Two super second-half goals by Darren McElwaine and Joshua McAteer proved to be the vital scores in this keenly contested Division Two County Minor Final played at the excellent facilities in St. Mary’s Park in Convoy.
Gaeil Fhánada 2-12 Kilcar 0-10
By Charlie Collins in Convoy
The teams shared four points in the opening ten minutes, McElwaine and Mark McAteer for Fanad and in between those Eoin Cormack and Oran Doogan for Kilcar, the only time Kilcar would lead in the game.
Shaun Kerr added a third for the Fanad lads, tapping over after Joshua Mc Ateer’s shot hands come back off a post and when Mc Elwaine and the excellent Bernard Mc Gettigan added two more Fanad Gaels led by 0-05 to 0-02 in the 15th minute.
In the second quarter of the opening half the teams exchanged six points , Bernard McGettigan got Gaeil Fhánada’s three, one a brillant solo effort , but Ryan O’Donnell matched him with three for Kilcar to leave the half -time score 0-08 to 0-05.
The same two players exchanged points in the opening three minutes of the second-half and when Oran Doogan scored for Kilcar in the 35th minute there was only two points between them.
However the game was decided in the next four minutes of play. In the 36th minute with the referee’s arm raised playing advantage McElwaine showed great strength, skill and determination to burst through and drive the ball low to the net for the game’s opening goal.
Wen he and Joshua McAteer added quick points there was seven between them and Gaeil Fhánada in control at 1-11 to 0-07 ahead.
Doogan pointed a free, Gaeil Fhánada were reduced to 14 men when Mark McAteer was red carded for his reaction to a Ryan O Donnell tackle which earned him a yellow card but a few minutes later Joshua McAteer cracked in a super second goal when he half-volleyed the ball into the far corner to any slim hopes of a Kilcar comeback.
Doogan and O Donnell added late points for the losers but Fanad sub James Howe added a point to make the final score 2-12 to 0-10 in Gaeil Fhánada’s favour.
Gaeil Fhánada: Eoin McGonigle, James Sweeney, Jonathan Gallagher, Michael Sweeney, Liam McGrenaghan, Matthew Gallagher, Brandon McClafferty, Fergus Friel , Bernard McGettigan (0-5, 1f), Darren McElwaine (1-3), Mark McAteer (0-1), Eoghan McGrenaghan, Joshua McAteer (1-1), John Friel, Shaun Kerr (0-1). Subs used: Liam Sweeney, Kieran Coyle, Eoghan Shiels , Kane Mc Laughlin , James Howe (0-1), Peter Carr.
Kilcar: Colm Garvey, Dara Rowan, Dillian O’Gara , Eoin Love, Eoin Cormack (0-1), Kenny Doogan , Cormac Leime, Oran Doogan (0-4, 3f), Ryan O’Donnell (0-5, 1f), Ryan McShane, Keelan Curran, Liam Gavigan, Shaunie Boyle , Pauric Love, Conner O Donnell. Subs used: Evan Bonner and Patrick McNeilis.
Referee: Paul Clifford.
