AS DERBIES BETWEEN these two go, it lacked the fire of old as Sean MacCumhaills trundled to a 12-point win over Glenfin.
Sean MacCumhaills 2-13 Glenfin 0-07
It might have been missing the gusto and fervour that was once a hallmark of these collisions, but from an early stage here there was an air of inevitability around Sean MacCumhaill Park.
Damian Devaney’s MacCumhaills had a goal from Steven O’Reilly inside of a minute and with Martin O’Reilly posting eight points it was a routine win for the Twin Towns men.
Picture caption: Martin O’Reilly on the attack for Sean MacCumhaills against Glenfin. Picture by Chris Doherty
They hit a second goal in the 55th minute. Martin O’Reilly’s shot dropped shot in the square, but ‘keeper Liam O’Meara punched into the path of MacCumhaills sub Gavin Reilly, who blasted home.
They were rarely out of second gear, but then they didn’t need to be.
Understrength Glenfin put up a manful fight of it, but MacCumhaills never looked in danger of letting the win slip from their clutches.
Glenfin survived the drop to Division 3 last year following a play-off win over Burt at The Scarvey and Liam Ward lined out for this season-opener against their old foes without a number of his more stellar names.
The likes of Donegal ace Frank McGlynn, Michael McGlynn, Gerard Ward, Conor Ward, Mark McGinty senior, Andrew Walsh and John Harkin were all marked absent for the visitors, who have recently lost Malachy Martin to Aghyaran.
They’ll play their great rivals in the Donegal SFC later this year and by then the An Gaeltacht Lár men will hope to have a stronger hand to show.
After just 58 seconds, MacCumhaills hit the lead goal when Steven O’Reilly’s shot from 35 metres was fumbled by the unfortunate O’Meara in the Glenfin goal.
With Martin O’Reilly on song for the home side, kicking five points in the opening half, MacCumhaills had a commanding 1-7 to 0-4 lead.
Points by Daniel McGlynn and Kevin McGlynn had given Glenfin faint hope after being rocked by the early concession to Steven O’Reilly.
A gorgeous Martin O’Reilly in-swinging point off his left foot put the home side four in front and, after corner back Ronan McMenamin got in on the act, O’Reilly sailed over off the outside of his left.
Despite slipping as he took the shot, the Donegal player still managed to find the target.
When Brian Lafferty boomed over late in the half to open up a six-point cushion, there seemed no way back for Glenfin.
Two more O’Reilly frees and a brilliant score off the left boot of Gary Wilson stretched the MacCumhaills lead.
Steven O’Reilly bore in on goal with just under ten minutes remaining but took his point to put MacCumhaills eight in front at 1-11 to 0-6.
When Reilly blasted home late in the day it put a gloss on it for MacCumhaills. Tougher tests await, but a comfortably derby win was as good a start as they could have wished for.
Sean MacCumhaills: Chris Patton; Ronan McMenamin (0-1), Martin Gallagher, Gerard Grindle; Shane Duffy, Gary Dunnion, Joe Dunnion; Steven O’Reilly (1-1), Nathan Gavigan; Gary Wilson (0-1), Chris Gallen, Rory Dunleavy; Martin O’Reilly (0-8, 6f), Shaun McGowan, Brian Lafferty (0-1). Subs: Gavin Reilly (1-0) for Dunleavy (45), James Beirne for Duffy (56), Adam Lynch (0-1, 1f) for Lafferty (57).
Glenfin: Liam O’Meara; Martin O’Donnell, Daniel Harkin, Stephen McGlynn; Gary Dorrian, Gary Heron, Kyle Doherty; Stephen Ward, Ronan Gallagher; Daniel McGlynn (0-4, 2f), Jason Morrow (0-2), Paddy O’Connor; Conor McBride, Kevin McGlynn (0-1), Jason Marley. Subs: Kieran Foy for Marley (37), Leigh Herron for McBride (56), Daithi Carr for Dorrian (58).
Referee: Michael McShane (Kilcar).
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