Three Friel goals saw Gaeil Fhánada into the semi-finals of the Intermediate Championship at the expense of an off-colour Naomh Columba in O’Donnell Park.
Gaeil Fhánada 3-9 Naomh Columba 0-10
Mark Friel, Seamus ‘Coshia’ Friel and Johnny Friel (above) saw Aidan McAteer’s men into the last four.
The loss recently of Seamus ‘Nanny’ Friel to a cruciate knee injury might have unsteadied them – but they were deserving victors here as they made light of their pre-match 5/1 odds.
Mark Friel’s goal in the first half had them 1-6 to 0-6 ahead at the break and the other two goals arrived in a killer last ten minutes.
Seamus ‘Coshia’ Friel slotted a penalty past Pauric O’Donnell after Jimmy Coyle was fouled by Michael Maguire.
And they added a third goal with a quick counter-attack. Niall Carr, Seamus ‘Coshia’ Friel and Michael Sweeney were all involved, while Johnny Friel tucked into the bottom corner.
The game descended into chaos for a period in added time and a mass melee involving players and mentors broke out.
Naomh Columba’s Christopher Byrne was given a straight red card and referee Sean Paul Doherty brandished yellow to three Gaeil Fhánada men.
The game was seven minutes old when Gaeil Fhánada pounced for a goal – and it was a moment from which Naomh Columba never really recovered.
O’Donnell’s kick-out was intercepted by Mark Friel. After inviting a shot from Seamus ‘Coshia’ Friel, Mark Friel was back on hand to steer into the unguarded net with O’Donnell beaten.
Glen were reeling when Jimmy Coyle fisted over and Eoghan Carr curled between the posts to open up a five-point cushion.
The south-west men needed a response, but they shook the early-morning journey from their heads with three points in as many minutes.
Paddy Byrne got them off and running with a free and the midfielder drilled over from play before Steven Jones’ persistence paid off, holding off two defenders to score.
Any time Naomh Columba got within striking distance, Gaeil Fhánada were able to shrug them off.
Mark Friel cancelled out a Christopher Byrne point and even when Pauric Byrne landed the score of the game at the other end, Michael Sweeney powered through to fist his first point of the game.
Byrne stood over a free on the stand side and, with a technique that would have been at home on any stage, sent a majestic effort sailing right on the money, bending off the outside of his right boot and flying all the way to its target.
Sweeney put the Portsalon residents four up, but when Philip McNern pointed late in the half, it was a three-point game at the break, Friel’s goal the difference as Gaeil Fhánada led 1-6 to 0-6.
Naomh Columba were beaten semi-finalists by eventual Intermediate champions Burt and this was a repeat of the 2015 quarter-final, won by Gaeil Fhánada in Convoy.
That year, Gaeil Fhánada were put out by surprise packets Naomh Colmcille and after exiting at the group stage last year, they’re back with renewed vigour this year.
Pauric Byrne, Christopher Byrne and Ryan Gillespie brought Glen to within two points, but they were dealt a big blow when Pauric Ward was black-carded for an apparent body check on Coyle in the 42nd minute.
Those two goals in the last ten minutes spurred Gaeil Fhánada into this evening’s quarter-final draw.
Gaeil Fhánada: Brendan Friel; Kevin McGonigle, James Gallagher, Odhran Shiels; Conor McGonigle, Jimmy Coyle, Eoghan Carr (0-2); Michael Sweeney (0-2), Jimmy Coyle (0-1); Johnny Friel (1-0), Mark Friel (1-1), Brian McVeigh (0-1); Niall Carr, Seamus ‘Coshia’ Friel (1-0, 1pen), Oisin Shiels (0-1). Subs: Alan McAteer for McVeigh (60), Oisin McFadden for Carr (60)
Naomh Columba: Pauric O’Donnell; Barry Carr, Kieran McBrearty, Tadhg McGinley; Paul Doherty, Philip Doherty, Steven Jones (0-1); Paddy Byrne (0-4, 3f), Pauric Ward; Conor Carr, Christopher Byrne (0-2), Ryan McNern; Ryan Gillespie (0-2, 1f), Michael Maguire, Philip McNern (0-1). Subs: Pauric Cunningham for Ward (black card, 42), Pauric O’Neill for Paul Doherty (53).
Referee: Sean Paul Doherty (Urris).
