GAOTH DOBHAIR eked their way into the Michael Murphy Sports Senior B Championship final after prising their way past Ardara.
Gaoth Dobhair 2-9 Ardara 1-10
The teams were level six times in all and it was only when Eamonn Collum swung over with just over a minute to go that Gaoth Dobhair took the lead for the final time.
Ardara did have a chance to level it, but Paul Watters’ free tailed to the left and in the ensuing panic referee Enda McFeely awarded a free out in favour of Gaoth Dobhair.
[adrotate group=”86″]Gaoth Dobhair scored three points in the closing moments to win it. A point by veteran James Gallagher – who won a Dr Maguire with the Gaoth Dobhair seniors ten years ago – leveled it up and Collum scored twice to clinch the win for the men in green and white.
The day had begun with one of the goals of the weekend by Ardara.
The Pearse Park men were awarded a 20-metre free in the eighth minute.
[adrotate group=”85″]With no-one in the ground even considering that a goal was on, Gildea promptly sailed his shot over Gaoth Dobhair goalkeeper Charles John Doherty and into the top corner.
It was certainly a rather audacious effort from Gildea, but he got the co-ordinates spot on as his effort was bang on the money.
Gaoth Dobhair came into this following a derby win over west Donegal foes Dungloe last weekend while Ardara were comfortable winners in their last eight tie with Sean MacCumhaills.
[adrotate group=”38″]Gaoth Dobhair hit the front after just 28 seconds when Collum neatly clipped over, but by then the Magheragallon men were already having to make a change.
Centre-back Christopher McFadden went down right from the throw-up and had to be replaced. His withdrawal was a big blow, but when Doherty hammered to the net from close-range it steadied them.
Doherty was quickest to react when Gallagher’s delicate free broke down in the danger zone.
[adrotate group=”82″]Gildea’s cheeky goal, after he stuck over a point seconds beforehand, brought Ardara back onto level terms and Gildea drilled over another free to put the Pearse Park side in front.
The game was scoreless for 15 minutes before Micheál Roarty tied things up, although Paul Watters’ free and Peter McHugh’s point, both in added time, meant that Ardara were ahead, 1-4 to 1-2, at the break.
The teams were tit-for-tat at the beginning of the second half with Collum and McHugh and then Neasán Mac Giolla BhrÃde and Gerard McCabe exchanging points.
[adrotate group=”83″]The pendulum swung in Gaoth Dobhair’s favour when Ferry-McFadden netted, but Gildea took Ardara back level with a free soon after and the fixture was on a knife edge.
With ten minutes remaining, there was nothing between them as frees by Gildea and Watters were converted either end of a point by Gaoth Dobhair midfielder Dan McBride.
It was anyone’s game in the closing chapter before Gaoth Dobhair, finally, got their noses in front.
Gaoth Dobhair: Charlies John Doherty; Sean McGarvey, Hugh Boyle, James Boyle; Jamie Boyle, Christopher McFadden, Ryan Kelly; Dan McBride (0-1), Odhrán Ferry-McFadden (1-0); Micheál Roarty (0-1), James Gallagher (0-1, 1f), Conor McCafferty; Conor Boyle, Sean Doherty (1-0), Eamonn Collum (0-4). Subs: Neasán Mac Giolla BhrÃde (0-1) for McFadden (4), Paul Mulligan (0-1) for Roarty (21), James Sweeney for McGarvey (37), Dylan O’Donnell for Kelly (52), Sean Boyle for C.Boyle (60).
Ardara: Patrick Gavigan; Harry Hennigan, Eamon Breslin, Tony Harkin (0-1); Daniel Breslin, Oisin O’Donnell, Conor Gallagher; Francis Boyle, Joe McLaughlin; Paul Watters (0-3, 3f), Brendan Boyle, Martin Shovlin; Stephen Gildea (1-3, 1-2f), Peter McHugh (0-2), Declan Gallagher. Subs: Gerard McCabe (0-1) for McLaughlin (half-time), Simon Breslin for D.Breslin (38), Kelvin Slowey for Gallagher (52), Stephen Boyle for S.Gildea (56).
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy).
Tags: