Sport

Drama in Down as 'Point edge absorbing shootout despite goalkeeper injury

Loughinisland's Rory Mason hits the post in the penalty shootout in the Down GAA SFC semi-final between Loughinisland and Warrenpoint at Pairc Esler    Picture: Philip Walsh
Loughinisland's Rory Mason hits the post in the penalty shootout in the Down GAA SFC semi-final between Loughinisland and Warrenpoint at Pairc Esler Picture: Philip Walsh Loughinisland's Rory Mason hits the post in the penalty shootout in the Down GAA SFC semi-final between Loughinisland and Warrenpoint at Pairc Esler Picture: Philip Walsh

Morgan Fuels Down SFC semi-final: Loughinisland 0-12 St Peter's, Warrenpoint 0-12 (aet, Warrenpoint win 8-7 on penalties)

IT may not be the prettiest of championships but when it comes to drama, Down has certainly delivered and that continued yesterday as Warrenpoint needed two lots of sudden death penalties to see off Loughinisland in a bizarre contest.

Warrenpoint goalkeeper Gary McMahon, the hero of the quarterfinal shout-out victory over Burren, put his shoulder out saving Stefan Mason’s first penalty after clattering the post.

That meant John Boyle, who had scored the first spot-kick, had to go into goals – a decision vindicated after he saved from Dean McLaughlin.

There were 22 penalties in all with Loughanisland’s Rory Mason hitting the post to send Warrenpoint


through.

John Boyle, Alan Davidson and Eoghan Burns scored spot-kicks for CPN, while Rory Mason scored one out of three for Loughinisland and Paddy Kenny, Dean McLaughlin,Stefan Mason and Declan McClements were also on target.

It is Warrenpoint’s second time in the county final since 2019, when they lost by a point to Kilcoo.

CPN boss Shane Mulholland was delighted to win, and he backed his decision to use John Boyle and not sub goalkeeper Ryan Haughey in goal for the penalties after McMahon’s injury.

“My heart was jumping through my chest and in those moments when you are standing on your own you are saying wee prayers and thinking about help from above,” said Mulholland.

“We made the decision to go with John – they had to ring Croke Park, because this hadn’t happened before.

“The elation of winning now switches to who is injured and what are we going to be like in a couple of weeks.”

The sides served up an entertaining game overall, with Jamie Grant opening the scoring when he found a gap in the Loughinisland defence and drilled over.

Alan Davidson doubled the lead before Declan McClements displayed a touch of class with his reply for Loughinisland.

Gary McMahon converted a 45-metre free and then Niall McGovern finished a lovely team build-up with a fine point as the Seasiders found their groove.

Loughinisland came into the game more in the second quarter, with Rory Mason their chief marksman.

His four points – including one from play – pulled the sides level on three occasions in the first half, with Warrenpoint’s Ruairi McCormack backing himself to fist over and captain Donagh McAleenan also weighing in with a score.

The ’Point probably should have been ahead but Loughinisland were content to go in level at the break at 0-6 apiece Loughinisland took the lead for the first time on 34 minutes, after Davidson and Brandon Boyle exchanged scores before Stefan Mason steered over.

It was tense stuff, but two converted frees from Oisin Savage and another from Rory Mason put the ’Island ahead.

And with full-back Patrick Megoran in superb form, CPN were struggling to create chances before McMahon and Davidson (left) converted frees.

With 56 minutes gone Loughinisland were ahead by one, but Warrenpoint substitute Sean O’Hare floated over on the hour to level the game before they fluffed a great chance to win it in additional time.

Davidson’s free on 70 minutes was the only score of the first half of extra-time, and there was only one score after the interval as well as Loughanisland substitute PJ McKeown fired over.

It was no surprise when the game went to penalties, where CPN prevailed after a lengthy battle. Loughinisland manager Kevin Duffin was gutted to lose in such a manner but believed the best team on the day won.

“It is not an ideal way to lose, I was bitterly disappointed, I thought there was more in us and we didn’t really perform,” he said.

“But all credit to Warrenpoint they dug out two huge results over the past couple of weeks and they fully deserve their place in the final, I can’t begrudge them that.”