DERMOT MOLLOY GOALED after only 13 seconds as Naomh Conaill showed their offensive qualities with an impressive Division 1 win at St Eunan’s.
St Eunan’s 1-14 Naomh Conaill 4-12
Following that, John O’Malley, Ethan O’Donnell and Brendan McDyer all grabbed goals as the side that won Dr Maguire last year put in the type of showing they want before the next stage of their championship defence takes place at Four Masters next Sunday.
At one stage Naomh Conaill were 15 points up before St Eunan’s finished with a bit of a fight – but at that stage the contest was over.
The visitors couldn’t have dreamed of a better start, with Leo McLoone, just seconds from Shaun McLaughlin’s throw-in, got away and found Molloy to his right.
[adrotate group=”56″]Molloy, down the years has made no secret of his predatory instincts when in such situations and he rammed past Matthew Gallagher in the St Eunan’s goal.
That setback didn’t upset the hosts too much, though, as they manged to spin off five successive points before the quarter-hour mark. Patrick McGowan kicked three of them and David Tyrrell two.
The damage could’ve been worse for the Glenties side as they had goalkeeper Stephen McGrath to thank for keeping their sheet clean, when he saved from Brian McIntyre after Conor Gibbons had smartly nipped possession.
[adrotate group=”38″]Martin Regan and Martin Doherty’s team scored their first point of the evening, a peach from McDyer on 16 minutes before, three minutes later, Naomh Conaill were awarded a penalty when Seamus Corcoran was denied by a foot-block in the square.
O’Malley held his nerve to shoot past Gallagher and when Molloy pointed a free soon afterwards, the county champions were 2-2 to 0-5 in front.
In-between times, Anthony Thompson had made what was almost certainly a goal-saving interception when Conall Dunne opted not to go for the easy option and tried to square for McIntyre in a two-on-one situation.
[adrotate group=”76″]Molloy added three more scores – including one with the right – and Ciaran Thompson also fizzed over at the Town End late in the first half.
Darragh McWalters managed to join the attack for St Eunan’s to score for the second week in succession, following his late score at the Burn Road against Termon six days’ beforehand.
Naomh Conaill were 2-6 to 0-6 up at half-time.
Earlier this season, the sides had shared a draw at Davy Brennan Memorial Park, when three late points from the team managed by David McGinley salvaged a 2-7 to 1-10 draw.
[adrotate group=”37″]As the teams came back for the second half, the rain fell in sheets, a similar situation to last year when the hammered St Eunan’s in the group stage of the senior championship.
Like the first half, Naomh Conaill opened with a goal and this this it was it was O’Donnell, who got on the end of a pass from Corcoran to drive right through the St Eunan’s defence and ram a fine goal on 32 minutes.
Rory Kavanagh did reply for St Eunan’s but Corcoran immediately replied. Then, on 40 minutes, O’Malley and Molloy’s frees put Naomh Conaill 3-9 to 0-7 up.
Naomh Conaill refused to take the foot off the gas and on 43 minutes they’d another with Molloy played the ball forward for McLoone, who could easily have went himself but unselfishly squared for McDyer to score a fourth goal.
Midway through part two, Naomh Conaill were 4-10 to 0-9 up.
[adrotate group=”46″]O’Donnell and Molloy added points before Kavanagh, who had moved inside, two Conor Gibbons’ scores and a Tyrrell effort meant St Eunan’s had four on the spin.
Gibbons added a penalty with seconds left when he sent McGrath the wrong way following a foul on Conor Morrison before Kavanagh made it 1-5 on the bounce.
It wasn’t a bad conclusion for St Eunan’s and it did make the scoreboard less bleak but Naomh Conaill were full value for their win.
St Eunan’s: Matthew Gallagher; Conor Morrison, Darragh McWalters (0-2), Conor Parke; Sean McVeigh, Caolan Ward, Eamonn Doherty; Andrew Doherty, Rory Kavanagh (0-3); Daniel Gillespie, Brian McIntyre, David Tyrrell (0-3); Conor Gibbons (1-3, 1-0 pen, 1f), Patrick McGowan (0-3, 1f), Conall Dunne. Subs: Peter Devine for McVeigh (35), Kieran Sharkey for McIntyre (44), John Haran for Gillespie (52)
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Kevin McGettigan, AJ Gallagher, Jason Campbell; Cathal Ellie Anthony Thompson, Eunan Doherty; Leo McLoone, Ciaran Thompson (0-2); Ethan O’Donnell (1-1), Seamus Corcoran (0-1), James Doherty (0-1); John O’Malley (1-1, 1-0 pen, 1f), Dermot Molloy (1-6, 4f), Brendan McDyer (1-1). Subs: Aaron Thompson for Gallagher (38), Stephen Molloy for McGettigan (42), Leon Thompson and Jamie McHugh for C Thompson and McDyer (49), Ultan Doherty for E Doherty (53), Hughie Gallagher for O’Donnell (60)
Referee: Shaun McLaughlin (Malin).
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