Naomh Conaill opened their Championship account with an impressive victory over Killybegs on Sunday at Davy Brennan Memorial Park.
Naomh Conaill 1-15 Killybegs 1-09
Naomh Conaill were favourites to win before the fixture but Killybegs, who were recently clinched promotion to Division One, proved to be no pushovers.
Noamh Conaill played with the breeze in the opening half and led by 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time.
Killybegs got the opening two points with Michael Statham and Paul Cunningham from open play in the first six minutes.
Naomh Conaill, after a slow start, took control and scores seven points in a row to lead 0-7 to 0-9.
However, the home side should have been further ahead in the opening half hour as they saw six efforts glide wide before the break.
And Killybegs made the most of Naomh Conaill profligacy as they got within touching distance through Hugh McFadden and Michael Gallagher.
Shortly after the restart, Naomh Conaill took real charge of the tie as they scored a further six points, with Brendan McDyer and Charles McGuinness on target.
Michael Gallagher scored a fine point from open play after 36 minutes to make it a nine-point game, but Naomh Conaill pulled further away after 44 minutes.
A short 45 taken by Ciaran Thompson to Anthony Thompson resulted in effort dropping into the path of Kieran Gallagher who fisted into the net.
Six minutes later, 12 points behind, Killybegs got a goal of their own when John Ban Gallagher’s deflected effort went beyond Stephen McGrath goalkeeper Stephen McGrath.
To the Killybegs credit, despite conceding another point, they fought hard to the end, scoring a further four points before the end.
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath, Ultan Doherty, A J Gallagher, Hughie Gallagher, Ethan O Donnell , Anthony Thompson (0-02), Eoin Waide, Ciaran Thompson (0-01), Jeaic McKelvey (0-01), Brendan McDyer (0-03), Eoghan McGettigan (0-02), Marty Boyle, Dermot Molloy, Charles McGuinness (0-05 4f), Leo McLoone (0-01).
Subs: Kieran Gallagher (1-00) for Boyle (h/t), Nathan Byrne and Seamus Corcoran for O Donnell and Molloy ( 45mins ), O Donnell for McKelvey ( 62mins ).
Killybegs: Kevin Martin , Cillian Gildea, Ciaran Conaghan, Paul McGinley , John Ban Gallager (1-00 ), Jack McSharry , Ryan Carr, Hugh Mc Fadden ( 0-02f’s ), Christopher Murrin, Michael Statham (0-01 ), Daniel Breslin, Michael Gallagher (0-02 ), Ryan Cunningham, Paul Cunningham ( 0-02 ), Conor Cunningham (0-01)
Subs: Evan Broderick for Conor Cunningham, Shaun Gorrell (0-01) for Ryan Cunningham (53mins).
Referee: Robbie O Donnell
