KILCAR FINISHED OFF their 2016 season with silverware in the form of the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1 title.
Naomh Conaill 3-8 Kilcar 2-16
There was a brawl at the end with players involved from both teams and Leo McLoone’s goal at the bitter end for Naomh Conaill proved to be the last kick of the game.
Photo caption: The Kilcar panel who this afternoon defeated Naomh Conaill at Davy Brennan Memorial Park in Glenties to win the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1. Photo: Kilcar GAA official Twitter
However, eight points from Patrick McBrearty and goals from Conor Doherty and Mark Sweeney meant Kilcar win the top flight for the second time in three seasons.
[adrotate group=”81″]The team managed by Martin Regan and Martin Doherty, though, were playing catch-up for the entire contest as Kilcar hit the ground running.
After eight minutes Martin McHugh’s team were 0-5 to 0-1 in front with Patrick McBrearty scoring twice, while Stephen McBrearty, Sweeney and Mark McHugh were also on target.
Kieran Gallagher belatedly got Naomh Conaill on the board but that only acted as a prelude to the game’s opening goal, when Patrick McBrearty set up Conor Doherty to shoot past Tony Byrne on 13 minutes.
[adrotate group=”38″]Eleven minutes later, Kilcar added a second goal and it was Sweeney who rounded off a fine move that started in the Towney side’s defence with Conor McShane and Ryan McHugh involved in the build-up.
Naomh Conaill were only playing in fits and starts and trailed 2-9 to 0-6 at the break.
Just like they did in the first half, Kilcar flew out of the blocks at the start of the second. Four unanswered points – with Michael Hegarty, Ashley Carr, Ryan McHugh and Stephen McBrearty on target – to establish a 13-point lead.
[adrotate group=”56″]On 42 minutes, Dermot Molloy goaled for Naomh Conaill following their best passage of play of the game and three minutes later, McLoone, who had come on at half-time punched a cross-cum-shot from Molloy into the Kilcar net.
That made it 2-13 to 2-6 for Kilcar but Naomh Conaill’s hopes suffered a setback with neither team pointing for eight minutes.
[adrotate group=”46″]Patrick McBrearty broke that sequence and would add two more scores late on. The scuffle at the end had broken out as McLoone added his second goal at the death. But when the dust settled it was Kilcar who would be taking the trophy home.
It will go some way to compensating for the disappointment of losing to Glenswilly in the Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure Donegal SFC final. They’ll have something to take into 2017.
[adrotate group=”85″]Naomh Conaill: Tony Byrne; Jason Campbell, Aaron Thompson, Stephen Molloy; Eunan Doherty (0-1), Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide; Kieran Gallagher (0-2), Ciaran Thompson; Eoghan McGettigan (0-1), Dermot Molloy (1-3, 2f), John O’Malley; Brendan McDyer (0-1), Ethan O’Donnell, Leon Thompson (1-0). Subs: Leo McLoone (2-0), Marty Boyle and Kevin McGettigan for Molloy, McDyer and K McGettigan (half-time), Daragh Gallagher for O’Donnell (44), AJ Gallagher for O’Malley (46).
Kilcar: Eamonn McGinley; Stephen Shovlin, Conor McShane, Pauric Carr; Patrick Gallagher, Mark McHugh (0-1), Ryan McHugh (0-2);Michael Hegarty (0-1), Ciaran McGinley; Conor Doherty (1-0), Stephen McBrearty (0-1), Eoin McHugh; Aodhan McGinley, Patrick McBrearty (0-8, 3f), Mark Sweeney (1-2). Subs: Ashley Carr for A McGinley (30), Cormac Cannon for Gallagher (55), Daniel Lyons for E McHugh (57).
Referee: Seamus McGonigle (Aodh Ruadh)
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