A late Odhran MacNiallais goal scraped a Gaoth Dobhair draw against St Eunan’s in a low-scoring clash in Group A of the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure SFC.
Gaoth Dobhair 1-3 St Eunan’s 0-6
Last year, a one-point win for Gaoth Dobhair in Letterkenny paved the way for a first Donegal SFC in 12 year and a first Ulster ever.
Today, they were not anywhere near the form that took them to provincial glory and to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Corofin. However, they showed resolution and they showed experience to edge a draw a St Eunan’s side who caused them a lot more problems that many had expected.
It was 0-6 to 0-2 for St Eunan’s with 15 minutes to go and although Michael Carroll posted a first Gaoth Dobhair score in half an hour, it took MacNiallais to goal to get the draw. It came following an electrifying run from Cian Mulligan deep into opposition territory, before a cross-cum-shot from Kevin Cassidy was slapped home by MacNiallais on 52 minutes.
Late on, Eamon Doherty made a fantastic block to deny Gaoth Dobahir a win that they mightn’t have deserved and Gavin McBride, a second half substitute, shot wide.
It ended all square.
Ten points for Mervyn O’Donnell’s team was enough to overcome the 1-6 St Eunan’s mustered in the O’Donnell Park sunshine 12 months ago and in the first half today, scores were few and far between with both teams very deliberate in their approach. It was chess in coloured jerseys with a cloud-topped Errigal providing the drizzling backdrop.
Whatever wind there was favoured the visitors initially, who were under the stewardship of Richard Thornton for the first time at this level. The team from Letterkenny went in 0-4 to 0-2 in front at the break.
Milligan had opened the scoring and then McNiallais demonstrated his local knowledge to expertly steer over a 45 for 0-2 to 0-1 for Gaoth Dobhair on 16 minutes.
That 45 came after the first real warning sign for St Eunan’s when Shaun Patton had to dart from his line to save from Cassidy, who again was positioned in the inside forward line.
St Eunan’s weren’t lighting the blue-touch paper but their pressing of kick-outs and willingness to funnel back in numbers made Gaoth Dobhair think on their feet. Niall O’Donnell ended up with three first half points – two frees and one beauty from the sideline with little of no angle to aim at – and Darragh Mulgrew also scored.
A 0-4 to 0-2 lead wasn’t a bad one, although there might’ve been a goal when Rory Carr struck the post and O’Donnell was denied by goalkeeper Christopher Sweeney on the rebound before Neil McGee made the all-important clearance.
With the elements at their back Gaoth Dobhair pressed from early in the second half and missed a couple of chances before Caolan Ward pointed at the other end.
The home side intercepted a Patton kick-out 35 metres from goal and at pace, ran at pace and from MacNiallais’s pass Naoise O Baoill fed his cousin Daire, only for the Donegal goalkeeper to stand firm and save.
St Eunan’s were coping well with the patient style as the clock kept ticking since Gaoth Dobhair’s last score, which came in the 16thminute and their shot selection was poor under pressure. Niall O’Donnell added another free to make it 0-6 to 0-2 on 38 minutes.
The home support did have reason to cheer with Kieran Gillespie coming off the bench and making an appearance for the first time since the opening seconds of the Ulster SFC club championship meeting with Erin’s Own at Corrigan Park in Belfast last year with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Michael Carroll, on 46 minutes, finally ended Gaoth Dobhair’s barren half-hour spell in front of goal as Rory Kavanagh, who was on a yellow, was substituted for St Eunan’s. The Gaeltacht team still trailed by 0-6 to 0-3 but they pulled it from the bag thanks for MacNiallais in the match they possibly should’ve lost but could’ve won.
Gaoth Dobhair:Christopher Sweeney; Gary McFadden, Neil McGee, Christopher McFadden; Niall Friel, Dan McBride, Odhran McFadden-Ferry; Michael Carroll, Eamon McGee; Daire O Baoill, Odhran MacNiallais (0-1, ‘45’), Cian Mulligan (0-1); Ethan Harkin, Kevin Cassidy, Naoise O Baoill. Subs Kieran Gillespie for McFadden-Ferry (41), Gavin McBride for Harkin (53), Jamie Doherty for McGeehin (60)
Gaoth Dobhair:Christopher Sweeney; Gary McFadden, Neil McGee, Christopher McFadden; Niall Friel, Dan McBride, Odhran McFadden-Ferry; Michael Carroll (0-1), Eamon McGee; Daire O Baoill, Odhran MacNiallais (1-1, ‘45’), Cian Mulligan (0-1); Ethan Harkin, Kevin Cassidy, Naoise O Baoill. Subs Kieran Gillespie for McFadden-Ferry (41), Gavin McBride for Harkin (53), Jamie Doherty for McGeehin (60)
St Eunan’s:Shaun Patton; Aaron Deeney, Conor Morrison, Caolan Ward (0-1); Conor Parke, Rory Kavanagh, Darragh Mulgew (0-1); Eamon Doherty, Sean McGettigan; Conor O’Donnell, John Kelly, Brian McIntyre; Niall O’Donnell (0-4, 3f), Rory Carr, Eoin McGeehin. Subs: Peter McEniff for Carr (42), Sean McVeigh for Kavanagh (46), Seaghan Ferry for N O Baoill (60)R
Referee:Enda McFeely (St Mary’s Convoy)
