Carndonagh 3-18 Naomh Ultan 1-17
BY RYAN FERRY
Carndonagh eased to victory and a place in Division 2 once again next year as they proved much too strong for Naomh Ultan at Pairc Aodh Rua on Sunday afternoon.
The Dunkineely side were keen to secure promotion but just couldn’t match their opponents for pace and vibrancy and were 3-10 to 0-5 down at the break.
Aaron Byrne’s Naomh Ultan did battle until the end and put some respectability on the scoreline.
However, a dramatic finale never appeared on the cards and Michael O’Donnell’s Carndonagh got the win they wanted.
Carndonagh were without their county star Conor O’Donnell who wasn’t togged out but James Monagle got them going with a fine two-pointer.
Cian Kennedy got Naomh Ultan motoring with a free but they shipped a goal in the eighth minute.
The lively Cian Burke played a one-two with Kalvin McLaughlin before burying a shot past goalkeeper Daniel McGlynn.
Naomh Ultan captain Daniel Gallagher replied to that setback but it was difficult to build traction as Kalvin McLaughlin won and converted a two-point free.
Paddy White (free) and Luke Gallagher nailed well-worked scores for Naomh Ultan.
Olan McLaughlin then came to the fore with a score from play and a two-pointer.
Carn’s pace was causing the Dunkineely men huge problems and they sliced through them again in the 21st minute.
Burke was involved as he laid across to Kalvin McLaughlin and he made no mistake with a smart finish to the net.
Kennedy hit back with a free but the Foden side took control again late in the half.
The elusive Olan McLaughlin nailed a two-pointer and then Anthony Doherty’s shot deceived Naomh Ultan goalkeeper Daniel McGlynn and the umpire was in the right position to confirm the ball had crossed the line.
Linesman James Callaghan was also involved after Stephen Doherty had blown the half-time whistle. He had spotted a breach before the last attack concluded and Cian Doherty tapped over a score.
The Carndonagh procession continued after the restart as they scores four of the next five points.
Burke nailed two of those while Cian Doherty (free) and Sean O’Carroll also raised white flags and Naomh Ultan could only offer a Kennedy free in reply.
Byrne’s men didn’t cave and they posted eight successive points as they took over at midfield.
Kennedy converted a brace of two-point frees while Gallagher then supplied four scores for his side.
Carn needed to up the ante and Cian Doherty pushed them into a 3-15 to 0-14 advantage with ten minutes to go.
Kalvin McLaughlin and Kennedy traded frees, before Senan Grant put 11 points between the sides again in the 63rd minute.
The Naomh Ultan supporters did have something to cheer late on as Jack Boyle boomed over a two-pointer and then Luke Gallagher’s effort from distance went all the way to the net.
That put a better look on the scoreline but Naomh Ultan will be back in Division 3 again in 2027.
Michael Noone concluded Carn’s scoring and they were pleased to retain their second tier status.
Carndonagh: Kyle Harkin; Conor McLaughlin, Danny Monagle, Darragh Browne; Senan Grant (0-1), James Monagle (0-2, 1tp), Will Quinn; Sean O’Carroll (0-1), Kalvin McLaughlin (1-3, 1tpf, 1f); Anthony Doherty (1-0), Cian Burke (1-2), Olan McLaughlin (0-5, 2tps); Cian Doherty (0-3, 2fs), Odhran O’Donnell, Padraig Doherty. Subs: Michael Noone for A.Doherty (33 mins), Eoghan Kelly for C.McLaughlin (53 mins), Christy McDaid for P.Doherty (59 mins).
Naomh Ultan: Daniel McGlynn; Seanie O’Shea, Jordan Watters, Kyle Breslin; Joe Alvey, Daniel Gallagher (0-1), Aaron Kyles; Jack Boyle (0-2, 1tp), Finlay Gavigan; Shaun McGuinness, Cian Kennedy (0-8, 2tpfs, 4fs), Jonathan Bach; Luke Gallagher (1-5, 1tp), Aiden Duddy, Paddy White (0-1, 1f). Subs: Aaron O’Shea for Bach (28 mins), Aaron Byrne for White (50 mins), Kevin McGuinness for S.O’Shea (59 mins), John Knightly for S.McGuinness (63 mins).
Referee: Stephen Doherty (Red Hughs).
Man of the Match: Cian Burke (Carndonagh)
Burke was at the heart of all of Carn’s good play and was hugely influential in this win. James Monagle, Olan McLaughlin and Kalvin McLaughlin all had their moments. Jack Boyle and Luke Gallagher were best for Naomh Ultan.
Turning Point: Carn took control of this game in the seventh minute when Cian Burke rattled the net and didn’t look back again after that.
The Whistler: The match was stop-start and never really got into a great flow but there were no majors calls for Doherty. He got good help from umpires and linesman for decisions in the first half.
Talking Point: At one stage it looked like Carn might be in the shake-up for promotion in Division 2 but they finished the campaign poorly. They may have been worried on Sunday with Conor O’Donnell injured but they went about their business in the correct manner and they are a young side who could build up momentum when they hit the Intermediate Championship. Naomh Ultan can have no complaints about the outcome but another year in Division 3 will frustrate after a decent league season.
What’s Next: Both teams now turn their attention to the Championship. Naomh Ultan are in Group A of the Junior ‘A’ and begin against Na Rossa, while Carn will be in the Intermediate and start off at home to Buncrana.