Glenfin gave themselves a massive relegation lifeline – and in the process put a considerable dent in Bundoran’s Division 2 title hopes.
Glenfin 2-12 Bundoran 1-11
By Charlie Collins at Pairc Tabhoige
It wasn’t a happy homecoming for Francie Martin, the Glenfin native in charge of Bundoran, as they saw their grip on the Division 2 crown loosened with a four-point defeat.
This result means that Glenfin’s cross-parish rivals, Sean MacCumhaills, now have the initiative at the summit and know a win over Termon on Saturday evening will mean they will be crowned champions.
But Glenfin had only their own house in mind here.
Goals from Carl McGlynn and Paddy O’Connor hoist Liam Breen’s team above Four Masters, Termon and Malin and have significantly improved their odds on avoiding the drop – but Four Masters head for An Gaeltacht Lár on Saturday for what is now a real four-pointer.
After a tit-for-tat opening ten minutes, when the sides were level three times, Bundoran surged ahead in the 17th minute when Donegal ace Jame Brennan cracked a superb goal past Andrew Walsh after taking a pass from Gary Clancy,
Glenfin hit back just six minutes later. O’Connor’s high ball in was wonderfully fetched by Ciaran Brady, who off-loaded for McGlynn to fire home.
Brady hit two points in the next two minutes and goalkeeper Andrew Walsh landed a ’45 as Glenfin moved 1-6 to 1-5 ahead at half-time.
Bundoran
Clancy drew Bunodran level two minutes after the break with a ’45 and a free, but Glenfin hit their second goal in the 41st minute.
A brilliant team move ended with Stephen Carr teeing up O’Connor to riffle past Conor Carthy.
Brady, Matthew McGinley, Walsh and Carr, with the point of the night, had Glenfin five up with six minutes left.
McGinley had a chance to put the game to bed, but he fired wide with a goal chance for the hosts, but they made sure of the win as Jason Morrow swung over their final score of the evening.
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh (0-2, 1f, 1 ’45); Ross Marley, Gary Herron, Gary Dorrian (0-1); Daniel McGlynn (0-2), Gavin McDermott, Stephen Carr (0-1); Jason Morrow (0-1), Stephen Ward; Carl McGlynn (1-0), Eoin Donnellan, Matthew McGinley (0-1); Frank McGlynn, Ciaran Brady (0-3), Paddy O’Connor (1-1, 1f).
Bundoran: Conor Carthy; Pauric Rooney, Diarmuid McCaughey, Matthew Ward; Niall Carr, Peter McGonigle, Timmy Goverov (0-2); Paul Murphy, Ciaran McCaughey; Niall Dunne, Gary Clancy (0-6, 3f, 1 ’45), Diarmuid Spratt; Cian McEniff (0-1), Tommy Hourihane, Jamie Brennan (1-2). Subs: Mattie Duffy for Dunne (44), Johnny Boule for Hourihane (44), Biran McHenry for Carr (46), Chris Keane for Spratt (51).
