ST MICHAEL’S FINISHED OFF their League campaign with an impressive second half performance to maintain their unbeaten home record this year.
St. Michael’s 2-11 St. Eunan’s 1-04
It was a night of history at The Bridge as St Michael’s were presented with the Division 1 title for the first time in their history.
Picture caption: St Michael’s celebrate their League win. Picture courtesy of Geraldine Diver.
The opening half was a closely contested affair as a young St.Eunan’s side gave as good as they got with the home team racing to a 0-04 to 0-02 lead before a well worked goal by David Tyrrell, set up by Conor Morrison, had them a point ahead at the break, 1-03 to 0-5.
Tyrell also kicked two points from frees while centre-half back Conor O’Donnell kicked a super long range point for their only other score of the half.
St.Michaels stayed in touch mainly through the left boot of Raymond McLaughlin who kicked four points, two each from frees and play while Brian McLaughlin got their other point of the half just before the half-time whistle.
Both teams made a number of changes in personnel before, during and immediately after the break, a move which proved more of an advantage to the home team.
Raymond McLaughlin got his fifth of the game to level it up again before Tyrrell and Ciaran Gallagher exchanged points to leave it 0-07 to 1-03.
The turning point in the League Champions’ favour came in the ninth minute of the half when team Captain Christy Toye burst through and drilled a super shot past Shaun Patton.
It was all St.Michaels after that as Michael Langan, Ryan Langan, Raymond McLaughlin and Andrew Kelly all kicked points and Kelly rounded off an impressive second-half display with a cracking goal to secure a ten-point victory and an equally impressive first ever Democrat Cup success.
County Chairman Sean Dunnion was on hand to congratulate the club on their achievement and to hand over the Cup to St.Michaels captain Christy Toye.
The Donegal player acknowledged the efforts of all connected to the club, both on and off the pitch in helping to bring this maiden success at County level to the Bridge and looked forward to further success in championship football in the years ahead.
