Crazy comeback at Maghera
Maghera must be kicking themselves having given Rovers a footballing lesson i the first half they conceded 3 goals in the second for Rovers to steal a point. Maghera were so much on top Rovers rarely got out of their own half in the first period. Faulkner pulled up injured early on and Rovers introduced Ciaran Rafferty. McGonigle got caught running towards his own net and his back pass saw rRuari Obrien miss kick and Maghera left with a tap in. Queue instant replay as Irwin and O'Brien had a lack of comunnication leaving another tap in and OBrien having to go off injured. A well struck shot before the break and it was 3-0 and looking like being double figures. Rovers shuffled things around. Rovers were missing a lot of first team players and the reserves of Matty Hamilton going into full back, Paul Ferris into nets, Chris McInnes dropping into midfield and Micky Logue into centre forward with Phillip Burton at right back all must have a had a point to prove as they set about reducing the deficit. McGonigle crossed a corner to the back post were Paddy Logue nodded in with Rovers first real chance of the game. Micky Logue then scored with his first 2 touches. He followed a long ball intot the packed six yard box and with one touch of the left he controlled it in his stride and dinked it over the keeper with his right for a great finish. Maghera were still much the better side and showed some terrific spells of football, justifying their position in the Irish Junior Cup Semi Final. With the game almost over and Rovers just relieved to have scored at all Chris McInnes who had been anonymous as a striker in the first half picked the ball up on the right of the midfield and from 25 yards hit an unstoppable shot into the net. Maghera were devastated and Rovers also gobsmacked. They say its a funny old game and this certainly was. Rovers deserve credit for playing until the final whistle, despite being clearly second best. Rovers stole a point but Maghera were certainly the better team.
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