NAOMH ULTAN’S aspirations of making an impact in the AIB Ulster Club Junior Football Championship quickly dispelled when they were comprehensively beaten by St Aidan’s, Templeport, today.
Naomh Ultan 1-5 St Aidan’s, Templeport 3-12
The Cavan champions were much slicker than their hosts and we full value for their 13-point win.
Donegal’s Junior champions were chasing the game from as early as the third minute, when Eoin Doonan netted but Naomh Ultan made a fist of it in an entertaining first half.
Doonan took an excellent reverse pass from Liam McAweeney and gave the move the finish it deserved when he shot past Daniel McGlynn.
Naomh Ultan took a while to find their stride and took baby-steps before they did. Damian Quigley and a pair of Cian Kennedy points settled their nerves but Templeport were also chipping away themselves.
There was almost a goal to celebrate for Naomh Ultan when Dermot Gallier’s shot at goal was deflected onto the post by Sean Dolan.
By the 25th minute they were 1-5 to 0-3 in front, with Doonan and Ben Kieran popping over a couple of points apiece.
A goal three minutes before the break, when James Byrne was on target, from the Dunkineely outfit lifted the home support. Kennedy was the supplier with a long, raking pass and Byrne finished well.
But St Aidan’s soon reversed that score as Benjamin Kelly added a second goal on the stroke of half-time.
Again, it was masterfully crafted, with Liam Galligan loading the gun but there was still work to do. Kelly cut inside and rammed home to leave his team 2-6 to 1-3 in front at the interval.
In the second half, St Aidan’s shifted effortlessly through the gears and added a third goal on 41 minutes as Galligan this time finished well, opening up his bode before shooting into the far corner of McGlynn’s goal when Kieran provided the assist.
Kennedy had opened the scoring in that second period for Naomh Ultan but it proved to be their only point before Aaron Byrne knocked over a close-range free with the last kick of the match.
At the other end, Templeport kept the scoreboard going with Galligan, Martin Ball and Donal Maguire all scoring.
St Aidan’s, Templeport: Darren Donohoe; Brendan McGoldrick, Sean Dolan, Michael Devine; Lassa Morgenroth, Oran Duffy, Dillon Raythorne; Martin Ball, Donal Maguire; Benjamin Kelly (0-1), Ben Kiernan (0-3, 1f, 2 ’45’), Eoghan Martin; Eoin Doonan (1-2), Liam McAweeney, Liam Galligan (1-4, 2f). Subs Killian Smith for Morgenroth (half-time), Kieran McManus for Ball (50), Conor McAweeney for L McAweeney (56), Eamon Baxter for Kelly (58).
Naomh Ultan: Daniel McGlynn; Conor Shovlin, Jonathan Cassidy, Michael McGlynn; Daniel Gallagher, Dermot Gallier, Alastair Rodgers; Shane McWhinnie, Donal Murrin; James Byrne (1-0), Alan Lyons, Cian Kennedy (0-3, 1f, 1’45’); Peter Alvey, Aidan Duddy, Damien Quigley (0-1). Subs: Declan Murrin and Aaron Byrne (0-1, 1f) for Donal Murrin and M McGlynn (half-time), Colin MacNicholas for Lyons (51), Michael Breslin and Emmett Kennedy for J Byrne and Alvey (58).
Referee: Ciaran Mooney (Down).
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