AN INJURY TIME Odhran McGinley point salvaged a share of the spoils for St Eunan’s against Four Masters at Tírconaill Park in the All-County Football League Division One this evening.
Four Masters 3-5 St Eunan’s 1-11
The home side had been ahead for almost the entire contest and held a slender two-point lead with only three minutes left. However, Conall Dunne’s free and McGinley’s effort with virtually the last kick of the game meant it was a drawn game.
In the lead-up to the equalising point, the local support had screamed for a free from referee Jimmy White, only for St Eunan’s to get the award and Maxi Curran’s team made the most of the opportunity.
With both sides fielding youthful teams for the most part, there was an explosive start when Jason Duignan was allowed to run from midfield to smash an opening goal for Four Masters past John Paul Clarke on just 65 seconds.
By the midpoint of the first half, the Donegal town team were 1-3 to 0-1 in front with Michael Doherty kicking the first two points of what would elude into a personal tally of 2-4, while Dillon Ward also on target.
St Eunan’s did have chances themselves to begin with but from six collective shots at goal from the visitors, only Lee McMonagle had managed to raise a white flag in the opening quarter.
However, two Patrick McGowan points and one from Dunne meant St Eunan’s were finding the upper gears later in the half, while Doherty – with a couple himself – kept Four Masters ticking over.
It was McMonagle and McGowan who concluded the half’s scoring for the Letterkenny side, but it was Four Masters who went in ahead, 1-5 to 0-6.
Ciaran McBride’s home team pushed their advantage out to five on 34 minutes when Doherty scored a penalty following a foul by Michael Miller on Duignan.
At 2-5 to 0-6 down, St Eunan’s were facing an uphill struggle but replied impressively, scoring 1-2 in four minutes. McMonagle netted from a penalty on 41 minutes after Miller had been upended, either side of two points from the impressive Conor Parke.
Dunne’s free, on 53 minutes, edged St Eunan’s a point in front – 1-9 to 2-5.
Four Masters, though, goaled with six minutes left through Doherty, who received the ball from Caolan Loughrey and looked to running down a blind alleyway before shooting in low at the near post to get the better of David Tyrell, the St Eunan’s substitute goalkeeper.
It looked as though that would be enough for victory – especially when Ryan Haughey in goal made a save from Dunne. But St Eunan’s managed to pull it out of the fire through Dunne’s free and McGinley’s late effort. Honours even.
Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Dillon Kennedy, Darragh Quinn, Enda Bonner; Caolan Loughrey, Josh Lacey, Ryan O’Donnell; Leo McHugh, Jason Duignan; Sean Meehan, Danny McGarrigle, Emmet Doogan; Dillon Ward, Michael Doherty (2-4, 1-0 pen, 2f), Barry Monaghan. Subs: Sean O’Kennedy for McGarrigle (20), Patrick Reid for Doogan (41).
St Eunan’s: John Paul Clarke; Connall O’Boyle, Peter Devine, Cormac Coghlan; Oisin Carr, Sean Hensey, Conor Parke (0-2); Darragh Mulgrew, Sean McVeigh; Conall Dunne (0-3, 2f), Lee McMonagle (1-2, 1-0 pen), Michael Miller; Patrick McGowan (0-3, 2f), Conor Gibbons, Odhran McGinley (0-1). Subs: John Haran for Carr (34), David Tyrell for Clarke (37), Conor McEniff for McGowan (48), Carr for Devine (52).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
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