LETTERKENNY GAELS WON through at the expense of Naomh Colmcille in the U-21B Championship after a lively affair this afternoon.
Letterkenny Gaels 1-14 Naomh Colmcille 1-11
The side from the Glebe finished the strongest to set up a final meeting with Killybegs, who overcame Bundoran in the other semi-final.
Photo caption: The Letterkenny Gaels side who enjoyed victory over Naomh Colmcille in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal County Under-21B semi-final at O’Donnell Park this afternoon
In an open and entertaining match at O’Donnell Park this afternoon the margins between Letterkennny Gaels and Naomh Colmcille were thin for long spells.
[adrotate group=”85″]At half-time the scores were level with Gaels’ 1-5 equalling the Newtowncunningham team’s 0-8.
That opening goal came on 14 minutes came from Donal O’Malley, who outjumped goalkeeper Gary McDaid after a lobbed ball by Pat Doherty.
[adrotate group=”53″]That made the score 1-3 to 0-3 for Gaels, having initially trailed 0-3 to 0-0 with Conor Grant, Daniel Clarke and Reece Duncan scoring the first three points for Naomh Colmcille.
The lead was almost greater as Oran Hilley passed up on a goal chance when he was unfortunate to hit the post and then Dylan McLaughlin palmed wide from the follow-up.
Naomh Colmcille
Two Shay Doherty points and one from Cormac Cannon got Letterkenny Gaels on terms before Conor Browne denied Naomh Colmcille’s Conor Grant with a daring block that prevented a certain goal.
Gaels then scored a goal and when Sean McDonagh and Cannon put over points – either side of Michael Lynch scoring for Naomh Colmcille – it was the side in the maroon who were 1-5 to 0-4 in front.
However, Naomh Colmcille finished the half strongly and fired over four points in a row, two from Daniel Clarke and one apiece courtesy of Conor Matthewson and David McNamee to level it all square at half time.
In the second half, again the contest ebbed and flowed. Cannon, Doherty and goalkeeper Shane Graham scored on the bounce to put Letterkenny Gaels three in front, 1-8 to 0-8.
On 41 minutes, though, the scores were again level when Lynch scored a penalty for Naomh Colmcille after a foot block on Barry Gallagher – Letterkenny Gaels 1-8 Naomh Colmcille 1-8.
[adrotate group=”81″]An excellent long range point from Pat Doherty edged Letterkenny Gaels one in front and then Cannon doubled the lead. Kevin Gallagher pulled one back for Naomh Colmcille.
But it was Letterkenny Gaels who started to press the accelerator in the final 10 minutes. Kevin Holian popped up with two quickfire points and suddenly, it was 1-12 to 1-9.
And although points were traded then at either end – Michael Friel and Clarke for Naomh Colmcille and McDonagh and Doherty for Letterkenny Gaels – that three-point margin remained.
[adrotate group=”37″]Letterkenny Gaels: Shane Graham (0-1, 45); Brian Diver, Conor Browne, Cahir Doherty; Anthony Diver, Conor Coll, Aaron Diver; Pat Doherty (0-1), Eoin Kelly; Donal O’Malley (1-0), Shay Doherty (0-4), Joe Friel; Cormac Cannon (0-4, 2f), Aidan Hanley, Sean McDonagh (0-2). Subs: Eoin Harkin and Kevin Holian (0-2) for O’Malley and Hanley (half-time), Sean Boyle for Harkin (56)
Naomh Colmcille: Gary McDaid; Jordan McDaid, Michael Friel (0-1), Kevin Gallagher (0-1); Stephen Gallagher, Oran Hilley, Cormac Friel; Daniel Clarke (0-4), Conor Grant (0-1); Reece Duncan (0-1), Conor Matthewson (0-1), David McNamee (0-1); Michael Lynch (1-1, 1-0 pen), Dylan McLaughlin, Philip Doran. Subs: Jason Quinn for McLaughlin (28), Barry Gallageher for McNamee (36), Barry Gallagher for Friel (42), Lewis Cole for Duncan (50)
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