SFL: Division 1: Douglas get much-needed win as they bid to avoid relegation thanks to Sean Coakley

Douglas 2-11 (2-4-7)

St Finbarr’s 2-9 (2-0-9)

A much-needed win for Douglas as they got the better of St Finbarr’s in their McCarthy Insurance Group Division One Football League clash at Douglas on Thursday night.

Two second half goals, in the space of three minutes, were key scores for the home side who upped their game considerably in the second half.

Add in a superb display from Cork U20 players Sean Coakley, who led their attack with nine points over the hour.

On this display it won’t be long before he earns a call-up to the Cork senior side as he caused the Barrs problems all through.

The Barrs were missing as many players as were present and had their chances to at least draw, going close to adding to their goal tally in the second half.

Coakley opened the scoring for Douglas, and he proved to be their only scorer in the first half, before Cillian Myers Murray replied for the Barrs.

With six minutes gone the Barrs got their first goal when Ricky Barrett found the top corner with an unstoppable shot, to make it 1-1 to 0-1.

Coakley replied from another free for Douglas and with 13 minutes gone the Barrs got their second goal.

Matthew Ahern played a great ball to Cian O’Sullivan and his shot went in off the post to make it 2-1 to 0-2.

Bill O’Connell increased the Barrs lead when he pointed, before Coakley got his third for Douglas, their first from play.

He was on target from another free, to make it 2-2 to 0-4 with 25 minutes gone, in a low scoring half.

Just before half time the Barrs had another chance of a goal when Adam Buckley played Ciaran Doolan in, but his effort went just wide, as the Barrs led by 2-2 to 0-4 at half time.

Coakley pulled a point back for Douglas and he added another to put two between the sides.

O’Sullivan and Matthew Ahern replied for the Barrs, to make it 2-4 to 0-6 after 36 minutes.

Two minutes later and Douglas got their first goal when Colm MacPhaidin got the final touch after a goalmouth scramble.

With 41 minutes gone Douglas were back in front when Louis Dwan Fogarty played a great ball to Alan O’Hare who rounded the keeper to find the back of the net, to make it 2-6 to 2-4.

Adam Young then got the first two pointer of the tie to increase Douglas’ lead further.

The Barrs hit back through O’Connell and Myers Murray, with two, to put one between the sides.

Coakley was on target again with a two pointer to put four between the sides and despite late scores from the Barrs, Douglas held on for a much-needed win as they battle to avoid relegation.

Scorers for Douglas: S Coakley 0-9 (3f, 1 2pt), C MacPhaidin, A O’Hare 1-0 each, A Young 0-2 (1 2pt).

St Finbarr’s: C O’Sullivan 1-1, R Barrett 1-0, C Myers Murray (2f), B O’Connell 0-3 each, M Ahern, J Buttimer 0-1 each.

DOUGLAS: A Cotter; K Hayes Curtin, D Ward, C MacPhaidin; S Aherne, L Dawn Fogarty, A Cantwell; N Hartnett, C Kingston; A Young, B Powter, H Quilligan; S Coakley, A O’Leary, A O’Hare.

Subs: K Shanahan for H Quilligan (41), D Reddington for A Young (50).

ST FINBARR’S: C Haines; S Ryan, J Burns, E Hurley; M Ahern, C Doolan, A Lyne; T Egan, I O’Callaghan; B O’Connell, R Barrett, A Buckley; C O’Sullivan, C Myers Murray, J Brady.

Subs: J Buttimer for J Brady (ht), J Brady for I O’Callaghan (56 inj).

Referee: Alan O’Connor, Ballygarvan.