St Eunan’s the points on Bank Holiday Mondayagainst Aodh Ruadh – a result that edges the Ballyshannon team to the brink of relegation to Division 2.
St Eunan’s 1-16 Aodh Ruadh 1-9
Maxi Curran’s side were in control for the most part and went in five points in front at half-time, 1-6 to 0-4, with Conor Morrison slapping home a goal on 20 minutes. Sean Hensey then beat Peter Boyle from close range for what looked like a second St Eunan’s goal, only to be penalised by referee Enda McFeely for throwing the ball in.
Aodh Ruadh kept the scoreboard ticking over mainly through the place-kicking of Diarmaid McInerney, who would finish the afternoon with six points.
The hosts were impressive in the third quarter and manager Curran would’ve been delighted to see Rory Carr (pictured) get three quarters of an hour under his belt after his recent injuries. Carr scored three points, while Conor Gibbons managed to register seven times. Niall Hannigan also showed well at centre-forward.
Aodh Ruadh refused to lie down and did get a goal in the closing stages when Shane McGrath bundled home from close range. However, they still trail Cloughaneely by four points with only three matches to play.
Those fixtures are home to Kilcar and St Michael’s and away to Naomh Conaill.
St Eunan’s win, on the other hand, brings them to within a point of Gaoth Dobhair, who have a game in hand at the summit of the table. The Letterkenny side also welcome the team from Magheragallon in the opening series of fixtures in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC next month.
St Eunan’s: Eoin O’Boyle; Anthony Gallagher, Conor Morrison (1-0), Conor Parke; Oisin Toal, Darragh Mulgrew, Darragh Toal (0-1); Sean Hensey (0-1), Aaron Deeney; Sean McVeigh (0-1), Niall Hannigan (0-2), Michael Miller; Rory Carr (0-3, 1f), Rory Kavanagh (0-1), Conor Gibbons (0-7, 3fs).Subs:Caolan Ward for Morrison (40), Lee McMonagle for Carr (46), Conall Dunne for McVeigh (47), Brian McIntyre and Peter McEniff for Miller and Hensey (59), Cillian Morrison for Hannigan (61)
Aodh Ruadh:Peter Boyle; Jason Granaghan, Damian Cleary, Michael Ward; Johnny Gethins (0-1), Colm Kelly, Eddie Lynch; Oisin Rooney, Eamonn McGrath; Paddy Gillespie, Shane McGrath (1-1), Conor Patton; Nathan Boyle (0-1, 1f), Diarmaid McInerney (0-6, 6fs), David Dolan. Subs:Darren Gethins for Gillespie (half-time) Dylan Gallagher for Dolan (54), Sean Taylor for Lynch (59).
Referee:Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy).
