BUNCRANA overcame the holders Gaeil Fhánada to take the Intermediate Reserve Championship title back to The Scarvey.
Buncrana 1-08 Gaeil Fhánada 0-04
A 48th minute goal by clinical full-forward Kevin Treacy ended any hopes of a comeback for Gaeil Fhánada, who were left to count the cost of 11 wides – eight of which came in the first half.
Gaeil Fhánada won this title last year, but Buncrana were the deserving victors this time as Malachy McCann’s men did the damage in the first half.
They could even afford a 17-minute scoreless spell in the second half and Gaeil Fhánada couldn’t make inroads.
The goal came 12 minutes from time.
Paul McGonigle, the former Donegal midfielder and mentor, was only on the field a matter of seconds when he posted an inch-perfect ball into Treacy and his finish was excellent, low under Seamus McAteer.
Picture caption: Buncrana celebrate their Intermediate Reserve success. Picture courtesy of Evan Logan
Treacy curled over a majestic score in the ninth minute for the game’s opening score and he repeated the trick, this time from a ’45.
Veteran Gaeil Fhánada goalkeeper McAteer had denied Noel McLaughlin who broke through the barrier and Treacy delightfully sailed the ’45 between the uprights.
Adrian McColgan stretched the lead in the 18th minute when, after worming his way past a combination of Oisin Shiels and Tiernan Cushnan, he steadied himself to score.
By then, Gaeil Fhánada had five wides to their name and it was becoming an ordeal for the wasteful Portsalon residents.
Noel McLaughlin, under pressure, did enough to make it a four-point game and it took another intervention from McAteer to prevent a goal for the Inishowen men.
McAteer got down low to make a strong block from David Bell’s effort after he was played in by William McLaughlin’s deft ball over the top.
At the close of business in the opening half, Gaeil Fhánada had failed to register and Bell’s score meant Buncrana were 0-5 to 0-0 in front with eight wides kicked by the team in blue.
It was the 37th minute before John McConigley’s team got off the mark, Myles McBride on the mark, but their woes deepened considerably when sub Eamonn Carr was sent off just moments after entering the fray, as Enda McFeely, the referee, spotted a kick off the ball.
Buncrana lost their way somewhat, but they had enough of the spadework done from the opening half and when Treacy hit the net it was game, set and match for Buncrana.
The introduction of the McGonigle twins, Stephen and Paul, steadied the Buncrana ship, although they too finished with 13 men after McColgan and Andrew McLaughlin were each given second yellow cards.
Gaeil Fhánada did manage to muster a late fightback, but the damage had long since been inflicted.
Buncrana: Ryan McElhinney; John Doherty, Andrew McLaughlin, Ronan Doherty; Simon McGrory, Adrian McColgan (0-1), Aedan Stokes; Gavin McElhinney, Stephen Dean McFadden; Noel McLaughlin (0-1), Kieran McNicholas, William McLaughlin; Shane McClean, Kevin Treacy (1-5, 2 ’45), David Bell (0-1). Subs: Stephen McGonigle for Stokes (44), Paul McGonigle for McClean (47), Kevin McClean for N.McLaughlin (55), Patrick Duffy for McElhinney (60), Conor O’Donnell for McNicholas (60).
Gaeil Fhánada: Seamus McAteer; Tiernan Cushnan, Colm McGonigle (0-1), Aidan Heraghty; Ciaran Carr, Paul Coyle (0-1), Kevin McGonigle; Eamonn Sweeney, Oisin Shiels (0-1); Mark McConigley, Aidan McAteer, Brendan Friel; Eoghan Walshe, Shaun McGovern, Myles McBride (0-1). Subs: Eamon Carr for Friel (36), Brian McBride for C.Carr (37), Kieran Coll for Walshe (53), Conor McFadden for McGovern (60).
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy).
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