ON ONE OF those dusking summer evenings when frantic looks at all three group tables were required in the Intermediate Football Championship, St Naul’s sneaked into the quarter-finals.
Downings 0-16 St Naul’s 2-10
The Mountcharles side didn’t need to use the back door, but they were the the very last to sneak in the front as the second of the teams in third place across all three groups, just behind Gaeil Fhánada and in front of Naomh Ultan.
It was a nervy experience for the team managed by John McNulty, who will acknowledge that things must improve significantly for St Naul’s to make an impact in the knock-out rounds having failed to win a match in the group stage.
Last week’s draw against Buncrana and another share of the spoils tonight proved just enough in the end against a lively Downings, who saw Lorcan Connor score nine points in all for the team who knew beforehand they’d need a miracle margin of success to even join the shake-up.
Having admitted that was too long a shot, Downings played with little inhibition and although Connor’s final point salvaged a draw it was their guests who were perhaps more relieved by the conclusion. However, when all was said and done St Naul’s had achieved their objective.
St Naul’s were missing a host of players, most notably Stephen Griffin and had to dig deep. At half-time their two-point lead at 2-5 to 0-9 looked decent enough.
The first of those goals came on just five minutes when Dan Brennan steered into an empty net after Conor McBride in the Downings goal had made a terrific stop from Brendan McCole – a player whose incisive runs cut into Downings’ skin time and again. Peadar Mogan (pictured above) also played a key part in much of St Nauls’ early dominance.
Then, Downings were overturned as they tried to build from the back on 12 minutes and Brennan set up corner-back Conor McBrearty for St Naul’s second goal. It was 2-2 to 0-3 for the away team at that juncture.
Connor, though, was finding his range – mainly from placed balls – and Eric Roberts and Oisin Boyce were also growing into the game.
Right at the start of the second half, another rampaging run from McCole was followed up with a blistering shot that fizzed just over.
However, by the 46th minute it was all square when Boyce popped over his second of the evening to make it 0-13 to 2-7.
Roberts twisted and turned to edge Downings in front with 10 minutes to go, only for St Naul’s substitute Aidan Meehan to tie things up again.
In a frantic finish, Downings’ Eamon Kelly blocked on his own goal-line from Cathal Lowther when the home team were one up. Brennan, at the other end, scored two frees late on and it looked as though St Naul’s could finally breathe that little bit easier, only for Connor to tie it up with the last kick of the game.
Downings: Conor McBride; Seamus Gallaher, Conor Shiels, Hugo Davis; Eamon Kelly, Brian McGinley, James Lee McBride (0-1); Shane Boyce, Oisin Boyce (0-2); Eric Roberts (0-3), Lorcan Connor (0-9, 6f), Alan Pasoma; Dylan McBride, Shane McCafferty (0-1), Finian McClafferty. Subs: Ben McBride for D McBride (16), Chris Duffy for B McBride (half-time).
St Naul’s: Paddy Burke; Conor McBrearty (1-0), Edward Kane, Caolan Gaffney; Stuart Johnston (0-1), Peadar Mogan (0-3, 1f), Marin Breslin; Lee McBrearty, Brendan McCole (0-1); Damien Friel (0-1), Shane Conneely, Shaun Griffin; John Rose, Dan Brennan (1-3, 3f), Cathal Lowther. Subs: Aidan Meehan (0-1) for S Griffin (half-time),Gavin Mulreany for Burke (37).
Referee: Aidan McAleer (Naomh Padraig, Muff)
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