Football

Naomh Colmcille claim Donegal junior honours

Donegal JFC A Final;

Naomh Colmcille 2-7 Red Hugh’s 0-8

Naomh Colmcille took their third Donegal Junior A Championship title following their win over Red Hugh’s in Saturday’s decider at O’Donnell Park.

Ryan McErlean and Matthew Crossan grabbed the goals for the winners who were the better side over the 60 plus minutes.

McErlean scored his goal in the first half to give his side a 1-4 to 0-4 half-time lead.

And Crossan hit the net on the stroke of full-time after Red Hugh’s had threatened to stage a Lazarus like comeback.

McErlean, who had a big game at centre forward, was named man of the match.

The two teams began at a frenetic pace, but due to early nerves and dropping ball into the keeper, scores were at a premium in the early exchanges.

They were level twice in the opening ten minutes, with Matthew Crossan scoring for Naomh Colmcille and David Gallen responded for Red Hugh’s.

Damian Browne, Red Hugh’s and Willie Gillespie, Naomh Colmcille, traded points for 0-2 each with nine minutes gone on the clock.

But the game swung Naomh Colmcille’s way in the middle of the half when a long range Daniel Clarke free dropped short and was flicked to the net by Ryan McErlean for a 1-2 to 0-2, Naomh Colmcille lead.

Daniel Clarke and Michael Lynch were on top at midfield and Ciaran Devine, until he was forced out of the game, and McErlean, were running at pace at the Red Hugh’s defence.

Browne, who also cracked a rocket off the crossbar in the closing minutes of the half, and Calvin Bradley, scored either side of a well struck McErlean point to reduce the gap to two.

But Clarke, from a close in free, sent Naomh Colmcille in 1-4 to 0-4 in front at the interval.

Naomh Colmcille, three up on the resumption, pulled five clear thanks to two quick points from the elusive Matthew Crossan.

Damian Browne, from a close in free, kicked Red Hugh’s first of the second half on 41 minutes. The margin was back to four.

Browne’s point sparked a Red Hugh’s revival as they reeled off three points without reply to make it a one- point game with a little over ten minutes remaining.

Stephen McMenamin from a ‘45 and from play and Gerard Melaugh kicked the points for Red Hugh’s.

Red Hugh’s played out the closing minutes down to 14 men after Jonathan Carlin received a straight red card for a late challenge on Daniel Clarke.

Naomh Colmcille: J Roulstone; G Curran, A Devenney, P Friel; R Hegarty, C Devine, K Gallagher; M Lynch, D Clarke (0-2,1f); J Fullerton, R McErlean (1-1), O Hilley; M Crossan (1-3), W Gillespie (0-1,1f) W Lynch.

Subs: M Friel for C Devine 24; J Hegarty for G Curran 43; C Devine for W Gillespie, 55; E Gillespie for J Fullerton 61; C Grant for M Crossan, 62.

Red Hugh’s: L Kelly; P McMenamin, M Devine, G Melaugh; R Kelly, S McMenamin (0-2,1’45) , E Browne; P McGlinchey, D Browne (0-3,1f); C Melaugh (0-1), C Bradley (0-1), R Gallen; Odhran Doherty, Jonathan Carlin, David Gallen (0-1).