BUNDORAN MANAGER BRIAN GAVIGAN gave high praise to the Keaney brothers, James and Christy, as his side eventually eased past Glenavy after a troubling opening half.
Bundoran 1-12 Glenavy 1-07
Christy’s injury-time goal may have put added a shine on Sunday’s Junior Ulster Club Championship victory over the Antrim side, but the Bundoran boss insisted that he never thought the result was in doubt.
“The 15 we put out on the field are our strongest 15 on any given Sunday and the whole lot of them don’t come together some weeks,” he said.
“It takes the likes Paul Brennan, James Keaney and what can you say about Christy Keaney, he had a great game; he had a good game against Clann Eireann as well.
“He stood up to the mark today and scored 105, you can’t ask anymore.
“His brother James is a tower of strength. He is not a big man, but he can take care of himself. He’s sturdy and is strong going forward when needed.
“It takes these players to step up to the mark when things aren’t going well for us and thankfully they did.”
Glenavy’s Fergus Cunningham bagged a goal in the tenth minute, which give the Antrim side the impetus to finish the half strongly and take a 1-4 to 0-4 lead, with Bundoran’s points coming from the lively Christy Keaney and captain Tommy Hourihane.
Hourihane and Gary Clancy weighed in with points after the break to level the score and the Donegal Intermediate champions never looked back with Johnny Boyle pointing from play.
James Keaney, Peter McGonigle and Diarmuid Spratt kept Bundoran on the front foot and although two James Gallagher converted frees narrowed the lead to two points the Donegal men remained in control.
And as if there was to be any doubt, Christy Keaney’s injury-time goal insured their Ulster Club Final showdown against Monaghan’s Rockcorry on Sunday, November 29.
Bundoran: J Keenan, D McCaughey, J Keaney, P Rooney, P Brennan, S McGowan, J Boyle (0-1), C McCaughey, P McGonigle, D Spratt (0-1), G Clancy (0-2, 2f), A Russell, T Hourihane (0-3, 3f), C Keaney (1-05), D Hoey. Sub: N Dunne for A Russell (44).
Glenavy: F Green, D McAlister, O Hamill, N McLaughlin, C Looney, M Clenaghan, F McMullan, M Johnston, P Gallagher J Gallagher (0-4, 0-2 f), O Gallagher (0-1), C Hamill, F Cunningham (1-1), N McCann. Subs: J Philips (0-1) for McMullan (21), M McCourt for Cunningham (43).
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