NAOMH COLMCILLE WERE DENIED last Sunday as two late Gaeil Fhánada points sent the All Sports Donegal Intermediate Football Championship semi-final to a replay – but the Newtowncunningham-based club is no stranger to semi-final replays.
During Stephen Friel’s term as manager at Pairc Colmcille, they were in a Junior Final semi-final replay in 2010 and an Intermediate Championship semi-final replay in 2011. They were also in an Intermediate semi-final replay in 2012, when Joe Higgins was their manager.
They got over the line against Burt in 2010 and went on to win the Junior Championship, but they were stopped in their tracks by Naomh Columba and Aodh Ruadh in the Intermediate semi-finals.
Picture caption: Eddie Gillespie on the attack against Gaeil Fhánada in Sunday’s semi-final.
Now under the charge of Francie Martin, the red and white brigade are hoping that it’s a case of third time lucky this Sunday when they square up to Gaeil Fhánada at O’Donnell Park (throw-in 2pm).
Martin can still call on plenty of survivors from the 2010 Junior Championship-winning side with the likes of Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Gerard Curran, Ciaran Devine, Ryan McKinley, Ryan McErlean, Joe Donaghy and Eddie Gillespie all having lined out against Burt five years ago.
Here’s their previous semi-final outings that have gone to replays:
2010 Junior A semi-final – O’Donnell Park – Naomh Colmcille 2-04 Burt 1-07
BARRY O’HAGAN, a member of the All-Ireland winning Armagh panel of 2003, kicked the equalising score to rescue the day for Naomh Colmcille.
It was from a hotly-disputed free that O’Hagan arched over and cancel out a score by Ciaran Dowds that seemed to have won it for Burt.
A goal from Ryan McErlean three minutes into the second-half had Naomh Colmcille 2-2 to 0-3 in front, with sub Stephen Davenport having bagged the first-half major.
But Friel’s men – who lost the Curran brothers, Gerard and Cathal, to injuries inside the opening six minutes – went off the boil and failed to score until O’Hagan landed a free in the final minute of normal time.
Naomh Colmcille: Marty Callaghan; Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Paul McGill; Thomas McKinley, Cathal Curran, Gerard Curran; Richard Clarke, Ciaran Devine; Ryan McKinley, Barry O’Hagan (0-4, 4f), Anthony Grant; Ryan McErlean (1-0), Joe Donaghy, Ciaran Callaghan. Subs: Stephen Davenport (1-0) for G.Curran (4); Mark Callaghan for C.Curran (6); Eddie Gillespie for Grant (49).
2010 Junior A semi-final replay – O’Donnell Park – Naomh Colmcille 0-10 Burt 0-08
Goalmouth action from their game against Burt
AGAIN, there was nothing between them as Paul McHugh’s 45-metre free sent the game to extra time with the final swing of a boot in normal time.
O’Hagan inspired Naomh Colmcille to the win, scoring five points and popping up with interventions all over the field.
Naomh Colmcille led 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time and when O’Hagan, Ciaran Devine and O’Hagan, again, pointed, they looked to have won it, only for McHugh to set up an additional 20 minutes.
In the extra period, it was Naomh Colmcille who took command. Sub Patrick O’Donnell put them ahead before a brilliant move concluded with Ciaran Callaghan knocking over and Ryan McErlean raised the roof with the clincher.
Naomh Colmcille: Marty Callaghan; Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Paul McGill; Gerard Curran, Anthony Grant, Thomas McKinley; Richard Clarke, Ciaran Devine (0-1); Ryan McKinley, Barry O’Hagan (0-5, 3f), Stephen Davenport; Ryan McErlean (0-1), Joe Donaghey, Ciaran Callaghan (0-2). Subs: Patrick O’Donnell (0-1) for R.McKinley (47); Mark Callaghan for Davenport (59); Eddie Gillespie for Curran (70); Barry McDaid for McErlean (78).
2011 Intermediate semi-final – Tir Chonaill Park – Naomh Colmcille 0-08 Naomh Columba 0-08
Ryan McErlean charges after Noel Hegarty
NAOMH COLMCILLE were denied a famous win as Noel Hegarty came off the bench to rescue a second bite at the cherry for Naomh Columba.
A rip-roaring first 20 minutes had Naomh Colmcille 0-5 to 0-1 ahead and they were two ahead with just a minute of normal time remaining – when Hegarty struck two decisive points to earn Glen a replay.
During the second half, Joe Donaghy cleared off the goal line from Declan McGuire and Alex Devenney, somehow, scrambled away to prevent Dara O’Donnell from netting.
Willie Gillespie hit the side netting for Naomh Colmcille, who looked liked holding on until 1992 All-Ireland winner Hegarty stepped up to draw the game.
