ST MICHAEL’S CAME to life in the closing stages to avoid a potential upset against Killybegs and get their Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC off to a winning start.
St Michael’s 2-13 Killybegs 0-8
An eight-minute spell late in the second half of this game at the Bridge ensured that the home side sit on top of the so called ‘group of death’ that also includes St Eunan’s and Kilcar.
Ryan Langan opened the scoring for St Michael’s with a fine point, but the first half was very much a cat and mouse affair with Donegal star Hugh McFadden putting on an a fine display of point kicking from the frees and play scoring five points in the first half with Christopher Murrin scoring the other point.
At one stage Killybegs were two pints to the good and St Michael’s were finding in hard to break them down. However Andrew Kelly with two, Michael Langan with two and Ryan Langan meant that the sides went in level at half-time on a scoreline of St. Michael’s 0-6 Killybegs 0-6.
The majority of the second period was very much like the first and for a time it looked as if Killybegs might be able to spring a surprise win with another point from McFadden and one from Donal Maguire opening up a lead for Killybegs however and points from Michael Langan and Andrew Kelly tied things up.
Then St. Michael’s made a substitution when they brought on young Odhrán McFadden for Colm Anthony McFadden.
Then there was a blistering eight minutes which changed the game. Firstly Ryan Langan scored a fine individual goal to open up a three-point lead for the home side and from then on they never looked like losing, scoring further points from Odhrán McFadden with two, Mark Anthony McGinley and two from Michael Langan and Martin McElhinney to stretch their lead.
Then with virtually the last kick of the game Liam Paul Ferry scored a fine goal. Christopher Murrin saw red for Killybegs for a second yellow and they will be disappointed not to have got something from the game, but they were well beaten in the end.
St. Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley (0-1); Stephen Doak, Ciaran Gallagher, Michael Gallagher; Liam Paul Ferry (1-0), Michael McGinley, Michael Cannon; Martin McElhinney (0-1), Ryan Langan (1-1); Christy Toye, Colm McFadden; Keelan McGee, Michael Langan (0-4), Ciaran Kelly, Andrew Kelly (0-3). Sub Odhrán McFadden (0-2) for Colm McFadden and Oisin Langan (0-1) for C Kelly (both half-time)
Killybegs: Kevin Martin; Daniel O’Donnell, Niall Carberry, Ciaran Connaghan; Christopher Cunningham, Christopher Murrin (0-1), Owen Gallagher; Hugh McFadden (0-6, 6f), Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Shane Molloy, Evan Broderick, Pauric Connaghan; Donal Maguire (0-1), Paul Cunningham, Daniel O’Keeney.
Referee: Liam Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada)
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