THE WINNING MARGIN of 28 points was in no way flattering here as Letterkenny Institute of Technology tore Cavan Institute asunder to book their place at the Trench Cup finals weekend.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 6-11 Cavan Institute 0-01
Eamon O’Boyle’s team were in cruise control from start to finish on a day when Donegal midfielder Neil Gallagher returned to colleges football.
Gallagher was a member of the Trench-winning LyIT squad in 2005 and is on course to repeat that feat 11 years on.
The Glenswilly man is a full-time student in Civil Engineering at LyIT and has returned to the college playing fields.
This was a stroll in the park for the double All-Star. Cavan Institute were obliging opponents, to put it kindly, and rarely have LyIT had it so easy.
By the time Dan Mullan, the referee, blew the half-time whistle, LyIT were 15 points ahead (3-7 to 0-1) and Brian Sheanon’s free in the 16th minute was Cavan’s only score in the hour.
Termon’s McDaid brothers, Daire and Cathal, were to the fore with Daire scoring 1-5 and Caolan helping himself to 1-2. Goals from John Campbell and Anthony Kilpatrick came either end of a brace by Adam Neely as LyIT sailed into the semi-finals.
Daire McDaid hit three early points with Willie Gillespie arching over two fine scores to give LyIT a five-point cushion.
Their opening goal arrived in the 22nd minute. Gallagher fed Gillespie, who jinked his way beyond a number of challenges before feeding Caolan McDaid and he tucked home.
Daire McDaid turned provider for Campbell to score the second goal before a third arrived when Caolan McDaid slipped in Daire McDaid and he finished well after delightfully striding past goalkeeper Jimmy Smith.
Campbell and Daire McDaid combined to set up Neely early in the second half and the Dungloe man slammed in another ten minutes from the end.
Kilpatrick palmed home a sixth in the dying moments, although at that stage it was all rather academic and only a matter of how many LyIT would win by.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Blake Forkan; Jack Quinn, Sean Peyton, Jack Scally; Callum Gallagher, Fionntan O’Flynn, Connall O’Boyle; Neil Gallagher, Niall Harley; Caolan McDaid (1-2), Willie Gillespie (0-3, 1f), Hugh Boyle; Daire McDaid (1-5, 1f), John Campbell (1-0), Ryan Langan. Subs: Adam Neely (2-1) for Boyle (17), Daniel Clarke for Gallagher (44), Thomas Courtney for Peyton (45), Anthony Kilpatrick (1-0) for D.McDaid (59).
Cavan Institute: Jimmy Smith; David Buckley, Fergal McKenna, Davin Bent; David Byrne, Padraig Byrne, Louis Faye; George Wall, Marcus Duffy; Joe Rabbitt, Cian McKeon, Martin Rafferty; Cathal Moran, Brian Sheanon (0-1, 1f), Warren Casserly.
Referee: Dan Mullan (Derry).
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