Termon left marooned by spurned chances as relieved Naomh Conaill progress

NAOMH CONAILL PREVAILED, but it was more because of Termon’s wastefulness than by their own design that Martin Regan’s team booked the tickets for the Donegal SFC semi-finals.

Naomh Conaill 0-11 Termon 1-05

It was a night when Termon left cursing a succession of missed chances with Naomh Conaill just showing a little more composure when it mattered and theirs were certainly relieved expressions at the conclusion.

Termon dared to dream when Ricky Gallagher fired in a 46^th minute goal that evened the sums.

Naomh Conaill had moved four in front with a brief scoring spurt at the start of the second half, but they were rocked back on their hells when Termon drew level.

Veteran Johnny McCafferty curled neatly over the black spot off the outside of his right boot before Gallagher blasted home to raise the hopes of those in maroon.

Paddy McDaid, their player-manager, and Austin Marron created the opening and Gallagher smashed past Stephen McGrath.

Naomh Conaill managed to shake their heads clear with late scores from Leon Thompson (2), Seamus Corcoran and Anthony Thompson saving their blushes.

Termon had plenty of possession in and around the middle third, but their decision-making and shot selection let them down when it came to the crunch during the early moments in a drenching downpour.

For instance, in the 20^th minute, Kevin McDaid and McCafferty combined to set Daire McDaid up for a chance, but he drilled at Stephen McGrath, the Naomh Conaill goalkeeper, when he ought to have hit the net.

By the time they parted for the dryness of the dressing rooms at the interval, Termon’s wide count had reached seven and the Burn Road men spurned at least another four opportunities of a scoreable nature.

And they were just a point down, with Naomh Conaill thankful for three Daragh Gallagher frees as they parted 0-4 to 0-3 in front.

Gallagher landed the first of his effort in the fourth minute and Eoin Waide doubled the lead soon after when he took receipt of an expert pass from Ciaran Thompson.

It took Termon until the 12^th minute for Daire McDaid to open the account, but it was they who would have been more content with the display, bar the finishing touch, which was lacking all too often.

Gallagher restored a two-point lead in the 15^th minute, but another from the former Donegal panellist, this time from 45 metres out, was the only addition to their tally in the first period.

With Marron and Steve McElwaine – who landed a splendid point from the stand side – on the mark, there was just a solitary point in it at the close of the opening stanza.

Inside seven minutes of the re-start, Naomh Conaill were four in front.

Half-time sub Eunan Doherty gave them a new dimension and his shot from 30 metres grazed the fingertips of Noel O’Donnell – standing in for Michael Boyle, who was in America – on the way over.

That came after Fintan O’Flynn needlessly fouled Gallagher to give Dermot Molloy a ‘gimme’ while Molloy’s next score was less than routine, but he nonchalantly fired over from the sideline on the 13-metre line.

Termon, who entered the weekend as the only Division 2 side left standing in the Championship, shot themselves right back into it but, ultimately, they shot themselves in the foot.

O’Donnell saved from Leon Thompson with a goal chance in added time that would’ve been harsh on Termon had it gone in.

Christy Connaghan made it a three-point game with a late free for Termon, but they’d run out of time and chances.

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Aaron Thompson, AJ Gallagher, Kevin McGettigan; Johnny Bonner, Anthony Thompson (0-1), Eoin Waide (0-1); Johnny McLoone, Ciaran Thompson; Marty Boyle, Leo McLoone, Daragh Gallagher (0-3, 3f); Dermot Molloy (0-2, 2f), John O’Malley, Leon Thompson (0-2). Subs: Eunan Doherty (0-1) for Bonner (half-time), Seamus Corcoran (0-1) for Gallagher (42), Cathal for McGettigan (48, black card), Ethan O’Donnell for O’Malley (51), Caolan McDaid for Gallagher (53).

Termon: Noel O’Donnell; Fintan O’Flynn, Kevin McDaid, Declan O’Donnell; Nathan McElwaine, Kevin McElwaine, Steve McElwaine (0-1); Jimmy Gallagher, Caolan Mellett; Johnny McCafferty (0-1), Christy Connaghan (0-1, 1f), Ricky Gallagher (1-0); Daire McDaid (0-1), Austin Marron (0-1), Caolan McDaid. Subs: Paddy McDaid for C.McDaid (half-time), Daireann Gibson for McCafferty (48), Daniel Connaghan for N.McElwaine (59), Johnny McCafferty for Gallagher (59).

Referee: Michael McShane (Kilcar).