ST EUNAN’S COLLEGE let a seven-point lead slip but in the end were happy enough to draw against St Columb’s from Derry in the Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup this afternoon.
St Eunan’s 1-8 St Columb’s, Derry 2-5
The Letterkenny side saw corner-back Conor Callaghan score a rare goal, while Niall O’Donnell played his part scoring five points from play. All seemed well as they were 1-6 to 0-2 in front eight minutes into the second half.
However, two goals from Mark McAdams turned the game on its head, the second of which was bundled in three minutes from time.
In a frenetic finish, O’Donnell, on two separate occasions was denied a goal that would’ve won it by the woodwork.
Firstly, on 58 minutes he collected a pass from Callaghan before rasping the crossbar. Then, in the first minute of time added on, O’Donnell cut inside after being found by Kevin Kealy only to see his shot thump the post.
With the last kick of the match though, Caoimhin Marley from Glenswilly levelled it with an excellent 45. As the whistle was about the be blown for time, visiting wing-forward Andy Moore was shown a red card.
James Gordon and Sean McGinley’s  St Eunan’s side were content enough at the end, having went in at half-time 0-4 to 0-2 in front following a first half that was dominated by defences at O’Donnell Park.
O’Donnell kicked three-quarters of St Eunan’s first half total, with McAdams and a free from Eoin McElhinney making up the total of the team from Derry city.
St Eunan’s, who won the competition the last time they entered it in 2013/14, opened their campaign last month with an uncomplicated 3-13 to 0-6 win over St Joseph’s Crossmaglen.
Marley, who scored four points last time out in Garvahey, opened the scoring in the second half before O’Donnell twisted and turned to make the score 0-6 to 0-2.
O’Donnell then, on 38 minutes, turned provider, when he played Callaghan in to shot below St Columb’s goalkeeper Dylan Doherty. That made it 1-6 to 0-2 and it was as good as it would get for St Eunan’s.
However, the visitors got back into the game when McAdams scored a penalty on 43 minutes after referee Sean McCartan penalised Matthew Gallagher in the St Eunan’s goal for over-carrying.
And then St Columb’s added points from Andy Moore and McElhinney to narrow the gap to two, 1-6 to 1-4.
O’Donnell and Caolan O’Connor traded late scores and the match appeared to be petering out.
But with three minutes left McAdams managed to bundle home a second goal, which St Eunan’s might’ve defended better after Sean Bradley had carried the fight.
O’Donnell was close to a winner twice thereafter before Marley saved the day.
St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny: Matthew Gallagher (St Eunan’s); Conor Callaghan (Glenswilly, 1-0), Mark McAteer (Glenswilly), Séan Halvey (St Eunan’s); Lee Doherty (Termon), Kevin Grant (St Eunan’s), Hugh O’Donnell (St Michael’s); Caoimhin Marley (Glenswilly, 0-2, 45), Kevin Kealy (St Eunan’s); James McSharry (Termon), Niall O’Donnell (St Eunan’s, 0-5), Ciaran Kelly (St Eunan’s 0-1); Paul O’Brien (Glenswilly), Jake Whelan (St Eunan’s), Ruairà Friel (St Michael’s). Subs: Aaron Deeney (St Eunan’s) for Grant (17), Oisin O’Boyle (St Eunan’s) for Whelan (40), Ryan McLaughlin (Glenswilly) for McSharry (48), Shane McDevitt (Glenswilly) for O’Brien (59).
St Columb’s, Derry: Dylan Doherty; Jamie Brown, Ross Stevenson, Eoghan Concannon; Cillean Higgins, Connall White, Thomas Reilly; Mark McAdams (3-1, 1-0 pen), Odhran Crumleny; Andy Moore (0-1), Sean Mortimer, Eoin McElhinney (0-2, 2f); Caolan O’Connor (0-1), Sean Bradley, Conor Feeney. Subs: Fergal Mortimer for S Mortimer (44), James Lynch for Reilly (51)
Referee: Sean McCartan.
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