DAIRE McDaid’s free in the 66th minute earned Termon a dramatic draw against Naomh Muire at The Banks.
Naomh Muire 0-15 Termon 1-12
With the match clock well into added time, McDaid (pictured above) held his nerve to pop over ten metres in from the sideline after Joe English was fouled.
Termon had come from six down in the first half to lead 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time and Ricky Gallagher’s goal was a huge boost to the Burn Road men in the second half.
With Harry Harden and Darragh White on song, Naomh Muire looked to have sneaked it, but Termon snatched a draw from defeat’s jaws.
After Christy Connaghan’s free gave Termon a third-minute lead, Naomh Muire took charge with Harden (2) and Hugh Boyle hitting scores.
Naomh Muire could have pulled well clear but for the intervention of Termon’s stand-in goalkeeper Noel O’Donnell.
With Michael Boyle in America, Paddy McDaid, the Termon player-manager, has called in O’Donnell, who is better known for his exploits on the soccer field through his playing as a centre-back for the Irish Deaf Team.
O’Donnell saw a kick-out go horribly awry.
The kick went straight into Hugh Boyle’s arms, but O’Donnell redeemed himself with a superb one-handed save that prevented a certain goal.
O’Donnell was at it again less than a minute later whem, after Dan Gallagher’s lofted delivery found Boyle, the forward was thwarted by another magnificent block from the Termon ‘keeper.
Naomh Muire hit four in a row between the 14th and 20th minutes with Sean Boyle, Brian Gillespie and two from Harden putting them 0-7 to 0-1 in front.
Termon took charge and completely turned the tables in the final ten minutes of the half.
Daire McDaid clipped over three points, two of them from play, while Steve McElwaine, Gallagher and veteran
Johnny McCafferty scored to even the scores.
Late in the half, Connaghan drilled over to put Termon 0-8 to 0-7 ahead.
Harden and Sean Boyle restored the Naomh Muire lead, only for Paddy McDaid to level it up.
Termon struck gold eight minutes into the new half. McCafferty was surging through, but the ball broke away and Austin Marron’s follow-up was well saved by Lee Boyle, only for Ricky Gallagher to riffle home to the roof of the net.
Naomh Muire hit the next four points with Harden and White getting two apiece.
Daireann Gibson and Sean Boyle traded scores before Hugh Boyle looked to have sealed a win for Gary Boyle’s team.
Connaghan teed up a nervy finish and right on the blow Daire McDaid proved to be Termon’s saviour.
Naomh Muire: Lee Boyle; Patrick Rodgers, Tomas Duffy, Robbie O’Donnell; Adi O’Gara, Brian Gillespie (0-1), Jamie Boyle; Patrick Gillespie, Jack O’Brien; Darragh White (0-2, 1f), Sean Burns, Dan Gallagher; Harry Harden (0-6, 3f), Hugh Boyle (0-2), Sean Boyle (0-4). Subs: Paul Boyle for Gallagher (33), Patrick McCafferty for J.Boyle (33), Adam O’Brien for Duffy (45), Cian Boyle for Harden (63).
Termon: Noel O’Donnell; Fintan O’Flynn, Christy Connaghan (0-3, 1f), Jimmy Gallagher; Daire McDaid (0-4, 3f), Johnny McCafferty (0-1), Ricky Gallagher (1-1); Declan O’Donnell, Ollie Doherty; Nathan Fowler, Kevin McElwaine, Paddy McDaid (0-1); Caolan Mellett, Steve McElwaine (0-1), Kevin McDaid. Subs: Austin Marron for Mellett (18), Daireann Gibson (0-1) for K.McElwaine (38), Joe English for S.McElwaine (54).
Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill)
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