McLoone goals gives Naomh Conaill victory, denying Glenswilly a quarter-final

A GOAL by Leo McLoone in the first minute of the second-half proved to be the vital score in this excellent contest in Pairc Naomh Columba.

Glenswilly 0-15 Naomh Conaill 1-15

By Charlie Collins at Pairc Naomh Columba

Glenswilly’s Caolan Kelly had made an fine interception but was quickly closed down. As he tried  to break forward, his attempted hand pass was blocked by McLoone, who had a clear pathway to goal and he blasted the ball to the net to give his team a five-point lead.

When Kieran Gallagher added his third point from play a minute later to make it a six point game, 0-8 to 1-11, the writing looked to be on the wall for Glenswilly.

To their credit, they didn’t see it that way and we had a very exciting second-half to enjoy.                                                                                                                             Naomh Conaill led by two at half-time, 0-10 to 0-8, after a keenly contested opening half where there was never more than two points between them.

Shane McDevitt and Michael Murphy got the home team off to a flying start with points in the first minute, but Ethan O’Donnell and John O’Malley soon had the visitors on level terms.

Murphy restored the Glenswilly lead but three in a row from Dermot Molloy, Odhran Doherty and Kieran Gallagher had Naomh Conaill ahead for the first time.

Caoimhinn Marley’s point left it 0-4 to 0-5 at the water break.

Two Michael Murphy frees and another from Gallagher in between those left it level again at 0-6 each.

Kevin McGettigan and Odhran Doherty’s second put the visitors two ahead but back came Glenswilly with top class scores from play, but Caolan Kelly and Murphy hit back and again it was level at 0-8 each.

Naomh Conaill had the final say of the first-half with points from Leo McLoone and the excellent Keelin McGill to lead by two at the break.

McLoone’s goal and Gallagher’s point at the start of the half made it a six-point gap but three quick points from Murphy, Mark McAteer and Shaun Wogan had Glenswilly back in it quickly, 0-11 to 1-11.

The home team kept pressing and could have been level in the 39th minute. A sweeping move from defence ended with Michael Murphy’s hand pass across the goalmouth to Shane McDevitt. Under pressure, he still got a good strike away, but it crashed off the crossbar; a big let-off for Naomh Conaill.

Murphy’s point left just two in it. Dermot Molloy and McGill added two and in between those McDevitt pointed.

Shane McDaid came forward to make it a two-point game yet again, but two Charles McGuinness frees edged the Glenties men four ahead.

Glenswilly threw everything they had at it in the dying minutes but had to settle for a Murphy free as they came up short and narrowly missed out on a quarter-final spot.

Glenswilly: Kealan McFadden; Mark McAteer (0-1), Ruairi Crawford, Sean Collum; Cormac Callaghan, Shane McDaid (0-1), Jake Kelly; Michael Murphy (0-08, 2f, 2m), Leigh Crerand; Sean Wogan (0-1); Caoimhin Marley (0-1), Keelin Dunleavy; Shane McDevitt (0-2, 1f), Gary McFadden, Caolan Kelly (0-1). Subs: Ryan Diver for Caolan Kelly (45), Oisin Crawford (55).

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, Odhran Doherty (0-2), Kevin McGettigan (0-1); Eunan Doherty, Keelin McGill (0-2), Ethan O’Donnell (0-1); Kieran Brennan, Marty Boyle; Seamus Corcoran, Kieran Gallagher (0-3), John O’Malley (0-1); Dermot Molloy (0-2, 1f), Charles McGuinness (0-2f), Leo McLoone (1-1). Subs: Nathan Byrne for Boyle (h/t), Jason Campbell for Brennan (42), Eoin Waide and Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for Corcoran and McLoone (45), Daniel Gildea for O’Malley (48).

Referee: James Conners (St.Eunans).