NAOMH CONAILL SHOWED no mercy to struggling Glenswilly with a comprehensive 17-point win at Davy Brennan Memorial Park.
Naomh Conaill 4-8 Glenswilly 0-3
The reigning county champions were being held 0-3 to 0-3 after 24 minutes but then hit the upper gears and the side managed by Michael Canning failed to score from then on.
Photo caption: Ciaran Gibbons from Glenswilly holds onto possession as Naomh Conaill’s Ciaran Thompson makes the challenge and Dermot Molloy watches on in the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1. Photo: Geraldine Diver
Glenswilly have lost all but one of their seven outings in the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1 this term.
A large part of that reason for that would be the absence of Michael Murphy and Neil Gallagher as well as Ciaran Bonner, Oisin Crawford, Keelan McFadden, Brian Farrelly, James Pat McDaid and Caolan Kelly, although Naomh Conaill did line out this afternoon in Glenties without a handful of their more familiar faces.
Anthony Thompson was out with concussion, Brendan McDyer and Eoghan McGettigan didn’t feature and Dermot Molloy – who was to replace Eoin Waide after only five minutes – started on the bench.
Two points from Gary McFadden and one from Caoimhin Marley had Glenswilly level, following Naomh Conaill scores – a brace from Molloy with Leon Thompson also on the mark.
[adrotate group=”68″]The moment of the sea-change came in the 24 minute when Leon Thompson palmed past James Gallagher after approach play that involved John O’Malley and Charlie McGuinness.
Darragh Gallagher opened his account to give Naomh Conaill a 1-4 to 0-3 half-time advantage.
But with the breeze at their backs, the team managed by Martin Doherty and Martin Regan went through the gears. Molloy’s free was flicked by O’Malley in for Naomh Conaill’s second goal on 35 minutes.
Then minutes later, Ethan O’Donnell was the provider as O’Malley added a third goal to effectively end the contest, 3-6 to 0-3.
Points from Molloy and Gallagher kept the umpires busy. And O’Donnell grabbed a goal himself in the closing stages when he only had Gallagher to beat.
Naomh Conaill: Tony Byrne; Kevin McGettigan, Cathal Ellis, Stephen Molloy; Marty Boyle, Eunan Doherty, Logan Quinn; Ethan O’Donnell (1-1), Ciaran Thompson; Darragh Gallagher (0-3, 2f), Leo McLoone, Eoin Waide; John O’Malley (2-0), Charles McGuinness, Leon Thompson (1-1). Subs: Dermot Molloy (0-3, 2f) for E Waide (5); Seamus Corcoran for L Thompson (half-time); Aaron Thompson for McGettigan (36); Ultan Doherty for Boyle (52)
Glenswilly: James Gallagher; Ryan Diver, Eamonn Ward, Aidan McDevitt; Mark McAteer, Ciaran Gibbons, Ethan Sweeney; Leon Kelly, Gary McFadden (0-2, 1f); Caomhain Marley (0-1), Darren McGinley, Joe Gibbons; Cormac Callaghan, Christopher McMonagle, Cathal Gallagher. Subs: Philip O’Donnell for Callaghan (33); Paddy McFadden for Diver (37).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs)
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