ST MICHAEL’S CAME back from the dead this afternoon to claim a point against Naomh Conaill at the Bridge.
St. Michael’s 1-15 Naomh Conaill 3-9
The team Glenties led by 10 points at the break and the sizeable crowd could have been forgiven in thinking that the match was over. Playing with the advantage of a stiff breeze Naomh Conaill got off to a perfect start when Dermot Molloy got a goal after just 20 seconds.
John O’Malley added another point and further points from Leo McLoone (0-3) and O’Malley with one and Ethan O’Donnell, Molloy, birthday boy Ciaran Thompson with two and a goal from Leo McLoone left them in a commanding position at the break with the only St. Michael’s points coming from Michael Langan with two and Daniel McLaughlin.
The half-time score was St. Michael’s 0-3 Naomh Conaill 2-7.
St Michael’s began the second half brightly and a point from Daniel McLaughlin opened the scoring. Andrew Kelly scored another point but Glenties kept the gap up with points from John O’Malley and Ciaran Thompson.
However the home side inspired by Colm McFadden using the wind came more and more in to the match and points from Colm McFadden, Michael Cannon and Martin McElhinney reduced the arrears for the Creeslough/Dunfanaghy men before Colm McFadden dispatched a penalty to level matters.
Colin McFadden put the Bridge men a point to the good before Ciaran Gallagher took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to put Glenties two points up. The Bridge men kept fighting and Colm McFadden added two further points one with the last kick of the game to give St. Michael’s a share of the spoils.
Michael Langan saw red for the hosts late on but overall Michael Kelly will be happy with the St. Michael’s comeback in a very entertaining match and St. Michael’s will now look forward to travelling to near neighbours Cloughaneely next Sunday.
St Michael’s: Aaron Bowyer; Liam Kelly, Stephen Doak, Ruairi Friel; Hugh O’Donnell, Ciaran Gallagher, Oisin Langan; Michael Langan (0-2), Liam Paul Ferry; Daniel McLaughlin (0-3), Colm McFadden (0-6, 5fs), Colin McFadden (0-2); Michael Cannon (0-1), Martin McElhinney (0-1), Andrew Kelly. Subs: Ciaran Kelly for O.Langan (47 mins).
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Logan Quinn, Jason Campbell, AJ Gallagher; Ultan Doherty, Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide; Ethan O’Donnell (0-1), Kieran Gallagher (1-0); Eunan Doherty, Leo McLoone (0-1), Marty Boyle; John O’Malley (0-4, 3fs), Dermot Molloy (1-2), Ciaran Thompson (1-1). Subs: Brendan McDyer and Kevin McGettigan for Quinn and E.Doherty (45 mins).
Referee: Robbie O’Donnell (Naomh Muire).