Naomh Colmcille: Marty Callaghan; Mark Callaghan, Alex Devenney, Paul Friel; Gerard Curran, Anthony Grant, Thomas McKinley; Ryan McErlean, Ciaran Devine; Eddie Gillespie, Barry O’Hagan (0-4, 2f), Ciaran Callaghan (0-1); Willie Gillespie, Matthew Crossan (0-3), Joe Donaghy. Sub: Ryan McKinley for E.Gillespie (40).
2011 Intermediate semi-final replay – Tir Chonaill Park – Naomh Colmcille 0-07 Naomh Columba 0-10
High fielding action in the replay
THIS one swung Naomh Columba’s way in the final ten minutes of the first half.
It was a ferocious conclusion to the opening stanza and Glen led 0-6 to 0-3 as they parted ways.
Naomh Colmcille lost midfielder Andrew Clarke to a red card three minutes before half-time and it was a decision that irked Friel afterwards.
‘Astounded’ was how he described his emotions.
“We have trained over 80 times tyis year and we have been out early in the morning so it’s terrible that our season comes down to a decision like that,” he said.
The McGuire brothers, Dermot and Declan, stretched the margin and Marty Callaghan denied Dara O’Donnell a goal while Naomh Colmcille had two goals chances of their own, Matthew Crossan hitting the side netting and the base of a post preventing Ryan McErlean from rescuing a draw.
Naomh Colmcille: Marty Gallagher; Eddie Gillespie, Alex Devenney, Paul Friel; Gerard Curran, Mark Callaghan (0-1), Thomas McKinley (0-1); Ciaran Devine, Andrew Clarke; Ciaran Callaghan, Barry O’Hagan (0-2, 2f), Willie Gillespie; Ryan McErlean (0-1), Joe Donaghy, Matthew Crossan (0-2). Subs: Ryan McKinley for C.Callaghan (17), Ciaran Callaghan for Gillespie (38), Anthony Grant for Devine (40).
2011 Intermediate semi-final – O’Donnell Park – Naomh Colmcille 1-13 Aodh Ruadh 2-10
Matthew Crossan on the attack against Aodh Ruadh
NAOMH COLMCILLE overturned an eight-point deficit in the final 20 minutes to get another crack at Aodh Ruadh.
When Donagh McIntyre goaled, the Ballyshannon men were 2-9 to 0-8 ahead and seemingly on route to the final.
Naomh Colmcille had other ideas and their charge was led by Matthew Crossan, who landed three inspirational points. Crossan scored five in all.
The comeback was spurred when substitute Don Hegarty galloped up fire a goal past Peter Boyle.
An own goal by Shane McAteer had Aodh Ruadh 1-6 to 0-7 in front at half-time and they stretched the lead only for Naomh Colmcille to hit back.
Neither side could find a winner despite six minutes of added time being played.
Naomh Colmcille: Marty Callaghan; Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Anthony Grant; Gerard Curran, Shane McAteer, (1-0, own goal) Eddie Gillespie; Ryan McKinley, Ciaran Devine (0-1); Joe Donaghey, Mark Dowds (0-1), Ryan McErlean (0-3); Willie Gillespie (0-2), Thomas McKinley (0-1), Matthew Crossan (0-5, 1f). Subs: Don Hegarty (1-0) for Donaghy, (38), William Lynch for Grant (38), Andrew Clarke for Dowds (43), Ciaran Callaghan for Curran (58).
2011 Intermediate semi-final replay – MacCumhaill Park – Naomh Colmcille 0-05 Aodh Ruadh 1-16
Alex Devenney in action against Aodh Ruadh in the replay
MICHAEL ‘STICKY’ WARD and Brian Roper led the way as Aodh Ruadh recorded a comprehensive replay win in Ballybofey.
Ward’s fished goal had Aodh Ruadh 1-9 to 0-2 ahead at half-time and there was no way back for Naomh Colmcille from there.
Aodh Ruadh hit seven unanswered points to score a comfortable win and a late, late surge by Naomh Colmcille didn’t dent their armour.
Naomh Colmcille: Marty Callaghan; Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Mark Callaghan; Gerard Curran, Shane McAteer, Eddie Gillespie; Ciaran Devine, Ryan McKinley; Don Hegarty, William Lynch, Ryan McErlean (0-1); Willie Gillespie (0-2, 2f), Thomas McKinley, Matthew Crossan (0-1, 1 ’45). Subs: Mark Dowds for Hegarty (half-time), Anthony Grant for Lynch (half-time), Andrew Clarke for R.McKinley (45), Joe Donaghy (0-1) for Callaghan (56).
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