IN A CLASH that was dubbed the heavyweight clash of the quarter-finals, it’s the reigning champions Naomh Conaill who remain on course to defend the Dr Maguire.
St Eunan’s 1-8 Naomh Conaill 1-13
In the end, a goal from Daragh Gallagher with nine minutes to go settled it against St Eunan’s. Gallagher prodded past Sean Daffan at the second attempt to put some daylight between the sides for the first time.
St Eunan’s were reeling right from when Dermot Molloy caught a ball over the head of Connall O’Boyle and although Eamonn Doherty did well to block at John O’Malley’s feet, a bright flick from Brendan McDyer set Gallagher in to score the vital goal.
Naomh Conaill join Glenswilly, Kilcar and Malin in the last four.
On a heavy pitch on an autumnal afternoon, it was a contest that was occasionally fast and free-flowing, whilst also being cagey and concise. A little bit of handbags, as St Eunan’s forwards huddled up like a volleyball team before Jimmy White even threw the ball in added to the intrigue.
St Eunan’s controlled the early passages by a whisker, rewarded for their early endeavors when Conor Morrison bravely slapped a goal on 15 minutes when he won the race to Darragh Mulgrew’s pass into that corridor of uncertainty between goalkeeper Stephen McGrath and his full-back line.
The goal gave David McGinley’s St Eunan’s a lead of 1-1 to 0-2.
[adrotate group=”53″]Just five minutes beforehand, Naomh Conaill had almost goaled themselves. A brilliant turn on the byline set McDyer away from Morrison and the centre was punched on the full by Leon Thompson, but punched just over the crossbar.
With Naomh Conaill’s quality in attack, their joint-management team of Martin Regan and Martin Doherty wouldn’t have been over-satisfied with their shooting initially. Five first half wides were posted by those from Dave Brennan Memorial Park, with only teenager Eoghan McGettigan benefiting originally.
[adrotate group=”76″]McGettigan scored three first half points – two of them from frees – but the county champions weren’t near full throttle.
At the other end, St Eunan’s – with two wides and three dropping short in the first half – were finding scores. Rory Kavanagh was operating inside and giving Jason Campbell plenty to think about. Kavanagh, who saw McGrath save a decent goal chance on 11 minutes, pointed, as did Sean Hensey twice and Conor Gibbons.
Naomh Conaill, though, found two scores to go in level at the break, with Marty Boyle and then Eoin Waide coming from deep and at the interval, there was nothing in it: St Eunan’s 1-4 Naomh Conaill 0-7.
[adrotate group=”37″]Those in the blue corner might’ve been slightly more content with things at that juncture.
When Kevin McGettigan opened the second half scoring inside of two minutes, it meant that Naomh Conaill had scored three times in succession to lead by a point.
But with Naomh Conaill able to take on the likes of O’Malley and Gallagher, St Eunan’s panel was somewhat diluted by the absence of Conall Dunne, Kevin Rafferty, Conor O’Donnell, Lee McMonagle and Rory Carr – all starters in their championship opener against Kilcar in May.
[adrotate group=”56″]With the contest becoming more open, Kavanagh’s influence began to grow at full-forward with him by then undoubtedly the focal point of the St Eunan’s attack as ball after ball was piled long. Anthony Thompson was moved back to accompany him.
Kavanagh scored the second of a brace on 37 minutes to bring his team back on terms and cancel out scored from Seamus Corcoran and Eunan Doherty. On 40 minutes, it was still as gridlocked on the scoreboard as many found on their way to Ballybofey, St Eunan’s 1-7 Naomh Conaill 0-10.
However, Molloy edged Naomh Conaill ahead and when Gallagher scored the Naomh Conaill goal the champions had something to hold onto.
Naomh Conaill, by and large, defended well in the latter stages, although they did have a let-off in injury  as Kavanagh rattled the post when going for goal. That was as close as the team from Letterkenny would come.
Aaron Thompson, just as he did in last year’s county final success for Naomh Conaill over St Eunan’s, had the final say. He punched the air in delight. Just like last year. They want the Dr Magiure to spend the winter in Glenties. Just like last year.
St Eunan’s: Sean Daffan; Conor Morrison (1-0), Caolan Ward, Conor Parke; Peter Devine, Eamon Doherty, Connall O’Boyle (0-1); Sean Hensey (0-2), Rory Kavanagh (0-3); Conor Gibbons (0-1), Darragh Mulgrew, Darragh McWalters; Conall Dunne, John Haran, Niall O’Donnell. Subs: Sean McVeigh (0-1) for McWalters (36), Cillian Morrison for McGeehin (52), Kevin Kealy for Hensey (59), Oisin Carr for Ward (60).
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Aaron Thompson (0-1), Jason Campbell, Kevin McGettigan (0-1); Marty Boyle (0-1), Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide (0-1); Leo McLoone, Ciaran Thompson; Eunan Doherty (0-1), Dermot Molloy (0-2, 1f), Brendan McDyer; Eoghan McGettigan (0-3, 1f), Seamus Corcoran (0-1), Leon Thompson (0-1). Subs: John O’Malley (0-1) for Campbell (half-time), Daragh Gallagher (1-0) for L Thompson (42), AJ Gallagher for Molloy (56), Cathal Ellis for Waide (60), James Doherty for McDyer (60).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
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