TWO POINTS IN the last two minutes sealed a dramatic win for Magh Ene College Bundoran against PCC Falcarragh in Convoy in the last of the Donegal Schools Senior A Football Championship quarter-finals.
Magh Ene College Bundoran 1-13 PCC Falcarragh 1-11
The contest was on a knife-edge at 1-11 apiece after PCC had managed to get back to level and Shane Doohan’s side should’ve went in front in the latter stages only for Michael McHugh to ram the post when looking for goal before Lee Kelly’s pop at a point fell short.
At the other end, with things becoming evermore frantic, Dermot Gallagher took his chance when it came to edge Magh Ene in front and then, with the last kick of the game, Declan Clancy sealed the two-point win.
It was breathless stuff but it means that last year’s beaten semi-finalists Magh Ene are into the same stage again this year where they will play St Columba’s Stranorlar and St Columba’s Comprehensive Glenties face Donegal town’s Abbey Vocational School.
For PCC, who were won the Ulster Under-16 title – the Arthurs Cup – in 2013/14, there will be no repeat at Under-18 level.
It was Fergal O’Flaherty’s Magh Ene who started much the better, leaving 0-4 to 0-1 by the 19th minute with Cian McEniff scoring the first two of his seven points for the day.
Then, a goal chance came and went when Luke Towey almost took advantage of an under-hit free-kick, forcing Dean McColgan in the PCC goal to save.
Towey did point soon afterwards, as did McEniff again to put Magh Ene 0-6 to 0-2 in front.
But by the break the Bundoran side’s deficit was trimmed to half that as Michael Langan -who would score seven points himself – and Michael Mulhern scored two fine points for PCC.
The PCC Falcarragh team that took on Magh Ene College Bundoran this afternoon in the Donegal Schools Senior A Football Championship quarter-final in Convoy
Langan opened the second half scoring to leave one in it, although that was just the calm before the storm.
Magh Ene reeled off four points in success – three from McEniff and one from Gallagher – to go 0-10 to 0-5 ahead by the 37 minute.
And although PCC got three on the spin themselves with Michael Langan scoring twice and Shane Langan once, a goal from Niall Carr of Magh Ene looked to be a huge score in the 46th minute.
Carr finished off a move that saw Conor Colreavy and Towey play their part and the Seasiders were 1-10 to 0-8 ahead with little more than quarter of the game remaining.
Eight minutes from time, though, PCC goaled themselves to make a real fight of it. A long ball on by McHugh reached Ciaran McFadden, who scored past goalkeeper Conor Carty at the second attempt.
That meant PCC were just two behind and when Shane and Michael Langan scored again, the sides were level at 1-11 to 1-11.
It was anyone’s game but in the end, Magh Ene took their chances when the temperature was at its highest.
Magh Ene College Bundoran: Conor Carty: Aidan Brennan, Paul Murphy, Colm Clancy; James Stewart, Shane Carr, Leo Ryan; Dermot Gallagher (0-2), Cillian McGloin; Dara Elliott, Declan Clancy (0-1), Taylor Simpson (0-1); Cian McEniff (0-7, 4f), Conor Colreavy, Luke Towey (0-2). Sub: Niall Carr (1-0) for Elliott (38).
PCC Falcarragh: Dean McColgan; Noel Sweeney, Jimmy Hunter, Aidan Doohan; Ciaran McFadden (1-0), Denis Collm Michael Mulhern (0-1); Michael Langan (0-7, 2f), Daniel Davlin; Michael Fitzgerald, Colm McFadden, Ultan Boyle; Michael McHugh (0-1), Lee McColgan, Shane Langan (0-2). Sub: Lee Kelly from McHugh (59).
Referee: SP Doherty (Urris).
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