TERMON WERE VICTORS in the County Division 1 Under-14 League final against spirited Gaoth Dobhair in Dunfanaghy this evening.
Termon 2-13 Gaoth Dobhair 5-2
Jamie Grant excelled for the eventual winners, scoring 1-6 in all.
The side managed by Paddy Gallagher and James Cassidy recovered from the concession of a second minute goal to find their groove and go in 1-9 to 1-0 in front at half-time.
[adrotate group=”31″]In the second half, the Burn Road side saw Gaoth Dobhair come back to just two points behind them with three minutes to go but managed to get over the line. Just. Gaoth Dobhair found the net for a fifth time in the 64th minute but fell just short in the end.
Way before that, it was Gaoth Dobhair who struck the first blow. Aodhan Ferry’s shot wasn’t the strongest and was easily gathered by Termon goalkeeper Emmet McGuire. However, the umpire behind the goal signalled to match referee Don Langan that the ball had crossed the line when it was collected.
However, Termon didn’t let the award bother them and settled into their game with their centre-field duo of Jamie Grant and Aaron Gallagher grabbing complete control.
Grant, a points from Aaron Reid and then a free from Mark Gallagher levelled it up at Termon 0-3 Gaoth Dobhair 1-0 by the 14th minute.
Then, following the kick-out by Daithí Roberts in the Gaoth Dobhair goal, Grant won it cleanly and his pass enabled Kevin McGettigan to swivel and shoot the first goal of the contest on 15 minutes.
And Termon weren’t stopping there. In the second quarter they kicked six unanswered points to set up a nine-point interval lead.
[adrotate group=”40″]Those scores came courtesy of two from Aaron Gallagher, three from Grant, while Mark Gallagher was also on the mark. As well as the commanding lead, Termon also were inches away from another goal on two separate occasions. Both Grant and Aaron Reid saw shots fizzle wide of the post.
Gaoth Dobhair needed something to ignite their hopes early in the second half and a goal and a point inside of four minutes from Jamie Doherty provided their initiative.
The goal game from a shot over McGuire in the Termon goal to bring to side from Magheragallon’s arrears back to 1-10 to 2-2, following a Grant 45 for Termon.
However, Termon weathered whatever was being thrown at them and three successive scores – with Manus O’Connell, Reid and one more from Grant.
That made it 1-13 to 2-2 for Termon but again Gaoth Dobhair showed a resilience. Aidan Walsh got himself into position to shoot his side’s third goal on 50 minutes.
[adrotate group=”46″]With just three minutes left, Gaoth Dobhair goaled for a fourth time when substitute Eamonn McBride slapped home a centre from Michael Doherty and suddenly there was just two between them.
But Termon got their second goal just two minutes later Aaron Doherty scored from a penalty following a foul on Mark Gallagher.
The drama wasn’t to stop there. In the fourth minute of injury time and with Termon defending for their lives, Aidan Walsh blasted his second goal for Gaoth Dobhair. Alas, that was as close as they would get as time was called soon after.
[adrotate group=”47″]Termon: Emmet McGuire; Mark Toy, Robert McGettigan, Michael Trearty; Jack Alcorn, Martin Steele, Damian Egan; Jamie Grant (1-6, 1-0 pen, 2 ’45’, 1f), Aaron Gallagher (0-2); Conor Cassidy, Aaron Reid (0-2), Manus O’Connell (0-1); Lorcan Callaghan, Kevin McGettigan (1-0), Mark Gallagher (0-2, 1f). Subs: Oisin Forde for Callaghan (48), Daniel Fagan for O’Connell (59).
Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Ronan Heffernan, Cian McEntee, Sean Gallagher; Kyle Doohan, Aidan Walsh (2-0), Sean McGee; Eoin Burke (0-1), Micheal Doherty; Finnan Coyle, Odhran Coyle, Cian McBride; Jamie Doherty (1-1), Aodhan Ferry (1-0), Ryan Doherty. Subs: Eamonn McBride (1-0) and Peadar Ó Baoill for Ferry and R Doherty (55).
Referee: Don Langan (St Michael’s).
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