Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC semi-final: Naomh Conaill, Glenties 1-11 Glenswilly 0-12
NAOMH Conaill reached their eighth Donegal football final with a dramatic two-point victory over a battling Glenswilly side under lights in Sean MacCumhaill Park.
The match ended on a highly controversial note as Michael Murphy squared up to a free on the Glenties 14-yard line with 30 seconds left. He squared the ball to Kealan McFadden and referee Shaun McLaughlin called time 27 seconds short of the four minutes of added time which had been scheduled, just as McFadden was about to go for goal. Frustrated Glenswilly players surrounded the referee, feeling a sense of injustice for they had contributed to an entertaining affair.
Their tactic of of switching Michael Murphy and Neil Gallagher into the Glenties square shook, but did not quite stir, the Glenties’ defence. Murphy and Gallagher received good support from Gary McFadden and the promising Caoimhin Marley. For Glenties, captain Brendan McDyer was simply majestic, setting up countless attacks and hitting some crucial scores.
Anthony Thompson was also a mighty bulwark for Naomh Conaill and got forward just as much as he did for his county in 2012. He hit one vital point but two rash choices at the end when two points were spurned, could have been more costly. But, on balance, the better side won as Naomh Conaill got a golden goal from Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy after 12 minutes. Glenswilly’s Eamon Ward lost possesion and Glenties captain McDyer pounced to send a long ball over the top to the lurking Molloy. He kept ice cool and slid the ball into the Glenswilly net.
The goal changed the complexion of the game, pushing the winners into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead. More crucially it meant that Glenswilly were constantly playing catch-up as a fascinating battle unfolded between two powerful outfits. Earlier, Glenswilly’s Mark McAteer opened the scoring with a well struck point in the fourth minute and Murphy made it 0-2 to 0-0.
Gallagher was deployed at centre-back in the early stages and was like a busy shepherd making sure none of his sheep bolted. But, it was the McDyer-inspired Glenties that looked the more positive side in that opening half. The tackling from both sides was of the highest order with a number of memorable turonovers, but Glenties had a let-off in the 13th minute when keeper Stephen McGrath fumbled a high ball in his own square. Luckily for McGrath, the danger was averted.
The winners moved to a 1-4 to 0-3 lead by the 24th minute. Leo McLoone kicked a fine point and then won a free which Ciaran Thompson popped over. Murphy was literally everywhere at this stage and points from Cormac Callaghan and Joe Gibbons kept Glenswilly in touch, as Glenties led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the interval.
After the break, McDyer increased the Glenties lead to four points with a fine effort in the 34th minute and that set the pattern for a ding-dong second half. Gary McFadden’s free left just a point between the teams in the 50th minute and it was anyone’s game. But Glenswilly committed a silly foul on Marty Boyle which Ciaran Thompson converted with aplomb to put it back to two match in the 54th minute.
Two minutes later substitute Eoghan McGettigan struck a fine point to restore the vital goal difference. However, big-hearted Glenswilly were far from finished and Murphy tapped over a free as tension mounted. Match announcer Fergus McGee told the crowd that there would be four minutes of added time, although Glenties mentors said they understood there were only three as the game ended on that controversial note.
MATCH STATS
Naomh Conaill: S McGrath; K McGettigan, AJ Gallagher, J Campbell; M Boyle, A Thompson (0-1), E Waide; L McLoone (0-1), C Thompson (0-2 frees); B McDyer (0-2), E O’Donnell (0-1), U Doherty; D Molloy (1-2 frees), K Gallagher, E Doherty (0-1); Subs: E McGettigan (0-1) for K Gallagher (49), J O’Malley for E Doherty (54) K Gallagher for D Molloy (61)
Glenswilly: J Gallagher; M McAteer (0-1), E Ward, R Crawford; C Gallagher (0-1), S Wogan, J Gibbons (1-0); N Gallagher, C Kelly; B Farrelly, C Marley (0-2), C Callaghan (0-1); O Crawford, M Murphy (0-4, 0-2 frees), G McFadden (0-2); Subs: R Diver for J Gibbons (54), K McFadden for B Farrelly (54), L Kelly for C Gallagher (58)
Referee: S McLaughlin (Malin)
