ST EUNAN’S ENJOYED A reasonably comfortable win over Dungloe in the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1 this evening.
St Eunan’s 1-17 Dungloe 0-10
After the silly season encounter against Bundoran last weekend, where the black and amber side came through on a remarkable 4-15 to 6-7 scoreline, this evening’s success was rather more pedestrian.
After that six-goal concession by the seaside, this evening St Eunan’s didn’t concede one point from play.
A John Haran goal two minutes before half-time put the hosts 1-7 to 0-5 after Dungloe had been the ones making the case early. The longer the game went on though, the more in  control St Eunan’s were and Lee McMonagle, in particular, had a fruitful game in the forward line, scoring six times.
[adrotate group=”56″]It was the visitors who started the brighter in the Letterkenny sunshine with Adam Neely kicked the first three points of the evening into the River End from placed balls.
David McGinley’s St Eunan’s fluffed a handful of early opportunities before getting off the mark on 11 minutes when McMonagle curled one just inside the post. Another point from Conor Gibbons followed seconds later.
Danny Rodgers, the Dungloe goalkeeper, planted a free to make it 0-4 to 0-2 on 16 minutes before, a minute later, Gibbons scored the point of the first half from the sideline at the 13-metre line. John Haran soon levelled it up on the left foot.
[adrotate group=”41″]In the 24th minute, St Eunan’s hit the front for the first time thanks to another fine score – this time it was McMonagle who spun free before drilling over with the right. Brendan Maguire then scored and from being two down St Eunan’s were two up.
Rodgers replied with Dungloe’s fifth pointed free of the half but the two-point cushion remained for St Eunan’s following a score on the run from Peter Devine.
Haran’s goal came when he swept home from the ground, after he didn’t have enough on his first effort with the fist, following a pierced diagonal ball by Michael Miller. And another McMonagle score from a long-range meant St Eunan’s were 1-8 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.
[adrotate group=”42″]In the second half, Dungloe still struggled to point from play but Adrian Sweeney and Rodgers did point further frees.
Donnacha Gallagher found his range with two long range points from play as McMonagle continued to impress inside with his fourth score. Patrick McGowan and Gibbons’ frees made it 1-13 to 0-7 in the 45th minute.
McMonagle then added his fifth of the evening as Gallagher struck his third of the second half and manager McGinley introduced youngsters Gavin Maguire, Oisin O’Boyle and Oisin Toal late in the game.
[adrotate group=”54″]Neely and Sweeney added an eighth and ninth and 10th frees late in the contest for the visitors. Daragh Mulgrew and McMonagle’s 45 sealed off the win for St Eunan’s.
Tony Boyle’s Dungloe opened 2016 with a fine win over league champions St Michael’s but now have lost seven on the bounce in Division 1.
[adrotate group=”55″]St Eunan’s: Aidan Simmons; Conor Morrison, Darragh McWalters, Michael Miller; Brendan Maguire (0-1), Conor O’Donnell, Peter Devine (0-1); Oisin Carr, Darragh Mulgrew (0-1); Conor Gibbons (0-3, 2f), Conall Dunne, Donnacha Gallagher (0-3); Patrick McGowan (0-1, 1f), Lee McMonagle (0-6, 1f, 45), John Haran (1-1). Subs: Gavin Maguire for O’Donnell (46), Oisin O’Boyle for McGowan (50), Oisin Toal for Gallagher (53)
Dungloe: Danny Rodgers (0-3, 3f); Jack Scally, Gavin Ward, Doalty Boyle; James McCole, Matthew Ward, Darren Curran; Shane Sharkey, Raymond Sweeney; Â Barry Curran, Noel McBride, Hugh Moy; Adam Neely (0-4, 4f), Mark Sweeney, Ryan Greene. Subs: Adrian Sweeney (0-3, 3f) for McBride (19), Paul McGarvey for Greene (36), Eoin Scally for McCole (42)
Referee: Aidan Mc Aleer (Naomh Padraig, Muff)
[adrotate group=”37″] Tags: