A MORE economical second half saw Sean Mac Cumhaills pull away from derby foes Glenfin as Gaelic football returned from the Covid-19 shutdown.
Sean Mac Cumhaills 0-14 Glenfin 0-10
By Chris McNulty at Sean Mac Cumhaill Park
With only 105 spectators permitted due to the government restrictions, Sean MacCumhaill Park was at just 0.6 per cent of its capacity.
The all-ticket affair was well managed by the hosts with 63 supporters from MacCumhaills and 42 from Glenfin.
Some took the option of peering from behind the fence at the River End with another family availing of a bay window at the rear of the Balor Theatre, which neatly overlooks the Ballybofey venue.
With two points, one from a mark, by Donegal ace Oisin Gallen, MacCumhaills moved 0-4 to 0-1 ahead early on.
A super long-range point by Jamie Keegan pushed MacCumhaills further ahead, but Glenfin hit back and a chipped effort by Ciaran Brady had them in front for the first time, 0-7 to 0-6.
Gerard Ward helped to bring Glenfin back into it, while Gavin McDermott weighed in with a neat score.
Nathan Gavigan arrowed over to draw MacCumhaills level just before the break.
The hosts are now under the watch of Paul Rouse and Seosamh Mac CeallabhuÃ, whose tenure belatedly got underway with this timid tussle.
MacCumhaills had a fine start to the second half with Luke Gavigan, Gary Wilson and Steven O’Reilly opening up a three-point lead.
Gerard Ward and Odhrán McGlynn inched Glenfin back, but when MacCumhaills hit three in a row, via Gallen (2) and Keegan, the curtains could be drawn.
Sub Darren O’Leary crashed off a post with a goal chance, but his late point secured a four-point win.
Sean Mac Cumhaills: Eoin Gallen; Christopher Gallagher, Ronan McMenamin, Martin Gallagher; Gary Wilson (0-1), Luke Gavigan (0-1), Gavin Gallagher; Nathan Gavigan (0-1), Padhraic Patton (0-1); Chad McSorley (0-2), Jamie Keegan (0-2), Aaron Kelly; Martin O’Reilly, Oisin Gallen (0-4, 2m), Steven O’Reilly (0-1). Subs: Ryan Finn for M.O’Reilly (half-time), Darren O’Leary (0-1) for McSorley (55), Michael Lynch for Finn (55), Carl Dunnion for S.O’Reilly (58).
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh; Martin O’Donnell, Ross Marley, Gary Herron; Odhrán McGlynn (0-1), Gavin McDermott (0-1), John Harkin (0-1(; Frank McGlynn, Stephen Ward; Eoin Donnellan, Gerard Ward (0-5, 4f), Carl McGlynn (0-1); Kyle O’Meara, Jason Morrow, Ciaran Brady (0-1). Subs: Daniel McGlynn for Brady (36), Darren Marley for McDermott (43), Ronan Carolan for O’Meara (49), Gary Dorrian for Donnellan (55).
Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Ruadh).
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