DUNGLOE eased their relegation fears in the All-County Football League Division One this evening with a home victory over Naomh Conaill.
Dungloe 1-8 Naomh Conaill 0-8
A goal from David McCarron on 28 minutes ultimately proved the difference between the sides, although over the course of the hour Tony Boyle’s hosts were certainly the better team at Rosses Park.
Naomh Conaill made the short trek over from Glenties knowing a win would send them to the top of the table. However, the side managed by Martin Regan were far from their best before making a late rally.
Dungloe’s inside line of Adam Neely, Barry Curran and Eoin Redmond had commendable performances. By the quarter-hour they were 0-3 top 0-1 in front with Martin Redmond’s two scores adding to Eoin Redmond’s opener.
Naomh Conaill took 13 minutes to get on the board, which they did through a free from John O’Malley but their shooting wasn’t anywhere near as accurate as it might have been. They kicked eight first half wides and then would add another six after the break, although Dungloe defended well.
Two minutes before half-time, McCarron slapped a goal past Rory Boyle in the Naomh Conaill goal after Shaun Sharkey, who was in space in the square, laid off to his left.
Seamus Corcoran scored at the other end from the next play after Cathal Ellis had won possession from Noel McBride but Dungloe went in to warm applause at half-time after a great angled point from Neely, 1-4 to 0-2 in front.
With Naomh Conaill pushing up in the second half, Dungloe began it by operating a worthwhile policy of playing on the break. With their full-forward line one-on-one, or three-on-three if you like, they absorbed some pressure before adding the first three points.
Neely scored a free and then a splendid individual effort, either sides of Eoin Redmond punching over. Dungloe, 1-7 to 0-2 up, were flying.
Fifteen minutes before time, Naomh Conaill finally got their act together, pointing four successive times through Ethan O’Donnell, Leon Thompson, Leo McLoone and then Dermot Molloy.
However, Dungloe got a chance to add to their own tally when Boyle, the Naomh Conaill goalkeeper, was penalised for touching the ball on the ground outside the square and Neely tapped over the free to give the home team a 1-8 to 0-6 advantage.
Naomh Conaill kept pushing and when McLoone punched over and then O’Malley pointed, there was only three between them. Danny Rogers, the Dungloe substitute goalkeeper who entered the fray for the final 10 minutes saved down low at his near post from Brendan McDyer.
It would’ve got Naomh Conaill a share of the spoils that, for a long time, they didn’t look like getting in injury time.
Dungloe: Ciaran Sharkey; Jack Scally, Raymond Sweeney, Doalty Boyle; Martin Redmond (0-2, 1f), Darren Curran, Owen Scally; Shaun Sharkey, Paul McGarvey; Noel McBride, Conor Greene, David McCarron (1-0), Adam Neely (0-4, 2f), Eoin Redmond (0-2), Barry Curran. Subs: Sean Wallace for McBride (black card, 41), Danny Rogers for Sharkey (50), Adrian Sweeney for Greene (56), Luke Neely for McCarron (58), Greene for E Redmond (60).
Naomh Conaill: Rory Boyle; Kevin McGettigan, AJ Gallagher, Johnny Bonner; Aaron Thompson, Anthony Thompson, Cathal Ellis; Leo McLoone (0-2), Ciaran Thompson; Seamus Corcoran (0-1), Dermot Molloy (0-1, 1f), Ethan O’Donnell (0-1); John O’Malley (0-2, 1f), Johnny McLoone, Leon Thompson (0-1). Subs: Stephen Molloy for Bonner (36), Brendan McDyer for O’Malley (37), O’Malley for O’Donnell (57).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs)
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