DONEGAL football star Martin O’Reilly came off the bench to help the Sean MacCumhaills hurlers to a 0-16 to 2-8 victory over derby rivals Setanta on Saturday evening.
O’Reilly, who netted goals against Armagh and Derry in this year’s Ulster Championship, was introduced for the second half with MacCumhaills chasing a three-point deficit.
On the day Donegal defeated Tyrone in the 2011 Ulster SFC semi-final, O’Reilly had played for the Donegal Under-21 hurlers in the curtain raiser at Clones.
A year later and he was winning Ulster and All-Ireland senior football titles with Donegal.
He was back with the camán in hand on Saturday evening to help inch MacCumhaills to a tense and hard-fought win.
Kevin Campbell blasted home a Setanta goal after two minutes and he turned provider for Sean Maxwell to net a second soon after.
Aided by the sublime Lee Henderson, who went on to score ten points, MacCumhaills stayed in touch, but were 2-5 to 0-8 behind at the changeover.
Supporters certainly got value for money in the second half.
Setanta stretched their lead to five and it was the 14th minute of the half before Henderson raised MacCumhaills’ first flag of part two.
Henderson and Paddy Hannigan reeled the gap in further and with O’Reilly’s pace and directness opening up the gaps MacCumhaills has new-found belief.
O’Reilly clipped over and it was down to a two-point game before Henderson landed two monsters to draw the Twin Towns men level.
MacCumhaills led for the first time deep into the added-on time when Michael Lillis drilled over and O’Reilly sealed a two-point win right on the blow.
ROUNDUP
Reigning Donegal SHC champions Burt were thankful for goals by Enda McDermott and Ronan McDermott, as well as a brace of points by Niall Campbell, after the Hibernian Park men were pushed all the way by Aodh Ruadh.
In Ballyshannon, the hosts put it up to the title holders with Ciaean Kilgallon hitting eight points.
However, the majors by the McDermotts saw Burt prevail and hold their spot at the top of the table with a 2-4 to 0-9 win.
St Eunan’s were comprehensive 6-14 to 1-6 winners over Buncrana.
Donegal star Sean McVeigh was St Eunan’s chief marksman with 2-6 with Kevin Kealy bagging 2-1. Veterans Eugene Organ (1-3) and Colm Breathnach (1-1) contributed handsomely to the tally.
Eunan’s were 2-6 to 1-2 ahead at half-time and, with McVeigh, Kealy, Organ and Gearoid Leahy excelling, the Cathedral town men pulled clear in the second half.
Tom Clare managed 1-4 for the youthful Buncrana, for whom Paul Nelson and Conor Grant were the top performers.
| TABLE | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Burt | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 34 | 6 |
| MacCumhaills | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 57 | 55 | 4 |
| Setanta | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 33 | 4 |
| St Eunan’s | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 55 | 41 | 2 |
| Aodh Ruadh | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 46 | 2 |
| Buncrana | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 70 | 0 |
