Donegal SFC: Naomh Conaill 2-18 Gaoth Dobhair 0-11; Termon 2-13 Four Masters 2-11; St Michael’s 2-14 St Eunan’s 3-14; Killybegs 0-7 Kilcar 0-24; Sean MacCumhaills 4-10 Naomh Muire 0-17; Malin 2-20 Glenfin 1-13; Bundoran 0-7 Glenswilly 3-12; Dungloe 0-17 Ardara 2-9
Naomh Conaill 2-18 Gaoth Dobhair 0-11
County champions Naomh Conaill sent out a strong signal that they are very keen to keep the Dr Maguire Cup after this evisceration of a surprisingly poor Gaoth Dobhair outfit on a night when Kevin Cassidy announced his retirement from senior football.
Gaoth Dobhair are now out of the championship as the winners cantered to a deserved half time lead of 1-8 to 0-5.
The crucial score came in the 18th minute when a crisp four- man move was finished to the net by Dara Gallagher.
Dermot “Brick” Molloy was in fine scoring form for the winners nailing 0-6 with only two coming from frees.
Odhran MacNiallais and Kevin Cassidy were the main scorers for a badly outgunned Gaoth Dobhair.
But this match was well sealed by the 45th minute when Brendan McDyer found the net for Glenties.
Termon 2-13 Four Masters 2-11
Tenacious Termon came back from a four point half-time deficit to edge Four Masters in an exciting affair at the Burn Road.
Termon trailed by 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time thanks to a goal from Conor McDaid in the 9th minute with Barry Monaghan and Luke Keaney dominating the middle of the field.
But a third quarter surge from a revitalized Termon with Brendan Friel and Aiden Sweeney gaining midfield and Daire McDaid and Ricky Gallagher began to narrow the gap.
It got even better for the home side when Caolan McDaid netted to put them 1-11 to 1-9 ahead in the 40th minute.
Daire McDaid got another goal for Termon in the 44th minute and Masters replied in kind from Patrick Reid ten minutes from time.
But Termon hung on for a narrow but deserved victory.
St Michael’s 2-14 St Eunan’s 3-14
Home side St Michael’s made a marvellous second half recovery, but it was just not enough against St Eunan’s, who sent the Creeslough/Dunfanaghy side out of the championship.
Three first half goals, two from Conal Dunne and the other from athletic veteran Rory Kavanagh, pushed the Letterkenny lads to a 3-5 to 1-6 lead at the break.
By the 14th minute, the winners led by 3-2 to 0-1 before St Michael’s got their first goal from Christy Toye.
Martin McElhinney goaled for St Michael’s two minutes into the second half and Mark Anthony McGinley saved a Conor Gibbons penalty to keep St Michael’s in touch.
But they were just not able to break down St Eunan’s, who are rapidly becoming their championship nemesis.
St Michael’s 2-14 St Eunan’s 3-14
Home side St Michael’s made a marvellous second half recovery, but it was just not enough against St Eunan’s, who sent the Creeslough/Dunfanaghy side out of the championship.
Three first half goals, two from Conal Dunne and the other from athletic veteran Rory Kavanagh, pushed the Letterkenny lads to a 3-5 to 1-6 lead at the break.
By the 14th minute, the winners led by 3-2 to 0-1 before St Michael’s got their first goal from Christy Toye.
Martin McElhinney goaled for St Michael’s two minutes into the second half and Mark Anthony McGinley saved a Conor Gibbons penalty to keep St Michael’s in touch.
But they were just not able to break down St Eunan’s, who are rapidly becoming their championship nemesis.
Killybegs 0-7 Kilcar 0-24
Classy Kilcar had far too much power and panache for hapless neighbours Killybegs in Fintra.
This match was little more than target practice for Martin McHugh’s feisty men who raced into a 0-10 to 0-3 half-time lead.
Once again, the McBreartys and McHughs were the dominant figures against a Killybegs side that relied excessively on Hugh McFadden.
Significantly, Kilcar had 11 different scorers with only four of their huge haul coming from frees.
Patrick and Stephen McBrearty accounted for 0-13 of the winner’s tally, while McFadden, Christopher Murrin, Eoghan Ban Gallagher and goalie Kevin Martin were among those on target for the losers.
Sean MacCumhaills 4-10 Naomh Muire 0-17
Six players, three from each side, were lined in the second half of this clash in Ballybofey yesterday.
Referee Andrew Mullin sent off James Lynch (straight red) Andrew McCloskey (second yellow) and John Lynch (second yellow) for the winners, while Naomh Muire lost Adam O’Brien (straight red), Paddy McCafferty (second yellow) and goalie Lee Boyle (straight red) in a manic period between the 36th and 50th minutes.
Two goals in the opening half from James Lynch and Steven O’Reilly pushed the winners to a 2-3 to 0-6 half-time lead.
Naomh Muire quickly levelled matters through Shaun “Yank” Boyle and Jack Boyle. But a penalty from Darren O’Leary, which subsequently resulted in the lining of Naomh Muire keeper Lee Boyle and a late rasper from Martin O’Reilly sealed matters for MacCumhaills
Malin 2-20 Glenfin 1-13
Malin booked a quarter- final slot with a thoroughly deserved victory over a Glenfin side minus Frank McGlynn.
The winners surged to a 1-12 to 1-8 lead at the interval with all of their scores coming from play.
Michael McGlynn grabbed an early goal for Glenfin but the winners replied in kind from Seamus Houghton in the run up to half-time. Glenfin came back into the game with four swiftly struck scores as Malin missed a penalty when Liam O’Meara saved Brendan McLaughlin’s well-struck effort.
But Paul McLaughlin stretched Malin’s lead and Stephen McLaughlin put the gloss on a fine display with a late goal.
Bundoran 0-7 Glenswilly 3-12
What a difference it makes when Michael Murphy and Neil Gallagher line out for Glenswilly. Bundoran were the victims yesterday as Murphy, who had a scan for a leg injury recently, was a surprise starter, and he and Gallagher, who has also been dogged by injury, certainly made a huge difference.
Glenswilly led by 2-5 to 0-5 at the break with the goals coming from Gary McFadden and Murphy, who removed a bandage to play, and calmly slotted home a penalty.
Bundoran were minus Ciaran McCaughey and it showed, and they had no answer to a resurgent Glen who got their third goal from Darren McGinley in the 35th minute.
Dungloe 0-17 Ardara 2-9
Lazarus and Houdini are alive and well in Dungloe after this father and mother of comebacks at O’Donnell Park. And they can thank keeper Ciaran Sharkey for a brilliant save to deny Ardara’s Gareth Concarr from snatching victory.
Impressive Ardara were leading by 2-6 to 0-6 at the interval with Ryan Malley and Gareth Concarr grabbing the goals in the ninth and 24th minutes.
Brendan McNelis and Conor Classon ruled midfield for the visitors in the opening half.
But the second half saw a resurgent Dungloe claw their way back with a series of points from Noel McBride, Adam Neely, Conor and Ryan Greene to change matters utterly.
Dungloe kicked nine points without reply in this half and Adam Neely ended up with 0-8.
