ST EUNAN’S were comprehensive winners over Gaoth Dobhair in the Northern Board U-14 Football Championship final at MacCumhaill Park this evening.
St Eunan’s 7-8 Gaoth Dobhair 0-5
An explosive start laid the foundation stones for victory for the side managed by Joe Higgins. St Eunan’s were 12 points up after only 12 minutes before the Magheragallon outfit had caught breadth.
Daragh Ellison was forced to hobble off on 11 minutes but certainly had left his stamp on the game by then, having scored 1-3 in his brief time in the heart of the action. Afterwards, Dylan Doogan had little concern in taking on the mantle and scored 2-3 himself.
After Ellison opened the scoring with a third minute point, Pauric McGettigan got into position to kick the first goal of the evening seconds later, slotting past David Roberts in the Gaoth Dobhair goal.
St Eunan’s continued on the offensive, with Ellison pointing again before slamming home his side’s second goal on eight minutes following a pass from Shane O’Donnell.
Then, after Ellison pointed before his withdrawal, St Eunan’s added a third goal when Oran Winston shot past Roberts to make the score 3-3 to 0-0.
Cathal Gillespie opened Gaoth Dobhair’s account with a free on 16 minutes and for the rest of the half they contested very well, limiting St Eunan’s to three points – through two fine Dylan Doogan efforts and one from O’Donnell – to leave it 3-6 to 0-1 for the O’Donnell Park residents at half-time.
St Eunan’s were fast out from the traps in the second half with Doogan pointing for the third time. Then, O’Donnell added a quality fourth goal when he ran right at the head of the Gaoth Dobhair defence and pierced a shot across and into the far corner.
What followed was Gaoth Dobahir’s best spell of the match, as they kicked four successive scores – two apiece from Liam McFadden and Gillespie.
However, Doogan, who was having a masterful evening gave Donall Higgins’ astute pass the finish it deserved when he lobbed gently over Roberts on 47 minutes, leaving the side from the Cathedral Town 5-7 to 0-5 in front.
Four minute later, Doogan added another goal when he got a slap after Winston’s attempt at a point hung in the air. On 55 minutes, Eoin Dowling was on hand to tuck home a seventh St Eunan’s goal before Winston was out of luck late on as his delicate effort came back off the crossbar. O’Donnell’s point rounded off the scoring for the evening.
St Eunan’s: Oisin Randles; Peadar Devenney, David Smith, James McLoughlin; Donall Higgins, Conor O’Donnell, Oisin Bradley; Shane O’Donnell (1-2), Pauric McGettigan (1-0); Jonathan Coady, Daragh Ellison (1-3, 1f), Eoin Dowling (1-0); Dylan Doogan (2-3), Oran Winston (1-0), Ronan Daly. Subs: Kieran Tobin for Ellison (11) Andrew Grant for Bradley (57), Oran Brogan for Daly (59).
Gaoth Dobhair: Dáithi Roberts; Micheál Doherty, Rowan Turk, Eoin Burke; Fiachra Coyle, Ruairi Gallagher, Aiden Walsh; Dylan Diver, Liam McFadden (0-2, 2f); Domhnall McBride, Stephen McFadden, Cathal Gillespie (0-3, 2f); Aidan Ferry, Jamie Doherty, Eamonn Gallagher. Subs: Odhrán Coyle for Gallagher (39), Dáire Sweeney for Ferry (45), Sean McGee for Walsh (53), Eamonn McGarvey for Doherty (59), Cian McBride for McBride (60), Lochlainn O’Dea for Coyle (60).
