A LAST-GASP free by Brendan McNelis saw Ardara defeat Glenswilly and get Seamus Gallagher’s tenure off to a winning start.
Ardara 0-09 Glenswilly 1-05
In a tepid contest at Pearse Memorial Park, a string of saves by the Glenswilly goalkeeper, James Gallagher, kept the visitors in the game, but Ardara eked out the win.
The game clock was in its final minute when McNelis sailed over from 45 metres to keep the points in Kentucky.
Darren McGinley’s goal in the first half had Glenswilly in front 1-2 to 0-4 at half-time, but they didn’t score for 20 second-half minute.
And while Michael Murphy (2) and Gary McFadden posted late points, McNelis was the hero of the hour for the home side.
Gallagher, a former Celtic youth goalkeeper who has played for Finn Harps and St Patrick’s Athletic but is now the Donegal senior team’s goalkeeping coach, has signed for Glenswilly for this campaign.
And the expereinced netminder showed his worth just two minutes in when he pulled off a stunning double save to deny, first, Ryan Melly and then Gareth Concarr after a neat Ardara move.
Concarr was in again, but Glenswilly held him at bay.
Ardara created several goal chances in the first half, but could find no way to breach Gallagher’s line.
At the other end, Glenswilly broke through and bagged a goal. That came in the 22nd minute when a good exchange of passes between Murphy and McGinley concluded with the latter firing high to the net beyond Cathal Gallagher, the Ardara goalkeeper.
McFadden’s free early on was the only score for 17 minutes before McNelis’s pair of frees put Ardara in front.
That came after a four-man Glenswilly move set up Ciaran Bonner, but the former county man was thwarted by Oisin O’Donnell.
Ardara were in again, but Joe Melly blasted wide after good build-up play by Ryan Melly and CJ Molloy.
Jack Brennan tacked on a point and with the last action of the opening half, Gallagher kept the sheet clean again when he wonderfully turned a close-range Ryan Malley shot over the crossbar.
Malley might feel as if he should have netted, but Gallagher’s agility saw him turn the ball over in style and a McFadden free sent Glenswilly in 1-2 to 0-4 ahead at half-time.
Gareth Concarr (2) and Conor Classon inched Ardara in front with Concarr seeing a shot deflect onto the post and at the other end Caolan Kelly fed Bonner, but his effort was wide.
Just when it looked as if the spoils would be shared, McNelis hit what proved to be the match winner.
Ardara: Cathal Gallagher; Oisin O’Donnell, Declan Gallagher, Kevin Breslin; Johnny Herron, Paddy McGrath, Nicholas Breslin; Conor Classon (0-1), Brendan McNelis (0-3, 3f); Nicholas Maguire, CJ Molloy, Ryan Malley (0-1); Joe Melly, Gareth Concarr (0-2, 2f), Jack Brennan (0-1). Subs: Kevin Herron for J.Melly (41), Kieran Breslin for Brennan (54).
Glenswilly: James Gallagher; Mark McAteer, Eamon Ward, Aidan McDevitt; Cathal Gallagher, Ryan Diver, Paddy Diver; Ciaran Bonner, Caoimhin Marley; Gary McFadden (0-3, 3f), Christopher McMonagle, Ciaran Gibbons; Darren McGinley (1-0), Michael Murphy (0-2, 1f), Caolan Kelly. Subs: James Pat McDaid for R.Diver (26), Kealan McFadden for Marley (41), Philip O’Donnell for Kelly (49), Conor Boyce for McDaid (51).
Referee: Robbie O’Donnell (Naomh Muire)
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