Carn earn point at Dunree

Dunree will now have to pull out all the stops if they are to overhaul Carn and win promotion to the Jackie Crossan Premiert Division after this lacklustre draw with Carn. This was the home side’s opportunity to leap above Carn into second place in the table and make themselves favourites for promotion with just a few weeks of the season remaining. But after this disappointing result, they now remain two points behind Carn and with two difficult away games on the horizon, including a trip to champions Carrowmena, Carn would seem to have the initiative at this stage. Dunree will therefore feel that this was an opportunity spurned as they created enough chances but failed to convert them and with those two away games remaining the visitors look to have the advantage in the race for runners up and promotion. Carn started well pressing the home side but they were restricted to long range Cathal Doherty efforts which failed to trouble Jonathan Noone in the home goal. The home side had to take the initiative in this game and Dunree replied midway though the half when Philip McGuinness beat his man and crossed for Derek Murphy to head straight at Declan O’Donnell. Suddenly, all of the chances were falling to Dunree and they created another when Murphy ran onto a Liam Baldrick pass but chipped O’Donnell only to see his effort clear the bar. Carn were always dangerous on the counter attack though and they broke on the stroke of half time with Darren Loftus crossing for Doherrty whose close range header was brilliantly saved by Noone. A goal then would have given the home side a mountain to climb but they went in level at the break knowing just one goal could really boost their season. Dunree started the second half on the front foot and they pressed the visitors back with McGuinness denied by O’Donnell on 51 minutes before Henry Connolly fed McGuinness but O’Donnell excelled with a tremendous save low to his left. Chances continued to come and go and yet Carn remained dangerous themselves as they replied and had claims for a penalty waved away after Noone collided with Doherty. But time was quickly running out for Dunree to get the winner and in the dying minutes of the game they created a game winning chance, which they failed to take. There were just minutes remaining when Dunree back and McGuinness bore down on O’ Donnell in the Carn goal, but with glory and three points for his team awaiting him, the Dunree man could not beat the goalkeeper, who saved crucially with is legs. DUNREE: J Noone, B Nixon, M McGlynn, P Craig, I Doherty, H Connolly, L Baldrick, K Colgan, D Murphy, B McDaid, P McGuinness. CARNDONAGH: D O’ Donnell, P McGuinness, K Kelly, K Hinnell, G McEleney, D Lothus, D Doherty, A Doherty, C Doherty, S Doherty, T Coyne.