ST NAUL’S prevailed by the skins of their teeth to move level on points with Termon in Division 2.
Termon 0-10 St Naul’s 0-11
By Chris McNulty at The Burn Road
On an afternoon when the teams were level five times at the Burn Road, Stuart Johnston clipped St Naul’s in front for the first time five minutes from the end.
A delicious Thomas White point followed and St Naul’s held on in the face of an onslaught.
Termon will wonder how and why they managed to enter their post-match huddle empty handed.
St Naul’s goalkeeper Gavin Mulreany (pictured) was excellent throughout and was a big contributor, the number one adding a cool free in the first half for good measure.
Termon led 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time, a spurt of scores by Ryan McFadden, Anthony Grant, James McSharry and Aaron Reid moving them four ahead by the 18th minute.
Johnston had a chance of a goal late in the half for St Naul’s, but was off target and Reid’s free had it a two-point game at the changeover.
In 36 minutes played in the second half, Termon added just two more points, the second of those when Reid flicked over from a dropping free well into added time.
They were firmly in touch, mind you, and level indeed with 12 minutes to play.
Donegal under-20 midfielder McFadden stroked over a ’45 after Mulreany saved from McSharry.
Moments earlier, St Naul’s had a big reprieve when, after McFadden’s quickly taken free was blocked by Ryan Coughlan and Jack Alcorn rattled the post from the follow-up.
Three minuets into the second half, Termon corner-back Caolan Gallagher had a sight of goal but, just as he was considering his options having been fed by McFadden, Michael Coughlan picked his pockets.
At the other end, Emmet Maguire saved at the near post from Cathal Lowther.
St Naul’s got their noses in front and Termon went on a rescue mission.
McSharry’s thundering shot was blocked and at times the home side – although minus the services of Daire McDaid – tended to rush their play in the final third.
Mulreany saved from Steve McElwaine and McFadden to keep the sheet clean and earn St Naul’s, who were without the injured Peadar Mogan, a useful win on the road.
Termon: Emmet Maguire; Caolan Gallagher, James McSharry (0-1), Nathan McElwaine; Jamie Grant, Anthony Grant (0-1), Barry McGeehin; Ryan McFadden (0-3, 2f, 1 ’45), Jack Alcorn; (0-1m) Oisin Cassidy, Conor Cassidy, Aaron Reid (0-3, 1f); Steve McElwaine, Bobby McGettigan (0-1), Steve McDaid. Subs: James Doherty for McDaid (half-time), Eoghan Doherty for A.Grant (51), Kevin McGettigan for Gallagher (52).
St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreany (0-1f); Brendan McCole, Barry Griffin, John Relihan; Ryan Coughlan, Kyle Campbell, Diarmuid Gallagher; Stuart Johnston (0-2), Stephen Griffin (0-4, 3f); Michael Coughlan, Thomas White (0-3, 1f), Martin Breslin; Shane Conneely, Brian McGroary, Joe Campbell. Subs: Daniel Meehan (0-1) for J.Campbell (17), Cathal Lowther for Conneely (25), Lee McCabe for McGroary (64).
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada).
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