LETTERKENNY GAELS GOT their Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Junior A Championship off to winning start with victory at St Mary’s Convoy this afternoon.
St Mary’s Convoy 0-9 Letterkenny Gaels 1-9
A goal from Paddy Doherty on 29 minutes ultimately proved to be the difference between the teams, although Sean McBrearty’s team were certainly made sweat in the closing stages by their game hosts.
Photo caption: Darren Hunter of Letterkenny Gaels in possession for his side against Laurence McMullan and Peter Blake of St Mary’s Convoy in this afternoon’s Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure Junior A Football Championship Group 1 fixture in Convoy. Photo: Geraldine Diver
Gaels had an advantage of a considerable breeze in the first half and made good use of it to go in 1-5 to 0-3 in front.
It was level at 0-2 to 0-2 after 10 minutes with points from St Mary’s Laurence McMullan and Anthony Browne cancelling out scores that came courtesy of Mark Hunter and Doherty for the visitors.
However, the longer the half went on the more comfortable Letterkenny Gaels were in the conditions. Conor McBrearty scored two in the bounce – one from play and a free – before goalkeeper Shane Graham slotted over a 45 to make it 0-5 to 0-2 on 23 minutes.
Conor Cairns in the St Mary’s goal had a fine game, making three important stops. The first of them came on 25 minutes when he denied Brendan O’Brien, who had been played in by Sean McDonagh.
[adrotate group=”46″]But when St Mary’s were turned over as they tried to build from the back a minute before the break, even Cairns could do nothing as the only goal of the game came when Gaels moved the ball swiftly and McBrearty set up Doherty to score.
Benny Bonner did reply with a St Mary’s point before the break, but his side went in five points behind.
Points were traded at the start of the second half with St Mary’s Anthony Browne coming into the game more and more, scoring six points in all. Conor Browne hit Gaels first score of part two.
[adrotate group=”53″]Cairns made two good stops in a minute to keep his St Mary’s team in the contest – getting the better of Donal O’Malley and substitute Mikey Harte.
Hunter and Liam Doherty points gave Gaels a 1-8 to 0-6 advantage with only 10 minutes to go. But three more points from Anthony Browne showed that St Mary’s were willing to battle. in retrospect, McDonagh’s late score proved to be a settler for the away side.
With time almost up, a loose ball broke to Bonner but his pop at the Gaels goal was blocked by Ciaran Lynch.
[adrotate group=”63″]St Mary’s Convoy: Conor Cairns; Ronan Donnelly, James Kee, Shaun Browne; Emmet Patterson, Liam Prunty, Michael Patton; Raymond McNamee, Benny Bonner (0-1); Emmet Kelly, Laurence McMullan (0-2), Michael Ayton; John A McMullan, Peter Blake, Anthony Browne (0-6, 2f). Subs: Ryan Kettle for Ayton (37), Anthony Bogle for Kelly (48).
Letterkenny Gaels: Shane Graham (0-1, 45); Shane McGlade, Ray Quinn, Kevin Kilkenny; Ciaran Lynch, Darren Hunter, Conor Browne (0-1); Brendan O’Brien, Liam Doherty (0-1); Sean McDonagh (0-1), Donal O’Malley, Paddy Doherty (1-1); John Doran, Conor McBrearty (0-2, 1f), Mark Hunter (0-2, 2f). Subs: Conor Coll for Kilkenny (16), Mikey Harte for P Doherty (30).
Referee: Tony Gallagher (Red Hugh’s).
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