That St.Eunans won this keenly contested derby game in Convoy there is no doubt, not is there any doubt that confusion regarding the score at half-time had a knock-on effort later in the game.
ST. EUNANS 1-07 V 0-08 COLAISTI INIS EOGHAIN.
The referee Brian McCallion had it 1-04 to 0-03 in St. Eunans favour at the break,on my score-sheet and that of Donegal News Sports reporter Ryan Ferry it was 1-03 to 0-04 for Eunans.
For the record Ryan was in the Press area on the dressing-room side while I was on the far side-line on the dug-out side. It’s hard to imagine that we would both of got it wrong and our score was also the one that both teams agreed was correct.
Late in the game the Inishowen lads were awarded a close range free which on our score-sheet would have left level if converted but because they thought they needed a goal the ball was dropped in short but cleared by the Eunans defence.
Inishowen opened with two points from Jonathan Toye’s free and Oisín Hasson from play before Shane McDevitt pointed a free to get Eunans on the scoreboard in the 8th minute.
Two minutes later Inishowen keeper denied the dangerous Oisín Purdy with a fine save.
McDevitt pointed another free but Lee McLaughlin restored the lead in the 19th minute and then had a goal chance after good play by Oisín McGonigle but blasted wide from a good position.
Shane Doherty had Eunans level with a fine score from play a minute later but Josh Conlon’s fine effort had Inishowen in the lead yet again at 0-04 to 0-03.
But as half-time approached Eunans swept forward and Purdy showed pace and then vision to put P J Mc Brearty through and although the angle was a bit tight he hammered the ball past O Donnell to give his team a two point lead at half-time. 1-03 to 0-04. Two minutes into the second-half Eunans keeper Eoin O Boyle produced a brillant save to deny Conor O Donnell who had burst through from midfield.
Jonathan Toye pointed a free to narrow the gap to one point but Shane McDevitt kick two frees , one from distance to make it a three point game 1-05 to 0-05 , but on the Referee’s score-card 1-06 to 0-4.
Toye kicked two more frees and in between Matthew Mulholland scored from play and on our scorecards it was level.
Eunans swept forward and Mc Devitt kicked a fine point from play to restore the lead at 1-06 to 0-08 but again the ref’s card was showing 1-07 to 0-07 and Inishowen went for the goal because his score was the one that would count.
Eunans broke away and sub Paddy Tobin won good possession and fed Peter McEniff who pointed well from 30 yards under pressure.
There was still time for another Brillant save from Eunans captain Eoin O’Boyle in the final action of the game as he somehow got down low to his right to keep out a goalbound close range shot in a crowded goalmouth and Eunans held on take the win by two points or by four according to the Referee’s scorecard.
This was the winners first game in the competition as a couple of earlier fixtures had to be postponed and Colaisti Inis Eoghain’s first defeat in three, so both teams are well placed to advance in the MacLarnon Cup.
Colaiste Inis Eoghain ; Pauric O Donnell, Sean Bryne, Ciaran Doherty , Aaron Craig , Matthew Mulholland ( 0-1 ) , Luke Mullins, Conor O Donnell, Oisin Mc Gonigle, Conor Banbrick, Ben Bradley, Daniel Houghton , Oisin Hasson ( 0-1 ), Lee Mc Laughlin ( 0-1 ) , Jonathan Toye, ( 0-4f ) , Josh Conlon ( 0-1 ). Subs ; Evan Craig for Bradley ( 40mins ), Brian Hegarty for Craig ( 56mins ), Conor Carlin for Banbrick ( 57mins ).
St. Eunans ; Eoin O Boyle , Cormac O Kane , Anthony Gallagher , James Kelly, Tony Toye, Peter Mc Eniff ( 0-1 ) , Ryan Hilferty , Brian Diver , Shane Mc Daid, P J Mc Brearty ( 1-0 ) , Cormac Finn , Shane Doherty ( 0-1 ), Oisin Purdy , Shane Mc Devitt ( 0-5 4f ), Brian Alcorn, Subs ;Shane O Donnell for Alcorn ( 25 mins ), Pauric mc Gettigan for Toye ( 50mins ), Paddy Tobin for Finn ( 55 mins ) , Conor Mc Kinney for Mc Daid ( 56mins ). Referee ; Brian Mc Callion ( Tyrone ).
