Gale force wind, biting rain and soft underfoot conditions at Laurel Park on Sunday morning all combined to make flowing football almost impossible in this First Division tie. Corrib Rangers’ second string side came into this tie third in the table and eager to get into the habit of closing out victories, dropping points recently due to conceding late equalisers and letting leads slip. Loughrea’s season has a decidedly different purpose, with avoiding relegation being the only aim.
The opening period could best be described as scrappy . Good passing was at a premium as Rangers, backed by a hurricane, tried their best to press forward but were guilty of poor crosses and rash shots from distance which never threatened the Loughrea goal. It took until the eighth minute for the ball to actually go into the Rangers’ half, but when it did Loughrea striker Bryan McGhee took advantage of sloppy defending and ran the ball the whole way into the box before drawing an excellent low save from Rangers ‘keeper Martin McDonagh.
That this was Loughrea’s best chance of the half tells it owns story. Rangers at the other end despite enjoying a monopoly of possession, couldn’t break the deadlock. On the 16th minute Rangers should have scored. Willie Carroll challenged well for a Pavel Piskozub cross and the ball fell to Jason Ruffley who had to react in a split second. He steered the ball past Loughrea netminder Sheamy Tully but watched in agony as the ball slid to Willie Carroll who was lying on the goalline; ref Patsy Forde had no option but to give the offside. The incident typified the messy first half which saw the teams go in scoreless.
The second half looked a copy of the first until the 16th minute when Rangers got the ball into the net, it was adjudged to have gone dead, though, so the home side had to make do with a corner. Rangers efforts eventually paid off on the 70th minute. A useful Damo Sherry cross found Owen Dooley, he volleyed well and Loughrea could do nothing as the ball slipped fortunately through Loughrea stand in ‘keeper Tully’s legs.
No more than Rangers deserved but Loughrea improved after going behind, but they were at their most dangerous from dead balls. When Martin McDonagh saved well in the Rangers goal after Martin Donoghue was put through Loughrea’s chance to salvage something from the game was gone. Two further goals in the final 10 minutes secured the victory. The first came about as an excellent ball from Jamie Sherry found Willie Carroll who beat his marker and drove low past Tully. Then right at the death sub Aonghus Scanlon made a run into the Loughrea box, he was upended and Damo Sherry stepped forward to expertly guide the spot kick to give Rangers a deserved win.
Corrib Rangers: Martin McDonagh, Jamie Sherry, Owen Dooley, Cormac Clarke, Joe Hession, Eoghan Tummon, Damien Sherry, Kenny Ruffley, Pavel Piskozub, Willie Carroll, Jason Ruffley. Sub:Aonghus Scanlon.
Loughrea: Sheamy Tully, Eoin Maher, John O Rourke, Thomas Ryan, Colin McGhee, Daniel McKeigue, Martin Lohan, Chris O’Rourke, Bryan McGhee, Cathal Daly, Martin Donoghue.
Referee: Patsy Forde.
