THREE UNANSWERED LATE points were enough for St Eunan’s to earn a share of the spoils against Naomh Conaill at Davy Brennan Memorial Park this evening.
Naomh Conaill 1-10 St Eunan’s 2-7
The Letterkenny side trailed by three before a brace of Conor Gibbons frees and a Patrick McGowan point levelled it up against the county champions.
David McGinley, the St Eunan’s manager, would’ve been content with a draw with an experimental side that included goalkeeper Sean Daffan for he first time since the 2014 county final and a debut for Brendan McGuire, who has transferred for Killybegs.
The visitors off to a superb start with Darragh Mulgew goaling in just the second minute following a pass from Aidan Friel.
However, Martin Regan and Martin Doherty’s Naomh Conaill might’ve take 10 minutes to hit their stride but his their stride they did with Dermot Molloy (pictured above) – featuring for the first time in 2016 in the league – scoring three points and Charles McGuinness and Eunan Doherty also on the mark.
Conall Dunne and McGuire scores brought St Eunan’s back on terms by the 15th minute at 1-2 to 0-5.
Friel grabbed a second goal for the visitors on 21 minutes when Kevin Rafferty claimed a Stephen McGrath kick-out and ran at the heart of the hosts’ defence before setting up the goal. McGowan then scored as well.
Naomh Conaill, who were playing in fits and starts, hit another hot streak at the end of the half to score the last three points to get back to just one down, 0-8 to 2-3.
Points from Dara Gallagher and Molloy, with a free, edged the Glenties side in front by the 45th minute and when Leon Thompson grasped possession and drove past Daffan it was 1-10 for Naomh Conaill, 2-4 for St Eunan’s.
But it was the black and amber clad team who finished the strongest with those three points salvaging a useful draw.
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Kevin McGettigan, Cathal Ellis, Aaron Thompson; Marty Boyle, Ethan O’Donnell, Hughie Gallagher; Charles McGuinness (0-1), Seamus Corcoran; Eunan Doherty (0-1). Dara Gallagher (0-1), Ultan Doherty; John O’ Malley (0-1), Leon Thompson (1-1), Dermot Molloy (0-5, 3f). Subs: Dermot Ward for U Doherty (42).
St Eunan’s: Sean Daffan; Barry McGeehin, Sean Hensey, Conor Morrison; Conor Parke, Kevin Rafferty, Conall Dunne (0-1), John Haran, Darragh Mulgrew (1-0); Oisin Carr, Conor Gibbons (0-3, 2f), Mark Forde; Aidan Friel (1-0), Patrick McGowan (0-2), Brendan McGuire (0-1)
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