ST EUNAN’S ADVANCED to the semi-finals of the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal Under-21 Championship after seeing off Buncrana in a lively quarter-final in Burt.
St Eunan’s 4-8 Buncrana 0-11
Sean McGettigan, Michael Miller, Oisin Carr and Niall O’Donnell were all on the mark with goals as St Eunan’s moved into the last four.
Buncrana, who had toppled the champions Kilcar, had Andrew Doherty sent off after 20 minutes and goals late in the first half by Miller and Carr were the big scores as Paul Carr’s team took the win.
Eunan’s took control after 10 minutes when Conor Morrison, Miller and O’Donnell combined with O’Donnell (pictured above by Geraldine Diver) feeding Sean McGettigan, who palmed to the net from close range.
[adrotate group=”56″]Doherty was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 20th minute when he was penalised for a late tackle on Miller.
Darach O’Connor, Shane McClean and Conor O’Donnell had posted earlier points for Buncrana and they drew level through scores by Peter McLaughlin and Caolan McGonagle.
Carr and O’Connor traded points, but Eunan’s pulled clear in stoppage time at the end of the half with Miller and Carr netting.
[adrotate group=”37″]A McGonagle clearance was picked up by Daniel Gillespie and, via the ever-involved O’Donnell, the ball was worked to Miller and he finished well.
A minute later, and from another poor clearance out from the back by Buncrana, Eunan’s struck gold again.
A blistering transfer of passes ended with Brian McIntyre feeding Carr and his shot was low and true, giving Sean Parker no chance and putting St Eunan’s 3-3 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
[adrotate group=”70″]Midway through the second half, the black and amber had another goal on the board as O’Donnell riffled to the net after Miller’s shot was blocked.
McGonigle, O’Connor and Bruce Waldron pointed to give Buncrana some hope, but O’Donnell (2) and Morrison pointed to put the issue beyond doubt.
[adrotate group=”38″]Some ten minutes were, bizarrely, added at the conclusion, but St Eunan’s ensured that there was no doubting the end result.
St Eunan’s: Sean Daffan; Conor Moore, Connall O’Boyle, Sean Halvey; Darragh Toal, Conor Morrison (0-1), Darragh McMonagle; Oisin Carr (1-1), Darragh McWalters; Brian McIntyre, Michael Miller (1-0), Daniel Gillespie (0-1); Barry McGeehin, Niall O’Donnell (1-4, 1f), Sean McGettigan (1-0). Subs: Oisin O’Boyle (0-1) for Miller (40), Oisin Clarke for McIntyre (50), Dylan Sweeney for Halvey (53), Oisin Toal for D.Toal (56).
Buncrana: Sean Parker; Conor Grant, Jack O’Loughlin, Ben Doherty; Aidan Stokes, Bruce Waldron (0-1), Stephen Doherty; Peter McLaughlin (0-1), Caolan McGonagle (0-2, 1f); Andrew Doherty, Darach O’Connor (0-5, 3f), Joseph McGrory; Shane McClean (0-1), Conor O’Donnell (0-1), Noel McLaughlin. Sub: Shane McLaughlin for S.Doherty (54)
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada).
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