A GOAL in the sixth minute of injury time from Daire O’Baoill sealed victory for Gaoth Dobhair over St Eunan’s in the Northern Board Minor Football Championship final on a night of high drama in Ballybofey.
Gaoth Dobhair 1-10 St Eunan’s 0-11
In a game that could’ve gone either way, it looked as though it was the side from the Cathedral Town who snatched victory as in the 35th minute of the second half, they went ahead by the minimum when the outstanding Niall O’Donnell pointed for the seventh time.
However, under the glare of the MacCumhaill Park floodlights with only seconds remaining, Gaoth Dobhair mustered one last assault. As substitute Michael Dywer made a run towards the Town End, he spotted O’Baoill who darted toward goal before striking past Matthew Gallagher.
It was the conclusion to a contest that just got better and better. If the same two sides are to cross paths in the County Minor final, there will be few complaints from the neutral.
There was little to choose between the sides in the first half hour, although in terms of the sprinklings of scorers, St Eunan’s were reliant on one. O’Donnell their only player to find the mark in that spell –Â a feat he managed five times. His scores were excellent; kicked from a variety of distances and angles.
On the other hand, Gaoth Dobhair’s greater spread enabled them to go in ahead at half-time. Kyle McFadden and Daire O’Baoill scored in the first 15 minutes and at that stage it was 0-4 to 0-2 to Paul Carr, Â Ciaran Maguire and Eddie Brennan’s St Eunan’s.
Tom Beag Gillespie, they Gaoth Dobhair manager, would’ve been content with the conclusion to the half mustered by his side. Four successive points – through two from captain Michael Carroll and one apiece from Eamon Colum and Joe McFadden – turned a negative into a positive. O’Donnell popped over his fifth of the half to leave the minimum between them – Gaoth Dobhair 0-6 St Eunan’s 0-5.
Three successive St Eunan’s scores at the start of the second half tipped the balance their way, with Padraig McAleer’s free being added to by Rory Carr and Kevin Kealy.
Again, though, Gaoth Dobhair ironed out the creases, getting to 0-8 to 0-8 when Conor Boyle and Colum scoring.
And although substitute Ciaran Maloney edged St Eunan’s into a slender lead moments after coming in off the bench, that was merely a prelude to Boyle and Colum adding scores to put Gaoth Dobhair 0-10 to -0-9 in front with 11 minutes remaining.
St Eunan’s, after that, would level, and then go ahead through O’Donnell but as close it was to being their day, it was Gaoth Dobhair’s.
Gaoth Dobhair: Gavin Sweeney; Conor McFadden, Gary McFadden, Ciarán McHugh; Conor McCafferty, Ryan Kelly, Neasan Mac Giolla Bhride; Micheal Carroll (0-2,1f), Odhrán McFadden; Naoise O’Baoill, Eamon Collum (0-3),  Dáire O’Baoill (1-1); Kyle McFadden (0-1), Conor Boyle (0-2, 2fs), Joe McFadden (0-1). Subs: Daniel McLaughlin for McFadden (24), Michael Dwyer for McCafferty (36).
St Eunan’s: Matthew Gallagher; Conor Moore, Darragh McWalters, Sean Halvey; Brian McIntyre, Daragh Toal, Kevin Kealy (0-1); Oisin Toal, Padraig McAleer (0-1, 1f); Ciaran Kelly, Odhran McGinley, Oisin O’Boyle; Rory Carr (0-1), Niall O’Donnell (0-7, 1f), Jake Whelan. Subs: Ciaran Diver for Moore (half-time), Kevin Grant for O’Boyle (39), Ciaran Maloney (0-1) for McAleer (44), Martin Molloy for Carr (50).
Referee: Paddy McGonagle (Buncrana).
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