GAA – MINOR LEAGUE DIVISION ONE FINAL
ST EUNAN’S 1-10
DUNGLOE 1-06
By Harry Walsh
ST Eunan’s are the 2013 Minor League Division One champions after beating Dungloe by four points in a fiercely contested decider played at Red Hughs excellent facility at The Cross on Friday night.
Leading by two points at the interval (1-05 to 1-03), ‘Eunan’s had to dig deep for much of the second half to keep Tony Boyle’s well drilled Dungloe team at bay.
Indeed, it wasn’t until Dungloe wing-back Brian O’Donnell was shown a straight red card ten minutes from time that the men from the Cathedral Town finally managed to shake off their opponents – knocking over three late points without reply.
St Eunan’s opened brightly with Daniel Gillespie’s early point followed by Daire McMonagle’s goal on four minutes.
Full-forward David McCarron scored Dungloe’s first point on eight minutes only for David Tyrell (free) to cancel that out before McCarron shot past Sean Dafann.
Two minutes later ‘Eunan’s scored their third point of the contest through Conor O’Donnell.
St Eunan’s Oisin Carr and McCarron exchanged scores before Rodgers produced another fine stop, this time to deny Michael Miller.
A David Tyrell ’45 saw the Letterkenny men go into the break two points to the good 1-05 to 1-03.
That advantage was out to three within 25 seconds of the restart thanks to Miller but Dungloe refused to give up.
Scores from Ryan Greene and Adam Neely had Dungloe back to within a point before Miller added his second score of the half on 41 minutes.
Their bid to get back into the game was dealt a killer blow ten minutes from time when Brian O’Donnell was sent off.
When substitute David Sweeney split the uprights nine minutes from time there was just a point in it.
Step forward Conor McEniff. On 55 minutes, the St Eunan’s number 12 landed a monster score from 50 metres and two minutes later he sent a long range free kick over the black spot. When he finished off a fine team move involving Jordan O’Dowd, Daniel Gillespie and Barry McGeehan in injury time – the lead was out to four points and the game was won.
ST EUNAN’S: Sean Dafann; Brian Hannigan, Conal O’Boyle, Ronan Dorrian; Peter O’Malley, Daire McMonagle (1-0), Conor O’Donnell (0-1); Oisin Carr (0-1), Conor Morrison; David Tyrell (0-2, free and ’45), Daniel Gillespie (0-1), Conor McEniff (0-3, 1 free); Michael Miller (0-2), Rory Carr, Barry McGeehan. Subs: John Russell for Tyrell (45 mins), Dylan Sweeney for Morrison (50 mins) and Jordan O’Dowd for McMonagle (57 mins).
DUNGLOE: Danny Rodgers; Matthew Ward, Eoin Scally, Dylan Reilly; Brian O’Donnell, Jack Scally, Darragh McGhee; Darren Curren, Luke Neely; Stephen Connaghan, Barry Curran, Ryan Rodgers; Ryan Greene (0-2), Adam Neely (0-1), David McCarron (1-2). Subs: David Sweeney (0-1) for McGhee (32 mins) and Adam Ryan for Rodgers (51 mins).
REFEREE: Michael McShane (Kilcar).
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