Football

Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC round three: St Eunan’s suffer setback with defeat to Gaoth Dobhair

Naomh Conaill got back on track with a big win while Michael Murphy inspired Glenswilly to victory over Four Masters

Michael Murphy was in fine form for Glenswilly in their Donegal SFC preliminary round win over Glenfin
Michael Murphy was in fine form for Glenswilly in their Donegal SFC preliminary round win over Glenfin Michael Murphy was in fine form again for Glenswilly in their Donegal SFC win against Four Masters

St Eunan’s 0-9 Gaoth Dobhair 1-7

A first-half goal from Eoin De Burca was the difference between the sides as Gaoth Dobhair pulled off something of a shock win over St Eunan’s in Letterkenny.

Eunan’s came into this game on the back of a fine away win over champions Naomh Conaill, but were just not able to penetrate a well-organised Gaoth Dobhair defence.

The first half was evenly contested in blustery conditions. At th end of it, the sides were level at 1-3 to 0-6, Conor O’Donnell hitting three points for the home side.

The second half was cagey and scores were at a premium, but in the end a point from Stephen Donna McFadden edged it for the visitors.

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St Eunan's forward Conor O'Donnell jnr fends off Ultan Doherty. Picture: Evan Logan
St Eunan's forward Conor O'Donnell jnr hit three points against Gaoth Dobhair. Picture: Evan Logan

Four Masters 2-7 Glenswilly 2-9

Michael Murphy may have given up on county football but he is still a colossus at club level, as he proved in his club’s narrow win over Four Masters in Tir Chonaill Park.

The towering full-forward finished with a tally of 1-5 as his side completed a great second-half comeback to keep their 100 per cent record.

Youthful Four Masters were well worth their half-time lead of 1-6 to 1-2-after a whirlwind start had left them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead after 10 minutes.

A Murphy goal from a penalty narrowed the gap, while Seanan Carr grabbed the goals for the visitors.

It looked bleak for Glenswilly when they trailed by seven points early in the second half after another Carr goal, but Murphy led the comeback with a series of points and Jake Kelly got Glenswilly’s second goal.

Glenfin 1-8 Kilcar 0-18

Paddy McBrearty landed 0-9 as Kilcar steamed past the challenge of Glenfin at Pairc Taobhoige.

McBrearty, Mark McHugh, Eoin McHugh and Matthew McClean were all on target in the opening stages and Kilcar were not flattered by their half-time lead of 0-10 to 0-3.

In the second half, Stephen Ward galloped through for a Glenfin goal, but it made no real difference to the visitors, who welcomed back the imperious Ryan McHugh.

Glenfin are pointless and look to be in bother.

Sean MacCumhaills 0-5 Naomh Conaill 2-13

County champions Naomh Conaill bounced back from their loss to St Eunan’s with an emphatic win over Sean MacCumhaills in Ballybofey.

Two late goals garnished a fine display and the winners were never in any real bother after leading by 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time.

The home side badly missed Oisin Gallen, Joel Bradley Walsh, Sean Martin and Marty O’Reilly and could only add two points in the entire second half as Neil Francis Boyle and Kevin McGettigan netted for the Glenties men, who had 10 different scorers. They also welcomed back veteran Leo McLoone.

Aodh Ruadh 0-11 Ardara 4-5

Goals win games as pointless Ardara proved against Aodh Ruadh in miserable conditions in Fr Tierney Park.

But, the first two of those goals were freakish gifts that effectively turned this encounter on its head.

A miskicked back pass from Michael McKenna was intercepted by Karl Joseph Molloy who cooly chipped stranded keeper Karl O’Brien who was about 40 metres from his goal in the 20th minute to level matters at 1-1 to 0-4.

The second one was even more bizarre as O’Brien and an Aodh Ruadh defender got in a tangle and helped a tepid shot from Ardara sub Niall McCrossan into the net to leave the score at 2-2 to 0-7 in favour of Ardara just after half time.

Aodh Ruadh had led by 0-7 to 1-2 at the break in a wind-assisted opener.

They then missed a penalty which O’Brien brilliantly saved, and John Ross Molloy and Charlie Bennett got the two final goals in the last ten minutes to seal a much-needed win for the visitors.

St Michael’s 0-9 Dungloe 0-8

A resurgent St Michael’s just fended off a spirited challenge from Dungloe at The Bridge in blustery conditions.

The home side had the benefit of a massive breeze in the opening half and led by 0-8 to 0-1 at the break.

Their scores came from the elegant Michael Langan, Carlos O’Reilly and Antoin McFadden while Conor Greene replied for Dungloe.

The visitors had the benefit of the big breeze on the resumption and set about reducing St Michael’s big lead.

This they succeeded in doing through points from keeper Danny Rodgers, Dylan Sweeney and Ryan Connors and drew level in the 58th minute.

But cometh the crisis and cometh Michael Langan who hit the winner for St Michael’s at the death, who are now unbeaten after three games while Dungloe are on four points.

Cloughaneely 0-10 Downings 1-9

Downings got off the mark with a slender two-point victory on their trip to Cloughaneely yesterday, leaving the home side pointless after three games.

St Naul’s v Killybegs (postponed)