McMahon hat-trick seals Ballybofey’s progression

ULSTER CUP

Ballybofey United………………. 3

Rathmullan Celtic……………… 0

By Stuart Connolly

Daithi McMahon bagged a hat-trick on Sunday afternoon against Rathmullan Celtic as Ballybofey United progressed to the next round of the Ulster Junior Cup.

The first of the three goals was scored in the first half, while attempt number two was fired home close to the hour.

His hat-trick was complete with a little over five minutes left in the game, and it sealed Ballybofey United’s first win since the end of August.

Among the wind and the rain in Dreenan, Ballybofey United and Rathmullan Celtic kicked off this Ulster Junior Cup clash with a degree of difficulty as they took their time to get to grips with conditions.

With the ball getting caught in the breeze, it took until the 17th minute for the first proper chance as Jay Curran headed over from close-range after a well-executed corner from Kevin Doran.

During the early stages, some of Odhran Bonar’s clearances failed to get far due to the wind, while one attempted hit ricocheted off of Kevin O’Donnell, but bounced wide of the open goal.

Just prior to the half hour, the hosts broke the deadlock. Bobby Hennigan floated the ball in from the left, and the punch from Killian Hagan landed at the feet of Daithi McMahon, who was able to prod home from six-yards out.

Rathmullan Celtic almost responded instantly as O’Donnell struck just off target from the edge of the box.

Ballybofey United then had two big opportunities in a matter of seconds. Diarmaid McHugh was first up with his shot blocked by the onrushing Hagan, while Noah Reid retrieved the ball, and set-up Oran Gallen, with his attempt inches wide of the post.

Both sides ended the first phase with a half decent chance each as Gallen stung the palms of Hagan at one end, while Curran sliced an effort wide at the other just before the break.

After the restart, McMahon was in the thick of the action in the final third for the hosts. Just a couple of minutes in, he just missed the target from the edge of the area.

Just prior to the hour, he found the target. He took control of the ball on the right side of the box after a short pass from Kieran Thompson, and worked his way in before a powerful finish into the far corner.

On the hour, McMahon had a third in his sights, but a quick double save from Hagan kept him at bay.

Into the final stages of the contest, the hat-trick was complete.

Sean Smyth’s ball went through the defence, and it was perfectly weighted for McMahon to run onto and calmly finish beyond the onrushing Hagan and into the back of the net.

Teams

Ballybofey United: Odhran Bonar; Adam McCullagh, Diarmaid O’Donnell, Bobby Hennigan, Shaun McGowan; Diarmaid McHugh, Noah Reid, Oran Gallen, Daithi McMahon; Martin O’Reilly, Kieran Thompson. Subs: Sean Smyth for O’Reilly (67 mins), Gavin M. Doherty for McGowan (81 mins), Colin Kearns for Thompson (84 mins).

Rathmullan Celtic: Killian Hagan; Declan Moran, Glenn Curran, Islem Siguerdjidjane, Mehdi Benezzaoui; Dara Patton, Gerard McAteer, Kevin Doran, Serhii Oriabinskyi; Kevin O’Donnell, Jay Curran. Subs: Ryan McCleary for Moran (Half-time), Matthew McNulty and Caolan McElwee for Doran and Oriabinskyi (65 mins), Ryan Graham Sheridan and Mohammed Saber Sharifi for Curran and O’Donnell (81 mins).

Referee: Mick Lagan