AFTER AN ABSORBING draw, the emotions could hardly have been more contrasting as Gaeil Fhánada and Naomh Colmcille parted ways in the dying light at O’Donnell Park.
Gaeil Fhánada 2-07 Naomh Colmcille 2-07
Pointed frees in added time from by Michael Sweeney and Seamie Friel rescued a tie that looked to have crept away from Gaeil Fhánada as a dogged and determined Naomh Colmcille seized the initiative.
A brace of goals by Willie Gillespie (pictured above in action against Paddy Heraghty of Gaeil Fhánada) had the red and white brigade dreaming of a first-ever appearance in the Intermediate Championship final, only for their hearts to sink as Sweeney and Friel steered the Fanadians out of the fire.
For Naomh Colmcille, it was certainly the case of the one that got away and Francie Martin’s men will not reflect well on the statistics with 15 wides and four short attempts to their name by the conclusion of a breathless encounter.
Naomh Colmcille were without veteran former Donegal goalkeeper Tony Blake who is on holidays while Ryan McErlean failed to shake off the quad muscle injury he sustained in the opening minute of the quarter-final win over Carndonagh.
Daniel Clarke put Naomh Colmcille ahead on two minutes, but Gaeil Fhánada plucked two goals to move into a pretty commanding lead by the 21st minute.
Their first came when Michael Sweeney sent Johnny Friel clear and he smashed to the back of the Naomh Colmcille net.
Two Seamie Friel points, one a splendid score from the left-hand side and the other a 40-metre free, were followed by their second goal, Sweeney emphatically firing to the far corner after Seamie Friel and Brian McVeigh combined.
The goose looked to be cooked at that point, but Naomh Colmcille got their noses back in it with a goal that had a little stroke of good fortune around it.
Michael Lynch’s long-range free dropped dangerously on top of goalkeeper Paul O’Connor and Gillespie was quickest to react, getting the vital touch to steer the ball across the line.
Lynch boomed over a free from beyond the 45-metre line and Naomh Colmcille came out with the guns from the holster at the outset of part two, with the trading of places by Ryan McKinley and Ciaran Devine proving instrumental to the fightback.
Gillespie curled over 20 seconds into the new half and while Friel responded with a free, Naomh Colmcille were energised when Gillespie bagged a second goal on 36 minutes.
Eddie Gillespie’s shot dropped into O’Connor hands, but the goalkeeper fumbled and the Donegal Under-21 player Willie Gillespie managed to apply the finish.
Friel, after Marty McAteer was fouled by Michael Friel, and a fisted effort by Michael Sweeney had Gaeil Fhánada back in control, but an inspirational Willie Gillespie point lit the touchpaper.
That came in between a pair of lethal Lynch frees as Naomh Colmcille’s glances at the watch became more frequent as the minutes ticked towards conclusion.
Two minutes from the end, a golden opportunity presented itself for Daniel Clarke, but he elected to go for goal after the space opened up. O’Connor saved and Donaghy will be haunted by that moment when, with the goal gaping, poked the rebound wide.
At the other end in a frenetic finish, McDaid made a fine save from Friel, but Michael O’Connor’s team lived to fight another day as those pair of priceless frees mean they have to do it all over again next Sunday at O’Donnell Park.
Naomh Colmcille: Gary McDaid; Ricky Hegarty, Ciaran Devine, John Fullerton; Gerard Curran, Michael Friel, Alex Devenney; Ryan McKinley, Michael Lynch (0-3, 3f); Eddie Gillespie, Mark Dowds, Daniel Clarke (0-1); Oran Hilley, Joe Donaghy (0-1), Willie Gillespie (2-2). Subs: Don Hegarty for Dowds (44), Paul Friel for Curran (51), Ryan McErlean for Clarke (58).
Gaeil Fhanada: Paul O’Connor; Fergal Friel, Patrick Heraghty, Frank Sweeney; Ryan McGonigle, Cathal Martin, Mark Friel; Kevin McElwaine, Shaun McElwaine; Brian McVeigh, Seimi ‘Coshia’ Friel (0-5, 4f), Johnny Friel (1-0); Martin McAteer, Michael Sweeney (1-2, 1f), Joe Blaney. Subs: Davitt Walsh for Blaney (44), Ronan McAteer for J.Friel (48), Odhran Shiels for Heraghty (52), Niall Carr for McVeigh (55).
Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill).
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