level terms. The black and yellow charges of Bundoran put daylight between the teams midway through the first half when Mikey McEniff netted following hesitancy from Urris goalkeeper, Ciaran Friel,

who misjudged a high ball allowing Hourihane to set up McEniff for an easy finish. Sean Paul Doherty hit back for Urris immediately with a fine individual score. The corner forward showed great strength to hold off his marker before coolly clipping over. The same player won a free moments later allowing Darragh Doherty to put the minimum between them once again. Tommy Hourihane restored Bundoran’s two-point advantage with an excellent left-footed effort before Doherty kept the Urris scoreboard ticking with another free after Alan Friel was upended by Paul Delaney. Urris should have levelled in the last minute of the first-half but Peter Devlin blazed wide when well-placed. With Bundoran heading for a one-point deficit lead the Inishowen men struck. Mark McLaughlin showed great skill to flick the ball to Donal Kelly, who blasted the ball low past Ashley Mulhern into the net. Half-time: Urris 1-6, Bundoran 1-4.

The visitors upped the tempo in the second half and had turned a two-point deficit into a two-point lead following scores by Mikey McEniff, Tommy Hourihane (twice) and the excellent Christy Keeney. Struggling to get a grip on proceedings Urris shot three horrible wides before Alan Friel clipped over a free after Donal Kelly was impeded. The southerners were two ahead again McEniff pointed from another free following a driving run by Keeney. Midway through the half and the Inishowen team were just one behind after a controversial score by Donal Kelly, which appeared to drift wide of the post. After a lengthy discussion between referee Paddy McGonagle and the umpires behind the clubhouse goals the point was registered much to the consternation of the Bundoran bench. With a fresh sense of injustice, Bundoran continued to press forward in their relentless search for victory. Dessie McNamara split the posts with an inspirational effort after he was expertly released by Declan Rafferty. Another incisive run and score by Christy Keeney had the Bundoran men three ahead with only three minutes left before both teams exchanged points with Tommy Hourihane and Urris substitute Jason Devlin on the mark. Despite a frantic finish, which gave the Bundoran bench a few flutters, Urris failed to find a second goal and slumped to a three point defeat. Urris: Ciaran Friel, Sean Doherty, Patrick Doherty, Brian Grant, Martin Kelly, Michael Grant, Damien Harkin, Liam Diver, Phil Pat Doherty, Darragh Doherty, Donal Kelly, Mark McLaughlin, Sean Paul Doherty, Peter Devlin, Alan Friel. Subs: Mickey Devlin, Declan Noone, Jason Devlin, Johnny Noone. Bundoran: Ashley Mulhern, Barry McGowan, Peter McGonagle, Gary Clancy, Darragh Hoey, Shane McGowan, Christy Keeney, Ciaran McCaughey, Paul Delaney, Declan Rafferty, Dessie McNamara, Johnny McHale, Tommy Hourihane, Niall Dunne, Mikey McEniff. Subs: Liam Travers, Niall McGonagle, Joey McNulty. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.

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