Niall Friel’s goal gave Gaoth Dobhair victory over Glenswilly after a low-key contest played in a fierce gale at Magheragallon this afternoon.
Gaoth Dobhair 1-6 Glenswilly 0-4
By Charlie Collins at Magheragallon
The goal arrived nine minutes into the second half and it was Gaoth Dobhair at their deadly best.
An excellent move saw the ball transfer through a number of hands before Kevin Cassidy fed Niall Friel. As Friel headed towards goal, he rounded Philip O’Donnell, the Glenswilly goalkeeper, and slotted home.
Gaoth Dobhair would score just once between then and the end of the game with Gavin McBride drilling over in the final minute.
Glenswilly couldn’t trouble Christopher Sweeney either, however, and a Caolan Kelly point was all they could muster.
It had been Glenswilly who began with two points from Gary McFadden and Kelly before Gaoth Dobhair took over.
Donegal panellist Cian Mulligan began the comeback and with Mulligan, McBride and Michael Carroll – who recently stepped off the Donegal panel – on the mark it was the Magheragallon men who led 0-4 to 0-2 at the short whistle.
The howling west Donegal wind was hardly making life easy and the sides had to endure two lengthy stoppages to allow for treatment in the first half, which made for nine minutes of time added on.
Neil Gallagher and Mulligan traded points early in part two before Friel’s goal gave Gaoth Dobhair the cushion.
Gaoth Dobhair:  Christopher Sweeney; Chris McFadden, Gary McFadden, James Ó Baoill;  Daire Ó Baoill, Niall Friel (1-0), Neasan McBride; Peter McGee, Michael Carroll; James Carroll, Cian Mulligan (0-3), Sean Doherty; Gavin McBride (0-3, 2f), Kevin Cassidy, Eamon McGee. Sub: Sean Boyle for J.Carroll (black card 49).
Glenswilly: Philip O’Donnell; Shane McDaid, Eamonn Ward, Mark McAteer; Ciaran Gibbons, Joe Gibbons, Ruairi Crawford; Neil Gallagher (0-1), Sean Wogan; Cathal Gallagher, Caoimhin Marley, Caolan Kelly (0-2); Gary McFadden (0-1, 1f), Kealan McFadden, Brian Farrelly. Subs: Oisin Crawford for Wogan (30), Ryan Dover for N.Gallagher (49), Christopher McMonagle for McDaid (60).
