NAOMH CONAILL OPENED their All-County Football League Division 1 campaign with an impressive win at Glenswilly.
Glenswilly 2-10 Naomh Conaill 2-15
The Glenties based side – who saw their first fixture against Termon postponed last Sunday week – dominated the contest for large spells, with John O’Malley kicking 10 points.
Photo caption: Leo McLoone on the ball for Naomh Conaill as Ciaran Gibbons and Caoimhinn Marley of Glenswilly close in in their AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1 clash at Pairc Naomh Columba this afternoon. Photo: Geraldine Diver
With just five minutes remaining, the visitors to Pairc Naomh Columba were 1-14 to 0-9 in front but two goals in as many minutes from the hosts – through a Michael Murphy penalty and substitute Ethan Sweeney – threatened to turn the contest on its head.
Murphy then popped over another free to bring his afternoon’s total to 1-6 and there was just a point in it, 2-10 to Glenswilly and 1-14 for Naomh Conaill. From nowhere, it was anyone’s game. One minute plus injury time remained.
But from a flashing breakaway, which involved the stand-out Anthony Thompson, O’Malley and Ethan O’Donnell, Leon Thompson drilled high past James Gallagher to effectively end any chance of Glenswilly pulling something from the fire.
It was a clinical finish to a clinical move. And Eunan Doherty’s point in injury time made sure.
The dramatic conclusion wasn’t something that many in attendance might’ve envisaged.
Naomh Conaill were very effective in the turnover and were driven on by Anthony Thompson in particular. Stephen McGrath’s kick-outs were crisp and varied and Glenswilly were sometimes slow to react to them.
Indeed, it was Anthony Thompson who grabbed the first goal of the day on 17 minutes when he finished well following a pass from his brother Leon.
That made the score 1-3 to 0-2 and Naomh Conaill might’ve had a second goal six minutes later when O’Donnell played in Seamus Corcoran but he blasted just wide.
At half-time, Naomh Conaill were good value for their 1-6 to 0-4 advantage.
Anthony Thompson put over a great score from an angle to open the second half and with O’Malley’s kicking boots well and truly on – posting three successive free-kicks – Glenswilly’s arrears went out to nine points, 1-10 to 0-4 down with 37 minutes played.
With Murphy stationed inside, Michael Canning’s Glenswilly hadn’t overly used the direct ball in. The Donegal skipper was joined in the full-forward line by Philip O’Donnell, who had one goal chance straight away but saw Anthony Thompson make a vital block.
Glenswilly were still only playing in fits and starts and O’Malley – aside his prowess from dead balls – also pointed a marvellous effort from out on the right that clipped the upright to go over.
Midway through the second half, Naomh Conaill were 1-12 to 0-6 ahead.
Even when Ryan Diver and Caoimhinn Marley scored for the hosts, O’Malley and Corcoran replied instatly.
With four minutes left, referee Enda McNeely awarded Glenswilly a penalty for an off the ball foul on Murphy, who had little bother in dispatching the spot kick.
https://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=mRloqsDixe0
Then, Sweeney, who was only on the pitch for a matter of seconds was found just to the left of goal and he shot past McGrath to raise the decibel level. Glenswilly had gone from eight down to just two behind in just over a minute.
However, Leon Thompson’s goal made sure of the away win and whatever about the spirit shown by Glenswilly late in the day, few could argue that the best team had won.
Glenswilly: James Gallagher; Mark McAteer, Eamonn Ward, Aidan McDevitt; Ciaran Gibbons, Ryan Diver (0-1), Paddy Diver; Caoimhinn Marley (0-1), Ciaran Bonner; Darren McGinley, Gary McFadden (0-1, 1f), Cathal Gallagher; Christopher McMonagle, Michael Murphy (1-6, 5f, 1-0 pen), Caolan Kelly. Subs: Kealan McFadden for McGinley (7, black card), Brian Farrelly (0-1) for C Gallagher (half-time), Philip O’Donnell and Leon Kelly for Bonner and Gibbons (36), Ethan Sweeney (1-0) for McDevitt (56).
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Kevin McGettigan, Cathal Ellis, Aaron Thompson; Marty Boyle, Anthony Thomspon (1-1), Eoin Waide (0-1); Leo McLoone, AJ Gallagher; Seamus Corcoran (0-1), Daragh Gallagher, Eunan Doherty (0-1); Ethan O’Donnell, John O’Malley (0-10, 7f), Leon Thompson (1-1). Sub: Charles McGuinness for AJ Gallagher (39).
Referee: Enda McNeely (St Mary’s Convoy)
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