An excellent second-half performance which saw them come from three points down to win by eight points gave Termon two points against St. Nauls at the Burn Road.
Termon 2-13 St Naul’s 1-8
The home team raced to a 0-05 to 0-01 by the 18th minute but by half-time the visitors had turned that around and led by three 1-06 to 0-06.
Stephen Griffin opened the scoring for St. Nauls with a free in the 7th minute somewhat against the run of play as Termon dominated the early exchanges.
The McDaid brothers Daire and Caolan then got to work for Termon and shared five points in quick succession between the 9th and 18th minutes.
Griffin replied with two frees in two minutes and then Caolan McDaid and Griff9n exchanged points to leave it 0-06 to 0-04 in Termon’s favour in the 25th minute.
St.Nauls finished the half strongly, a sweeping move opened the home defence and Jimmy Gallagher was forced to concede a close range free, it was a easy tap over for Stephen Griffon or so we and the home defenders throughout.
Instead the former county man blasted the ball past those on the line to give Nauls the lead for the first time in the game.
He followed that with their first point from play and then set up Daniel Meehan for a point with quick thinking from a free to leave three in it at the break , 1-06 to 0-06.
Eight minutes into the second-half the teams were level. Caolan McDaid kicked a free, Daire McDaid converted a 45 after Ricky Gallagher’s goal-bound shot had been blocked and then Gallagher kicked a fine point to make it 0-09 to 1-06.
Barry Griffin restored the visitors lead with an excellent point from distance but equally good scores from play by both Martin Sweeney and Nathan McElwaine had Termon in front again and then Daire McDaid sent over another 45 to make it a two point game.
Three minutes from time the home team secured the points. Caolan McDaid found his brother Daire in behind the defence, Gavin Mulreany made a brilliant save to deny him but then had to pull him down as he grabbed the rebound.
Mulreany got a black card and Daire converted the penalty to make it 1-12 to 1-07.
Stephen Griffin converted a free but Termon completed the excellent second-half performance when Ricky Gallagher finished a super move involving several players by fisting the ball to the net and fittingly Caolan McDaid knocked over the game’s final point to make it 2-13 to 1-08 and a vital two points for Termon.
Termon: Jimmy McElwaine, Shane Callaghan, Kevin McDaid, Joe O’Donnell, Sean O’Donnell, Nathan McElwaine (0-1), Alan Dugera, Jimmy Gallagher, Johnny McCafferty, Aidan Sweeney, Martin Sweeney (0-1), Caolan McDaid (0-4, 1f), Ricky Gallagher (1-1), Daire McDaid (1-6, 2f, 2 45), Fintan O Flynn. Subs: James Doherty for Dugera (42), Steve Mc Elwaine for McCafferty (55).
St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreany, Conor Gavigan, Lee McBrearty, John Relihan, Dermot Gallagher, Aiden Meehan, Conor McBrearty Edward Kane, Ryan Coyle, Daniel Meehan (0-1), Cathal Lowther, Martin Breslin, Shane Coneely, Barry Griffin (0-1) , Stephen Griffin (1-6, 1-5f). Sub: James Flynn for Lowther (40 ).
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy).
