ST EUNAN’S produced a sparkling performance to continue their unbeaten start to 2016 against Termon at O’Donnell Park.
St Eunan’s 5-16 Termon 1-7
John Haran was positioned at full-forward by St Eunan’s manager David McGinley and struck goals in both the 14th and 20th minutes to give his team a decent lead at the break, 3-8 to 0-4 with Rory Kavanagh scoring the third goal.
In the second half, substitute Patrick McGowan finished off wonderful one-touch move for a fourth St Eunan’s goal and then added a fifth to complete an impressive win.
Daire McDaid – who kicked three first half points – was once more Termon’s most likely scorer, having scored 1-9 in last week’s win in Ardara but in the Letterkenny side had more prongs to their attack.
Cillian Morrison was on form, kicking three 0-3 from play in the first half hour, while Conor Gibbons scored two, and Conor O’Donnell, Conall Dunne and Kevin Rafferty were also on the mark for the home team in that first period.
Haran’s first goal came when Dunne intercepted a kick-out from Conor Tinney, the Termon goalkeeper, just inside the 45 and made a beeline for the visitors’ goal and laid off for Haran to finish.
Then, six minutes later, Haran toe-poked his second from close range following a ball into the square by Gibbons that dropped to the ground as Anthony McGrenra challenged.
St Eunan’s added a third goal three minutes before the break when Rory Kavanagh enjoyed a simple slap home from close range, just giving Kevin Rafferty’s punt that little more to get it into the net.
Termon were struggling under the high ball whilst also trying to keep grips with the rotation of the St Eunan’s forward players.
Coalan McDaid had a goal chance right at the end of the half following a defence-splling pass from his brother Daire but had to be content with a point as Sean Daffan in the St Eunan’s goal made an excellent save.
Nobody scored for 11 minutes of the second half but, just like the first half, Daire McDaid opened the scoring in the second.
Gibbons got St Eunan’s rolling again with a point and McGowan tucked home his side’s fourth goal after a flowing move that saw Gibbons, Dunne, Darragh Mulgrew and Eamonn Doherty exchange quick-fire passes.
Points followed from McGowan and another substitute, Donnacha Gallagher and by the 45-minute mark St Eunan’s were 4-10 to 0-5 in front.
McGowan, not content with his lot, drove home his side’s fifth goal through a posse of players on 47 minutes.
Termon got some reward when, with six minutes left, Ricky Gallagher played in Daire McDaid and he finished past Daffan.
St Eunan’s continued to tag over the scores with Gibbons bringing his day’s total to five and Brendan Maguire rounding off the win.
St Eunan’s: Sean Daffan; Conor Parke, Caolan Ward, Sean Hensey; Peter Devine, Conor O’Donnell (0-1), Eamonn Doherty; Rory Kavanagh (1-0), Darragh Mulgrew; Brendan Maguire (0-2), Conall Dunne (0-1), Cillian Morrison (0-3); Kevin Rafferty (0-1), John Haran (2-0), Conor Gibbons (0-5). Subs: Donnacha Gallagher (0-1) for Kavanagh (half-time), Patrick McGowan (2-1) for Morrison (34)
Termon: Conor Tinney; Shane Callaghan, Kevin McDaid, Sean O’Donnell; Steve McElwaine, Anthony McGrenra, Nathan McElwaine; Caolan Mellett, Johnny McCafferty; Caolan McDaid (0-2), Ricky Gallagher, Declan O’Donnell; Austin Marron, Kevin McMenamin (0-1), Daire McDaid (1-4, 3f). Subs: Daniel Connaghan for McCafferty (17), Joe English for D O’Donnell (21), Paul for McDaid for Callaghan (40), Kevin McElwaine for S O’Donnell (49), Callaghan for N McElwaine (52)
Referee: Shaun Paul Doherty (Urris)
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