GOALS BY Adam Neely and Conor Greene fired Dungloe to a derby win over Naomh Muire at The Banks, booking their place in a county semi-final of Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta.
Naomh Muire 0-08 Dungloe 2-08
Neely hit a major in the first half and, while Naomh Muire debated the legitimacy of the strike, it stood and it kept Dungloe ahead throughout.
Late in the game, they added the second. Neely was denied by a good save from the Naomh Muire goalkeeper, Daniel Devlin, but Greene punched home from a yard out to seal the win.
Naomh Muire, now under Eamon O’Boyle’s charge, had stunned St Michael’s in the previous round, but it was Dungloe who started the better here.
After Ryan Greene’s free to open the scoring, Darren Curran might have goaled for the visitors, but he pulled his shot wide of the mark.
Dungloe bagged the opening goal in the 12th minute. Neely’s initial shot hit the upright and when the ball was recycled back, Neely was the man to apply the finish.
Naomh Muire contested that the ball had gone wide, but refere Connie Doherty awarded the goal.
Hugh Yank Boyle got the opening Naomh Muire point, but Shaun Sharkey pointed, via the crossbar to keep Dungloe well in the driving seat.
Harry Harden ignited the home challenge with a free from close to the sideline on 21 minutes, but Naomh Muire goalkeeper Devlin had to be alert to beat away an effort from Gavin Ward.
With Harden, Sean Burns and Paddy McCafferty on the mark Naomh Muire were within a point – 1-3 to 0-5 – at the break, but the home side were down a man for the second half.
In injury time at the end of the first period, Brian Gillespie saw red for an apparent strike on Dungloe’s Ryan Greene.
Harden hit some wonderful frees in the second half and they had Naomh Muire hopeful, but Dungloe hit a mini purple patch with Barry Curran, Sharkey and veteran Adrian Sweeney turning over three quickfire points.
Dungloe – for whom Darren Curran was brilliant – could have been out of sight, but Devlin made a brilliant double save early in the second half from Ryan Greene and Neely, while Dungloe hit the post in the ensuing scramble.
Naomh Muire
In the end, the numerical difference told, as did Dungloe’s greater experience.
Both teams are in All-County League action this weekend as Dungloe host St Michael’s and Naomh Muire are away to St Naul’s.
Naomh Muire: Daniel Devlin; Tomas Duffy, Brian Gillespie, Sean Point Gallagher; Cian Boyle, Adi O’Gara, Robbie O’Donnell; Adam O’Brien, Patrick Gillespie; Sean Burns (0-1), Paddy McCafferty (0-1), Daniel Gallagher; Harry Harden (0-5, 5f), Hugh Yank Boyle (0-1, 1f), Jack Boyle. Subs: James Ferry for H.Boyle (14), Patrick Rodgers for O’Gara (half-time), Paul Yank Boyle for A.O’Brien (42), Jamie Boyle for Ferry (42), Conor White for C.Boyle (51)
Dungloe: Ciaran Sharkey; Doalty Boyle, Raymond Sweeney, Jack Scally; Gavin Ward, Matthew Ward, Darren Curran (0-1); Noel McBride, Shaun Sharkey (0-2); Barry Curran (0-1), Martin Redmond, Gerard Walsh; Adam Neely (1-1), Conor Greene (1-0), Ryan Greene (0-2, 2f). Subs: Danny Rogers for Sharkey (half-time), Adrian Sweeney (0-1) for McBride (37), Mark Sweeney for Boyle (42), Sam Wallace for Neely (55), Ben O’Donnell for Scally (56), Donal Rodgers for Redmond (58)
Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill).
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