EIGHT points down in the first half, three points down with a minute to go, yet Dungloe somehow managed to pull victory from the fire against Ardara this afternoon.
Naomh Conaill 2-7 Ardara 0-12
Adrian Sweeney had been spring from the bench by Tony Boyle in a bid to save the day some 12 minutes from time and it was the 2003 All-Star who scored three points  – two from play – in the last minute before Conor Greene put Dungloe in front for the first time all day.
Before he did, Ardara missed three opportunities to go in front once again and will be kicking themselves at how they let it slip in the admittedly slipper conditions as the rain got heavier and heavier.
Dungloe now have something to play for in their final Group 2 fixture in the All-County Football League Group 3 away to St Eunan’s next weekend, while Ardara are now out after Naomh Conaill’s 2-12 to 0-8 win over St Eunan’s in Letterkenny.
In Dungloe, John McConnell’s visitors were in almost complete control of the first half, kicking eight points in the first 13 minutes with Martin Shovlin scoring three times and Brendan Boyce, Brendan McNelis, Kieran Breslin, CJ Molloy and Kevin Whyte also on the mark.
Smart in possession and first to every lose ball, Ardara were looking good, although there was always a bit of a feeling that Dungloe might have something of a bite after the break with the advantage of the slope and the slight breeze.
In the 22nd minute, Dungloe finally gave their local support something to cheer when Greene got a more powerful connection on a dropping Darren Curran ball than Declan Gallagher, the Ardara goalkeeper, and a goal was given.
However, Ardara steadied the ship and points at the end of the half meant they were 0-10 to 1-0 ahead at the break.
Dungloe needed something at the start of the second half and they needed it fast but in 10 second half minutes they had managed just two points, with Adam Neely and Greene on the mark.
What they needed was a goal and on 43 minutes, Dungloe got it when Barry Curran played into Greene, who laid off to Darren Curran on the run to smash past Gallagher.
On 0-10 to 2-3, Dungloe began to believe but at a stage when they looked to be losing complete control, Ardara steadied the ship. With Paddy McGrath playing through the pain barrier gripping the top of his hamstring, points from a McNelis free and Stefan Boyle looked to have made the game safe.
Ardara were 0-12 to 2-3 in front and time was running thin. But they mustered a comeback from the grimmest of situations. Both teams had chances to win but it was Dungloe’s who took theirs
Dungloe: Danny Rogers; Jack Scally, Raymond Sweeney, Owen Scally; Martin Redmond, Darren Curran (1-0), Mark Sweeney; Corey Gallagher, Paul McGarvey; Noel McBride, Conor Greene (1-3, 2f), Eoin Redmond; David McCarron, Adam Neely (0-1), Barry Curran. Subs: Adrian Sweeney (0-3, 1f) for E Redmond (48), Luke Neely for M Sweeney (54)
Ardara: Declan Gallagher; Nicolas Maguire, Declan Gavigan (0-1), Paddy McGrath; Peter McNelis, Conor Classon, John Ros Molloy; Brendan Boyle (0-1), Kenneth Doherty (0-1); Brendan McNelis (0-2, 2f), Tomás Boyle, Martin Shovlin (0-3); Kevin Whyte (0-1), CJ Molloy (0-1), Kieran Breslin (0-1). Subs: Gareth Concarr for Whyte (40), Ryan Melly, Stefan Boyle (0-1), Kevin Breslin for T Boyle, Shovlin and P McNelis (50).
Referee: Michael McShane (Kilcar).
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