Naomh Conaill 3-23 Termon 1-9
NAOMH Conaill made a big statement in the Donegal SFC on Saturday evening as they hammered Termon at Davy Brennan Memorial Park.
There was only one point between the sides when they met at the quarter-final stage last year but Martin Regan’s men outclassed their opponents in this encounter.
Shea Malone bagged a goal in the first half as Naomh Conaill led by seven at the break.
Patrick Fegan rattled in a major for Termon at the start of the second half but that was just a brief respite.
Brendan McDyer and Eoghan McGettigan added goals in a classy display.
Shea Malone broke through to kick the opener for Naomh Conaill but Termon settled well with Ciaran Cassidy and Daire McDaid slotting over.
Naomh Conaill had the breeze in the first half and Ciaran Thompson used it to his advantage to kick a great two-point free.
Odhran Doherty followed up with a good effort before John O’Malley got in on the act with a two-pointer from play.
Daire McDaid and Brendan McDyer swapped points before Enda McCormick struck a point for Termon to make it 0-7 to 0-4.
Naomh Conaill had a chance to extend their lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 22nd minute after it was adjudged that Thompson’s shot was stopped by a foot-block from Cormac Gallagher.
John O’Malley stepped up but Emmett Maguire got down well to his left to save. Termon went up the field and John James Sweeney curled over off his right.
Naomh Conaill were disappointed to pass up that chance but they did grab a goal in the 23rd minute.
Shea Malone was denied by a decent block from Gallagher but the ball came back to him and he finished with aplomb off his left foot.
McCormick hit back with a point for Termon but they lost their way late in the half.
Malone, McGuinness (mark) and Eoghan McGettigan all got scores.
They also could have had a second goal but McGuinness was denied by Maguire.
Naomh Conaill were good value for their 1-10 to 0-6 lead at the break and Malone extended that advantage two minutes after the restart.
Termon gave themselves a lifeline with a goal in the 34th minute. Jack Alcorn’s shot from distance was wayward but Patrick Fegan followed the ball in and finished to the net in style.
Captain Thompson replied with a super two-pointer for Naomh Conaill.
Sweeney pulled one back for Termon but they were living dangerously at the back and Maguire made a decent stop from Malone.
Naomh Conaill were hungry to make a statement and Kieran Gallagher boomed over a two-pointer.
Martin Regan’s charges then put 11 between the teams with their second goal as a Termon short kick-out went wrong and McDyer slammed home after Eoghan McGettigan was denied.
Malone added another score before Ryan McFadden struck for Termon’s first point in ten minutes.
However, the visitors couldn’t stop the blue wave as Naomh Conaill dominated the middle.
Malone (2), Kieran Gallagher, McGuinness, and Danny Brown all scored as the cars started heading for the exits.
John James Sweeney landed a consolation point for Termon but Naomh Conaill kept motoring.
Anthony Thompson and Danny Brown were on target before McGettigan concluded an impressive performance by drilling home a goal.
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Kevin McGettigan, Shean Roarty, Ultan Doherty; Finnbarr Roarty, Odhran Doherty (0-1), Max Campbell; Kieran Gallagher (0-3, 1tp), Ciaran Thompson (0-4, 1tp, 1tpf); Eunan Doherty, Shea Malone (1-6), John O’Malley (0-2, 1tp); Brendan McDyer (1-1), Charlie McGuinness (0-2, 1m), Eoghan McGettigan (1-1). Subs: Daithi Molloy for U.Doherty (32 mins), Keelan McGill for Thompson (48 mins), Danny Brown (0-2) for O’Malley (49 mins), Mark McDevitt for McDyer (52 mins), Anthony Thompson (0-1) for McGuinness (56 mins).
Termon: Emmett Maguire; Conor Cassidy, Cormac Gallagher, Emmet McGettigan; Patrick Fegan (1-0), Cian McMenamin, Rory McGrenra; Bobby McGettigan, Ruairi Connaghan; John James Sweeney (0-3), Enda McCormick (0-2), Ryan McFadden (0-1); Daire McDaid (0-2, 1f), Jack Alcorn, Ciaran Cassidy (0-1). Subs: Shea Boyle for Connaghan (42 mins), Oisin Harkin and Eoin Gallagher for E.McGettigan and McDaid (52 mins), Conor Black and Aiden Sweeney for McGrenra and Fegan (56 mins).
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada).