Conor McBride’e 44th minute penalty fired Glenfin to a derby win over Sean MacCumhaills and into the U21 semi-finals.
Sean MacCumhaills 0-9 Glenfin 1-8
by Chris McNulty at Sean MacCumhaill Park
McBride blasted home midway through the second half for the big score of a keenly-contested clash and means Glenfin will face Naomh Conaill in one of the U21 semis.
Stephen Carr’s free, four minutes from the end, had Glenfin five up and they were good value for their advantage.
Glenfin led 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time and two points from athlete-turned-footballer Aaron McGlynn had the An Gaeltacht Lár men three to the good.
While Oisin Gallen stemmed the flow, squeezing, just, inside the upright, McBride’s penalty sent Glenfin on their way. McBride riffled home after Kyle O’Meara was taken down by Cian Gallen, the MacCumhaills ‘keeper.
A booming 45-metre free from Joel Bradley-Walsh – one of the heroes for Finn Harps in Saturday’s U17 League final win over Shamrock Rovers – put MacCumhaills 0-3 to 0-2 in front by the tenth minute, but the early flurry soon wilted.
Conor McBride and Jason Morrow hit scores for Glenfin in between points from Nathan Gavigan and Padhraic Patton for the hosts.
Chad McSorely ended a 13-minute scoreless spell for both teams when he fisted over after shrugging off the close attention of a couple of Glenfin defenders.
Glenfin came into this one with their confidence brimming on the back of their dethroning of the reigning champions Gaoth Dobhair 48 hours previously. Goals on Saturday by Cian McGlynn and Jason Morrow handed Glenfin an excellent 2-11 to 0-6 win to tee up this Bank Holiday Monday derby clash by the Finn.
It took a wonder save from Cian Gallen, at point blank range, to keep the MacCumhaills sheet clean, as he repelled a stinging effort by Karl McGlynn, who profited when McBride cleverly knocked Kyle Doherty’s ball into his path.
Glenfin recycled and Aodhfin McGlynn struck Glenfin’s first in almost 21 minutes. McBride converted a close-range free soon after and Glenfin were level.
Carr’s free had Glenfin in front and they ought to have had a goal when they broke from the subsequent kick-out. Karl McGlynn fed in for McBride, who seemed set to fire home, but his co-ordinates were off and MacCumhaills, somehow, survived.
McBride wouldn’t be denied from the spot in part two and, with MacCumhaills scoreless for 18 minute, the visitors were on their way.
They had to endure some late nerves, though. A trio of Oisin Gallen frees, the last of them deflecting over off a Glenfin defender, inched MacCumhaills – who had Joe Boyle sent off in the dying seconds – closer, but Glenfin had the work done.
Sean MacCumhaills: Cian Gallen; Joe Boyle, Aaron Gillooley, Christopher Gallagher; Adam Lynch, Luke Gavigan (0-1), Rory Mulligan; Padhraic Patton (0-1), Nathan Gavigan (0-1); Fintan Griffin, Oisin Gallen (0-4, 3f), Jack McGeehan; Jamie Keegan, Chad McSorely (0-1), Joel Bradley-Walsh (0-1f). Sub: Ryan Finn for McGeehan (half-time).
Glenfin: Liam O’Meara; Ross Marley, Packie McGrath, Shane O’Donnell; Matthew McGinley, Aodhfin McGlynn (0-1), Stephen Carr (0-1f); Kyle Doherty, Jason Morrow (0-1); Daithi Carr, Karl McGlynn, Aaron McGlynn (0-2); Kyle O’Meara, Conor McBride (1-2, 1-0pen, 2f), Odhran McGlynn. Subs: Cian McGlynn for O.McGlynn (47), Darren Marley for McGinley (58), Jack Marley for K.O’Meara (60), Adam Marley for D.Carr (60).
Referee: Niall McCready (Aodh Ruadh).
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