FIVE LATE NAOMH CONAILL points meant that Dungloe didn’t rain on the parade at the the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Tír Chonaill semi-final in Glenties this evening.
Naomh Conaill 0-16 Dungloe 1-9
With just five minutes remaining, James McCole, the Dungloe substitute, pointed to put Tony Boyle’s side in front.
Just yards away at the other bench, Naomh Conaill’s joint-managers Martin Regan and Martin Doherty motioned to Leo McLoone and then Anthony Thompson to join the fray for the side who won the All-Ireland competition last October (pictured above).
[adrotate group=”55″]But it was Dermot Molloy who was the star of the show, kicking eight points in all for Naomh Conaill.
With Dungloe 1-9 to 0-11 in front, Naomh Conaill spun off points from Dara Gallagher, Seamus Corcoran and three from Molloy to seal a place in the final against Ardara, who had overcome Milford earlier in the day.
The miserable weather made it seem like a long way off May Bank Holiday weekend and the game itself took a little while to catch fire.
Dungloe certainly gave as good as they got to begin with and after 20 minutes the score was tied at 0-4 apiece.
[adrotate group=”48″]John O’Malley, Aaron Thompson and Marty Boyle joined Molloy on the scoreboard for the hosts, while Adrian Sweeney’s brace for Dungloe was added to by Darren Curran and Ryan Greene.
By the break, Naomh Conaill were 0-7 to 0-5 in front but right at the start of the second half Dungloe put the cat among the pigeons with a goal to turns things on their head.
Luke Neely drove past Stephen McGrath following a pass from Ryan Greene in the first minute of the second half.
[adrotate group=”45″]Suddenly the side from Rosses Park were in front. Leon Thompson and Dara Gallagher replied for Naomh Conaill, but Dungloe went 1-7 to 0-9 up when Greene and Sweeney scored on 41 minutes.
The lead jumped over and back, with Molloy posting two more for Naomh Conaill to eke them in front but Danny Rodgers, the Dungloe substitute goalkeeper, put his team back ahead with a 45 on 52 minutes.
It was really in the melting pot when McCole scored for Dungloe, for the lead again. However, those five late points sealed it for Naomh Conaill – it was a win that looked a little bit more comfortable on the scoreboard than it actually was.
[adrotate group=”61″]Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Aaron Thompson (0-1), Jason Campbell, Kevin McGettigan; Ultan Doherty, Cathal Ellis, Marty Boyle (0-1); Charlie McGuinness, Ethan O’Donnell; Eunan Doherty, Seamus Corcoran (0-1), Dara Gallagher (0-2, 1f); Dermot molloy (0-8, 4f), John O’Malley (0-2, 2f), Leon Thompson (0-1). Subs: Stephen Molloy for Ellis (44), Eoin Waide for O’Donnell (50), Leo McLoone for McGuinness (55), Anthony Thompson for U Doherty (57), O’Donnell for Corcoran (60)
Dungloe: Ciaran Sharkey; Jack Scally, Gavin Ward, Doalty Boyle; Ryan O’Donnell, Matthew Ward, Darren Curran (0-2); Raymond Sweeney, Luke Neely (1-0); Owen Scally, Adam Neely, Hugh Moy; Barry Curran, Adrian Sweeney (0-3, 2f), Ryan Greene (0-3, 2f). Subs: Danny Rodgers (0-1, 45) for Sharkey (half-time), Caolan Ward for A Sweeney (45), James McCole (0-1) for Ward (50), David McCarron for O Scally (52)
Referee: Liam McConigley (Downings)
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