Naomh Conaill 0-10 St Eunan’s 1-13
A SUPERB goal from Shane O’Donnell was the key score in this heavyweight clash in Davey Brennnan Memorial Park yesterday.
The county star got on the end of a lightning turnover and took Darragh Mulgrew’s perceptive pass at full tilt before rifling the ball to the roof of the Naomh Conaill net in the 40th minute to put the winners into a 1-9 to 0-7 lead. They had led by 0-9 to 0-6 after a wind-assisted opening half.
A goal was always going to be a big score in a game like this and thus it proved.
A well-organised Eunan’s side stood firm and showed the strength in depth of their bench with Lee McMonagle and Ciaran Moore both landing points as they held out for a fairly comfortable victory in the end.
Naomh Conaill tried to mount a comeback in the second half but a few points from Charles McGuiness and sub Dermot Molloy were all that was left to show for their efforts in a game where ex-Clontibret and Monaghan star Pauric Boyle also excelled for the winners.
Naomh Conaill were missing five regulars who will be available as the championship progresses.
Glenswilly 0-14 Cloughaneely 2-6
IT took all of Glenswilly’s renowned championship resilience to eventually overcome visiting Cloughaneely.
Veteran Shaun Maguire and Darren McGeever got the first-half goals for the visitors which ruffled the home side, who led by 0-10 to 2-2 at the break thanks to points from Michael Murphy, Gary McFadden and Daithi Gildea.
The second half was pretty evenly contested but Cloughaneely were just not able to get in front as both sides managed four points each with Glenswilly hanging on for a narrow but deserved win.
Ardara 1-10 St Michael’s 4-11
Improving St Michael’s hit the net four times as they chalked up their second win.
Carlos O’Reilly and Colin McFadden grabbed the first-half goals as the visitors led by 2-5 to 1-5 at the break, with John Ross Molloy replying in kind for Ardara.
Two goals in the space of 120 seconds midway through the second half from Ciaran Kelly and Carlos O’Reilly put the winners into a 4-8 to 1-8 lead and victory was sealed after they led by 2-5 to 1-5 in a much more even first half, where Niall McCrossan and Callum Malley were prominent on the scoresheet for Ardara.
But, with Michael Langan imperious in midfield, St Michael’s ran out easy winners.
Dungloe 1-12 Aodh Ruadh 1-8
A scrambled goal from Dungloe full-forward Conor Greene in the 32nd minute was the key score in this closely contested, entertaining affair in Rosses Park.
The home side were ahead by 0-8 to 1-4 when a high ball into the Aodh Ruadh square from Ryan Connors was pushed out by Ballyshannon keeper Aaron Cullen and the alert Greene palmed the ball to the net.
This was a huge score in a hard- fought affair and even though Aodh Ruadh tried hard to get back on terms, the goal proved to be a vital cushion for a youthful and physically powerful home side, who were well worth their win.
Aodh Ruadh’s goal came from Johnny Gethins midway through the first half, but Dungloe were well worth their four points win.
Downings 0-6 Four Masters 3-8
Youthful Four Masters continued their fine form with an impressive away win over Dowinings.
The promising Seanan Carr was the star of the show as he notched a tally of 3-1 for the winners against a Downings side who struggled to cope with the power and pace of their opponents.
Two goals from Carr helped push Masters to a 2-3 to 0-3 at the break.
Downings tried hard to get into the game on the resumption with early points from Johnny McGroddy and Ronan Gallagher.
But Carr’s final goal banished all thoughts of a revival and Masters cruised to a comfortable victory.
Kilcar 1-16 St Naul’s 0-9
A stronger Kilcar side, who welcomed back Ciaran McGinley, Matthew McClean and Conor Doherty, had simply too much power and panache for visiting St Naul’s at Towney.
Patrick McBrearty was in top form for the winners, hitting 0-9, while his brother Stephen found the Naul’s net for the blue and gold.
Naul’s, who were minus Brendan McCole, Stuart Johnston and Thomas White, tried hard but Kilcar went well clear after McBrearty’s goal.
They led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break and added on a further nine points on the resumption to get their campaign up and running.
After two defeats Naul’s are under considerable pressure.
Gaoth Dobhair 1-14 Glenfin 0-5
Stung by last week’s shock away defeat to Four Masters, Gaoth Dobhair responded in emphatic style with a big win over struggling Glenfin at Magheragallon.
Neil McGee and Eamon McGee were back on board for the Gaeltacht men and it showed.
They only held a one-point lead, 0-6 to 0-5, at half-time after playing into a stiffish breeze, but they surged clear in a one-sided second half as Dara O’Baoill once again profited from a goalie caught out of position and goaled. Ethan Harkin landed a number of well taken points.
For an outgunned Glenfin, Shaun Ward and Luke McGlynn had their moments.
Killybegs 1-10 Sean Mac Cumhaill 1-12
Sean MacCumhaill had to hold off a spirited Killybegs revival to come out on the right side of this hard- fought affair at Fintra.
The winners were minus Oisin Gallen and Joel Bradley Walsh, while Killybegs were without Eoghan, John Ban Gallagher and Cillian Gildea.
It looked like the Twin Towns side had almost sealed the deal when they led by seven points at the break on a score of 1-6 to 0-2, ex county star Marty O’Reilly getting their goal in the 10th minute.
They still led by 1-9 to 0-5 going into the last quarter, but a great Killybegs goal from Seamus Óg Byrne prompted a stirring revival, though the visitors just held on for a second win on the spin.
Round three (dates TBC)
St Naul’s v Killybegs
Four Masters v Glenswilly
Cloughaneely v Downings
Glenfin v Kilcar
St Eunan’s v Gaoth Dobhair
St Michael’s v Dungloe
Aodh Ruadh v Ardara
Sean Mac Cumhaill v Naomh Conaill
