BUNDORAN CRUSHED NAOMH COLMCILLE’S dreams of collecting the Cathal McLaughlin Cup for the first time as Brian Gavigan’s men won a final that proved a complete mismatch.
Bundoran 4-17 Naomh Colmcille 0-04
By half-time, the Stars of the Sea were 18 points in front and had a man to spare after Ryan McKinley’s dismissal for Naomh Colmcille in the closing moments of the first half.
As a contest, Bundoran were effectively home and hosed when Diarmuid Spratt’s goal put them 1-4 to no score in front after 10 minutes.
Further goals by Jamie Brennan, Tommy Hourihane – from a penalty – and Shane Carr turned the screw as Bundoran flexed their muscles and demonstrated the considerable difference between a team second in Division 2 and that which sits ninth in Division 3.
Picture caption: Bundoran celebrate winning the Intermediate Championship. Picture courtesy of Evan Logan.
It was a dominant and devastating display by Bundoran, but there will be concern that they head into an Ulster campaign without Brennan, who was withdrawn in the first half with a hamstring injury.
Their eyes were upon Ulster before this one had reached the interval and they weren’t long in putting Naomh Colmcille to the sword, with 25 points to spare at the end of it.
It was a first-ever appearance in an Intermediate final for Naomh Colmcille and it was a day that will have taught them a lot about the considerable difference in the levels.
With Shane McGowan outstanding at centre-back, flanked by Paul Brennan and Johnny Boyle, Bundoran were able to control things, while Ciaran McCaughey, Peter McGonigle and Gary Clancy were on top around the middle third.
Naomh Colmcille had fought back after giving Gaeil Fhánada a headstart in the semi-final, but there was no second bite at the cherry here as Bundoran steamrolled Francie Martin’s team, who finished with 13 players after Joe Donaghy was also red carded late in the day.
The signs on the wall were ominous when, after early points from Brennan, Darragh Hoey and Hourihane (2), Bundoran broke for the opening goal of the afternoon.
Brennan drilled the ball around the back for Spratt, who drew the advancing Gary McDaid before firing to the net.
It put seven between the teams, with Bundoran holding a 1-4 to 0-0 lead, but it was a goal that had big Naomh Colmcille crying foul, given that the move stemmed from a moment they were denied a free down the other end.
Captain Gerard Curran’s ball into the forward line hadn’t the desired accuracy, but Bundoran ‘keeper Johnny Keenan made a hash of a routine collection.
Keenan appeared to touch the ball on the ground, but was given more than a reprieve as, after play was allowed comtinue, Bundoran broke for a goal at the other end.
While Naomh Colmcille brought plenty of energy and effort to the contest, they were too often guilty of coughing up possession and conceding frees in parts of the park Bundoran were only too happy in which to punish them.
Their second goal arrived on 17 minutes as Brennan turned on the afterburners with his shot deflecting past McDaid off the unfortunate arm of Michael Friel.
There was just no let-up in the Bundoran attack as Clancy, twice, Hourihane and Darragh Hoey tacked on points.
In the final minute of the first half, Alex Devenney took down Spratt and Hourihane tucked the penalty past Michael Lynch, the midfielder standing in for the penalty.
As if the scoreline – reading 18 points in Bundoran’s favour – hadn’t pierced a big enough hole in the Naomh Colmcille arteries, they had their heart ripped from the chest when they lost McKinley in added time.
He left the referee, Connie Doherty, with no option but to brandish red having struck out at both Hourihane and Clancy within the one melee.
Alan Russell, Spratt and Clancy inserted the knife further while the deadly Hourihane and the useful Darragh Hoey (2) hit back after Gillespie (2) and Mark Dowds hit points for the vanquished.
For the victors, they managed a fourth goal late on through substitute Carr.
A year after dropping down from the senior championship, Bundoran are back into the top competition again.
Naomh Colmcille have a glimpse of what life is like in the more loftier environments and at least have something to aspire to over the winter.
Naomh Colmcille: Gary McDaid; Michael Friel, Alex Devenney, John Fullerton; Ricky Hegarty, Ryan McKinley, Gerard Curran; Ciaran Devine, Michael Lynch; Mark Dowds (0-1), Oran Hilley, Daniel Clarke; Willie Gillespie (0-3), Joe Donaghy, Eddie Gillespie. Subs: Don Hegarty for E.Gillespie (36), Paul Friel for Curran (41), Stephen Gallagher for Lynch (44), Conor Grant for Clarke (48), David McNamee for Devenney (52), Davy O’Brien for D.Hegarty (60).
Bundoran: Johnny Keenan; Diarmuid McCaughey (0-1), James Keaney, Pauric Rooney; Paul Brennan, Shane McGowan, Johnny Boyle; Ciaran McCaughey, Peter McGonigle; Gary Clancy (0-4, 3fs), Darragh Hoey (0-4), Jamie Brennan (1-1); Tommy Hourihane (1-5, 1 pen, 4fs), Christy Keaney, Diarmuid Spratt (1-1). Subs: Alan Russell (0-1) for J.Brennan (25), Shane Moohan for C.Keaney (42), Niall Dunne for McGonigle (49), Barry McGowan for Boyle (51), Shane Carr (1-0) for Rooney (57).
Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill).
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