Naomh Conaill powered past an off-form Cloughaneely today in Pairc Naomh Fionan, winning by eleven points.
Cloughaneely 0-12 3-14 Naomh Conaill
The visitors came into the game as favourites having years of experience in division one. But a few weeks back Cloughaneely managed to earn a point in the reverse fixture so a tight contest was expected.
Naomh Conaill put in an intelligent display of fast attacking football and gave little space for the Cloughaneely forwards to work in.
They played without county trio Anthony Thompson, Ciarán Thompson and Leo McLoone, but started the game rapidly, pointing inside the first thirty seconds.
Kieran Gallagher got on the end of a fast hand-passing move and split the posts to raise the white flag.
Gallagher was causing problems in the middle for the full half and he posted three points inside the first thirty minutes, the second a monster score from just inside the 45 metre line.
His opposite number Martin Maguire also nailed three scores in the first half with both men getting on plenty of ball.
Naomh Conaill bagged a goal half way through the first half and it was the score that allowed them to power on. Jack McKelvey found himself in acres of space and he squared to Dermot Molloy who calmly dummied the defender and slotted into an empty net.
Cloughaneely never really recovered from this although Denis Boyle did manage to score three free kicks which left it 1-11 to 0-8 at half-time.
Kieran Gallagher saw red for an off the ball incident early in the second half but it didn’t halt Naomh Conaill’s momentum at all. The Glenties men hit two further goals in the second half with John O’Malley getting their second, slotting away a penalty with his first touch.
Ultan Doherty scored the third goal of the game, finishing confidently after good build-up play from AJ Gallagher.
Logan Quinn, Dermot Molloy and John O’Malley added further points to keep the lead ticking over.
Shaun McGarvey did earn his side two points after coming off the bench but Cloughaneely just couldn’t get into the game and Naomh Conaill comfortably held out for the victory.
Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty; Michael Fitzgerald, Ciaran Scanlon (0-1); John Harley, Kevin Mulhern (0-1), Cian McFadden; Mark Harley; Lee O’Brien Martin Maguire (0-3); Aidan Doohan, Denis Boyle (0-3 3f), John McGarvey; Darren Ferry (0-1), Shaun Maguire (0-1), Ciaran McGeady. Subs used: Cillian Gallagher for John McGarvey, 17’, Paddy Cannon for Cian McFadden, HT, Shaun McGarvey (0-2) for Darren Ferry, 41’, Martin Ferry for Denis Boyle 55’.
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; AJ Gallagher, Jason Campbell, Aaron Thompson (0-1); Eunan Doherty, Kevin McGettigan (0-2), Ultan Doherty (1-0); Ethan O’Donnell, Kieran Gallagher (0-3); Marty Boyle(0-1), Danny Gallagher (0-2), Seamus Ellis; Jack McKelvey, Dermot Molloy (1-3, 1f) Logan Quinn (0-1). Subs used: John O’Malley (1-1) for Danny Gallagher, 39.
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