SEAN MACCUMHAILL’S WILL take on Burt in the Donegal SHC for their third year in succession following their victory over Setanta.
Sean MacCumhaill’s 2-14 Setanta 1-12
The Twin Towns based side topped the initial group stage and have now won six in succession in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure sponsored competition and will aim for a first title since 2010.
Photo caption: Gavin Browne of MacCumhaill’s in possession for his side against Setanta in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure SHC semi-final in Ballybofey last night. Photos: Christopher Doherty
Against their neighbours and rivals last night at county headquarters, goals from Sean Curran and Barry McGranaghan gave MacCumhaill’s the first half initiative.
Setanta made a fist of it, with Kevin Campbell goaling in the second half late on, but by that stage the gap was just too much for them.
It was 0-4 to 0-4 when the first goal arrived, on 17 minutes, and it was certainly one more of accident than design.
Curran launched a long ball into the square and it was missed by everyone before nestling in the Setanta net.
Campbell and Colm Melaugh scored Setanta points to take their arrears back to just the one, 1-4 to 0-6, but a second MacCumhaill’s goal on 21 minutes made for a cushion of a little more comfort.
Players from MacCumhaill’s and Setanta battle for possession in in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure SHC semi-final in Ballybofey last night
That game came when McGranaghan kicked in from a narrow angle having made space for himself following a Ciaran Mathewson ball in. Lee Henderson’s point – one of six he would score – meant that Setanta trailed 2-5 to 0-6 at half-time.
[adrotate group=”38″]And although Melaugh scored the first point of the second half for Setanta, that was merely a prelude to MacCumhaill’s scoring four times in succession. Henderson, Gerard Gilmore, Conor Gallagher and Curran were the scorers and by the 40th minute they were 2-9 to 0-7 up.
Points were traded at both ends but MacCumhaill’s kept their opponents at arm’s length. Campbell did a 57th minute goal from a free from 20 metres for Setanta but they weren’t able to breach the gap.
[adrotate group=”37″]Sean MacCumhaill’s: Dylan Laverty; Anthony Patton, Jamsie Donnelly, Michael Lillis; Ciaran Mathewson, Gavin Browne, Conor Griffin; Paddy Hannigan, Lee Henderson (0-6, 6f) Sean Curran (1-3), Conor Gallagher (0-1), Barry McGranaghan (1-1); Aaron McCauley (0-2), Gerard Gilmore (0-1), David White. Subs: Bernard McMenamin for Lillis (26), Jamie De Ward for Gilmore (40), Andrew Barnes for Gallagher (60).
Setanta: Warren Scanlon; Mark Callaghan, Simon McMenamin, Brendan Tourish; Bernard Lafferty, Marin Bonner, Justin McBride; Danny Cullen (0-4, 4f), Ritchie Kee (0-2); Sean Anderson, Shane Gallen (0-1), Damien Browne; Colm Melaugh (0-1), Kevin Campbell (1-4, 1-4f), Dean McDevitt. Subs: Denvir Rowan for Anderson (half-time).
Referee: Owen Elliott (Antrim).
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