Shoot-out heartache ends Blues’ dream of senior glory

5 October 2022

IT wasn’t to be for a battling Loughinisland team who exited this year’s senior championship at the semi-final stage to Warrenpoint by way of the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Sunday’s affair at Páirc Esler took two sets of heart-in-mouth sudden death penalties in, but alas, it would be the St Peter’s outfit who would progress to meet local kingpins Kilcoo in what will be a repeat of the 2019 final.

The drama continued throughout the competition, even as far as during the shoot-out where Warrenpoint ‘keeper Gary McMahon injured his shoulder whilst making a save from Stefan Mason’s first spot kick before being forced to swap his place in goals with the experienced John Boyle.

This unheard of twist of fate would ultimately favour the stand-in ‘keeper, as Boyle would make the decisive saves to break blue hearts.

Even more bizarrely, Warrenpoint opted to use Boyle as the replacement ahead of Ryan Haughey, who is the St Peter’s usual substitute goalkeeper – a call that had to be approved by Croke Park.

It was the eventual winners who first took the lead in the contest, with Jamie Grant firing over the bar in the opening exchanges.

Loughinisland found themselves two behind when Alan Davidson notched his team’s second, but the Blues soon got off the mark courtesy of a Declan McClements point.

‘Point ‘keeper Gary McMahon then kicked his first of two frees before his side further extended their advantage.

True to their known grit and resilience, Loughinisland refused to be rattled and were marshalled into action by the notable Rory Mason.

Back and forth scores occurred between what seemed to be Mason and Warrenpoint and thanks to this urgency, the teams remained deadlocked at the half.

The tit for tat continued after the interval, with Davidson on target for Warrenpoint and Loughinisland defender Brandon Boyle splitting the posts.

Stefan Mason, who returned in recent months from a spell in London, gave the Blues a one-point lead before team-mate Oisin Savage knocked over two successive frees.

It’s also worth noting that Savage has been making plenty of waves amongst the GAA community, especially for his goalscoring prowess during this year’s league campaign.

Savage would have to be

content with the points at this

stage and he would soon be followed by a score from the influential Mason.

Warrenpoint responded after a quiet period with well taken frees from McMahon and Davidson.

Substitute O’Hare levelled the scoring with minutes to go and now it was anyone’s game.

As extra-time commenced both team’s took a cautious approach, knowing that one mistake could cost the match.

Davidson duly converted a free to leave Warrenpoint ahead at the short break but this was cancelled out after by Blues’ substitute, PJ McKeown.

As time ran out, a chaotic sequence of penalties followed with a total of 22 nerve-racking spot kicks taken in order to decide the winner.

Following the conclusion, Loughinisland manager Kevin Duffin reflected on the memorable semi-final contest.

“It is not an ideal way to lose, I was bitterly disappointed,” he said.

“I thought there was more in us and we didn’t really perform.

“But all credit to Warrenpoint, they dug out to huge results over the past couple of weeks and they fully deserve their place in the final.”

Loughinisland: C Turley; S Cochrane, P Megoran, D McLaughlin; B Boyd (0-1), J Flynn, G Stranney; D O’Toole, A McClements; D Gordon, D McClements (0-1), E Nixon; S Mason (0-2, 0-1 free), R Mason (0-5, 0-4 frees), O Savage (0-2, frees).

Subs: PJ McKeown (0-1) for Nixon (44), P McMullen for Boyd (50).

Warrenpoint: G McMahon (0-2, frees); R McGivern, A Lynch, P Sweeney; R Boyle, J Boyle, D McAleenan (0-1); C McCartan, J Grant (0-1); R McCormack (0-1), A Davidson (0-5, 0-3 frees), E Byrne; N McGovern, A Magee, N McCartan (0-1).

Subs: P Murdock for Lynch (16), S O’Hare (0-1) for McGovern (35), A Darcy for McCartan (38) Alan Booth for Magee (54).

Referee: Adrian Sharvin (Bright)

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