A late point by Conor Gibbons gave St. Eunan’s a one point home win over a battling St. Michael’s at O Donnell Park .
St Eunan’s 1-11 St Michael’s 1-10
The visitors can count themselves very unlucky not to have taken at least a share of the spoils from this evenly and keenly contested game.
Brian McLaughlin opened the scoring for the visitors in the 8th minute with a fine point but the lead was shortlived as Conor Moore and Rory Kavanagh combined to set up John Haran (pictured above) who blasted home from 10 yards out a minute later.
Cillian Morrison and Kavanagh scored points from play to make it 1-2 to 0-1 in Eunans favour but two close range frees by Lee McColgan narrowed the gap to two points.
In an open attacking game with both teams keen to go forward St. Eunans restored their two point lead with a Conor Gibbons free and Cillian Morrison score from play.
Back came St. Michaels again and Colin McFadden kicked a fine point from 35 yards to leave it 1-04 to 0-04 in the 23rd minute.
Andrew Kelly’s 30 yard free left two between them three minutes later and that proved to be the final score of the first-half to leave the home team ahead by two points at the break 1-04 to 0-05.
The home side opened the scoring in the second-half with a Conor Gibbons point in the third minute and Rory Kavanagh added another a minute later to leave four in it again.
Two minutes later Eunans had a big let off when they lost the ball coming out of defence and Michaels had a 4 v 1 situation racing forward. Daniel McLaughlin timed the pass to Liam Paul Ferry but Eunans keeper Blake Forkan timed his advance perfectly to deny his goalbound shot.
Back came the visitors again and points by Brian McLaughlin and Colin Mc Fadden left just two in it.
Conall Dunne restored Eunans three point lead but two Lee Mc Colgan points had the minimum between them again in a cracker of a match.
Cillian Morrison made it 1-8 to 0-9 for Eunans in the 47th minute but a minute later St. Michaels grabbed the lead when Ciaran Gallagher was on hand to shot to the net from close range. Young Hugh O’Donnell made it a two point game with a super point from the right.
The home side responded well and points by Barry Mc Geehin , Cillian Morrison to draw level and then what proved to be the winning score from Conor Gibbons in the last minute of normal time.
St. Michaels pressed forward and had chances to grab the draw but were unable to convert and get the share of the spoils they certainly deserved on the day.
St Eunan’s: Blake Forkan; Dylan Sweeney, Sean Hensey, Conor Parke; Darragh Mulgrew, Conor Morrison, Conor Moore; Conall Dunne (0-1) , Rory Carr; Conor Gibbons (0-3, 1f), John Haran (1-0), Barry McGeehin (0-1); Ciaran Sharkey, Rory Kavanagh (0-2), Cillian Morrison (0-4). Subs: Lee McMonagle for Sweeney (47) Darragh McWalters for Sharkey (53).
St Michael’s: Dean McColgan; Chris McElhinney, Liam Kelly, Michael Gallagher; Ruairi Friel, Ciaran Gallagher (1-0) Oisín Langan; Michael Cannon, Liam Paul Ferry; Lee McColgan (0-4, 3f), Daniel McLaughlin, Andrew Kelly (0-1, 1f); Hugh O’Donnell (0-1), Brian Mc Laughlin (0-2), Colin McFadden (0-2).
Referee: Shaun Paul Doherty (Urris).
