A thrilling performance from St Eunans on Sunday ensured they kept up the pace at the top of Division 1 against a commendable St Michael’s side at O’Donnell Park.
St Eunan’s 1-19 St Michael’s 0-13
Report by Shaun Keenan at O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny
The Letterkenny side will take huge encouragement from their emphatic display on Sunday afternoon, showing their attacking abilities with a spread of points from right throughout the team.
Richard Thornton’s side were looking to bounce back following a heavy defeat against Naomh Conaill last weekend and they showed the perfect response.
Shaun Patton opened the scoring for St Eunan’s in the first minute, the goalkeeper hitting a well-drilled free-kick between the sticks to open an entertaining first half.
Both sides came out of the traps quickly but no more so than St Eunans who got two more points through Jamie Doherty and Conor O’Donnell on the board in the opening five minutes.
St Michael’s responded early with Michael Lagan and Liam Pat Ferry from open play to make it a two-point game within seven minutes but Thornton’s outfit never took their foot off the gas to extend their early advantage.
Excellent play from Conor Gibbons opened up space for the forward and he didn’t hesitate in front of goal, securing three excellent points, one from a free-kick, either side of Conor Parke’s accurate score.
St Michael’s momentarily stopped St Eunan’s momentem when Daniel McLaughlin got on the scoresheet after 18 minutes.
But St Eunan’s turned on the style to kill St Michael’s own impetus, scoring another five points before the break.
Scores from Eamon Doherty, Oisin Toal, Jamie Doherty (x2), Niall Hannigan gave St Eunan’s 0-12 at the interval, while Edward O’Reilly and Michael Lagan recorded two scores to make it a six-point game.
Shaun Patton opened the scoring for St Eunan’s in the first minute, the Letterkenny sides’ goalkeeper hitting a well-struck free-kick between the sticks to open an entertaining first half.
Both sides came out of the traps quickly but no more so than the home side who got two more points through Jamie Doherty and Conor O’Donnell on the board in the opening five minutes.
St Michael’s responded early with Michael Lagan and Liam Pat Ferry from open play to make it a two-point game within seven minutes but St Eunans never took their foot off the gas to extend their early advantage.
Excellent play from Conor Gibbons opened up space for the forward and he didn’t hesitate in front of goal, securing three excellent points, one from a free-kick, either side of Conor Parke’s score.
St Michael’s momentarily stopped St Eunans momentum when Daniel McLaughlin got on the scoresheet after 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, things didn’t get any easier for St Michael’s as Oisin Lagan received a black card from referee Greg McGory after 23 minutes, making way for Niall Hannigan.
And things went from bad to worse, as St Eunan’s turned on the style to score another five points before the break.
Scores from Eamon Doherty (x2), Oisin Toal, Jamie Doherty, and Oran McFadden gave St Eunan’s 0-12 at the interval, while Edward O’Reilly and Michael Lagan recorded two scores to make it a six-point game.
Shortly after the restart, St Michaels managed to reduce the deficit to four points when a flood of scores from Daniel McLaughlin, Michael Lagan (x2) and Niall McLaughlin brought to the game to within three points.
You couldn’t fault St Michael’s effort, but it was the class of St Eunans that told the tail of this Division 1 fixture.
Seven magnificent scores in a nine-minute spell showed why St Eunans will be hard to stop this year, Jamie Doherty proving vital to the Letterkenny outfits plan.
Shaun Patton, just like in the first half, got St Eunans back on track with a score from a free-kick before St Eunans began to turn the screw.
With a quarter of the game remaining, four points from Jamie Doherty and two for Rory Carr took the game beyond a determined St Michael’s in a ruthless 15-minute spell.
Despite the huge shortfall and difficulties to contain an excellent St Eunan’s, the Cresslough side fought hard and replied with four further points from Daniel McLaughlin (x2), Michael Canning and Michael Lagan.
However, an extra layer of gloss was added just before the final time whistle for the home side as Conor Morrison pulled off an excellent piece of individual play to give St Eunan’s the only goal of the contest.
Thornton’s side now sits joint-top of Division 1 alongside Kilcar (1) and two points ahead of last years champions Goath Dobhair in third, despite both teams having games in hand over St Eunans. S
St Eunan’s: Shaun Patton (0-2); Conor Moore, Conor Morrison (1-0), Conor Parke (0-1); Oisin Toal (0-1), Darragh Mulgrew, Shaun Ryan; Shaun McGettigan, Eamon Doherty (0-1); Peter McEniff, Caolan Ward, Conor O’Donnell (0-1) (Niall Hannigan); Jamie Doherty (0-7), Rory Carr (0-2), Conor Gibbons (0-3).
Subs used: Niall Hannigan (0-1) for Conor O’Donnell (13’) Rory Kavanagh for Niall Hannigan (45’) Darragh Mulgrew for Aaron Deeney (36’), Shaun McVeigh for Shaun McGettigan (54’)
St. Michaels: Mark Anthony McGinley, Jamie Hunter, Michael McGinley, Christopher McElhinney, Michael Gallagher, Ciaran Gallagher, Oisin Lagan, Michael Canning (0-1), Liam Paul Ferry (0-1), Edward O’Reilly (0-1), Michael Lagan (0-5), Liam Kelly, Oran McFadden, Daniel McLaughlin (0-5), Andrew Kelly.
Sub used: Oisin Lagan (Black card) for Peter Sweeney 24’), Jamie Hunter for Shane Langan, Owen Kelly for Ciaran Gallagher
Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters)
