VICTORY over St Naul’s meant three from three for Gaoth Dobhair, who yet to overly exert themselves in this year’s Donegal SFC.
St Naul’s 0-5 Gaoth Dobhair 4-10
By Alan Foley in Mountcharles
Eight minutes from time, Eamon Collum slapped home a Odhran MacNiallais centre and Gaoth Dobhair had managed to put a reflection on it. Kevin Cassidy rammed home a third goal two minutes later when Eamon McGee laid on the chance.
Collum then completed the rout with a close range finish again, this time it was after a run by Cian Mulligan.
For their part St Naul’s are still in limbo land of sorts and will know the lie of the land more following tomorrow night’s draw for the fourth round of fixtures. Chances are they’ll have to look over their shoulder as well as right in front of them.
Gaoth Dobhair, a bit like Naomh Conaill, are progressing with ease. You get the impression that neither would have a problem were they forced to chug it up a gear or two.
Mervyn O’Donnell’s side were untidy enough to begin with in the Mountcharles sunshine and following three wides to begin with, Mulligan was on hand in the seventh minute to drill the opening goal into the bottom corner having been fed by Michael Carroll.
By the 17th minute, Stephen Griffin’s free opened St Naul’s account. Rather like their illustrious guests they weren’t taking all the of invitations that were coming their way. Gaoth Dobhair had most of the ball, working it carefully from side to side to let Odhran MacNiallais stroke over.
On 28 minutes, Gaoth Dobhair were just 1-2 to 0-2 in front. However, two waves of the wand from MacNiallais and points from Carroll and Eamon Collum meant the away team’s advantage was 1-6 to 1-2 in front.
It took nine minutes of the second half for either team to bother an umpire, with Naoise O Baoill the scorer. John Rose got into space for St Naul’s but could only shoot straight at Christopher Sweeney in the Gaoth Dobhair goal. Griffin knocked over the 45, so it was 1-8 to 0-3 at the midpoint of the second half.
Daire O Baoill’s score set Gaoth Dobhair off on the right foot in the fourth quarter and the goals from Collum and Cassidy put the decent look on it.
St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreany; Conor McBrearty, Brendan McCole, Enda Lunch; Martin Breslin, Barry Griffin, John Rose (0-1); Ian Campbell, Stephen Griffin (0-4, 2f, 45); Caolan Gaffney, Shane Connelly, Shane Meehan; Danny McDyre, Cathal Lowther, Thomas White. Subs: John Relihan and Daniel Meehan for Shane Meehan and Cathal Lowther (38), Freddie Cullen for Caolan Gaffney (54)
Gaoth Dobhair: Christopher Sweeney; Eamon McGee, Neil McGee, James Ó Baoill, Niall Friel, Donal MacGiolla Bhride, Daire O Baoill (0-1); Michael Carroll (0-1), Odhran MacNiallais (0-4, 1f); Cian Mulligan (1-1), Ethan Harkin, Naoise O Baoill (0-1), Odhran McFadden-Ferry, Kevin Cassidy (1-0), Eamon Collum (2-2). Subs: Gavin McBride for Harkin (38), Neasan MacGiolla Bhride for MacNiallais (50)
Referee: Shane Toolan (Aodh Ruadh)
