Glenswilly edge MacCumhaills in pulsating encounter

Sean MacCumhaills 2-14 Glenswilly 2-15

BY RYAN FERRY

FOR THE second successive weekend, Glenswilly U21s edged through in a pulsating encounter, and this time they just had enough to beat Sean MacCumhaills on Sunday.

After defeating Naomh Conaill in a goalfest last week, Glenswilly once again played their part in a brilliant match at the Donegal GAA Centre.

The pitch was tight and damp and that led to a physical duel which had the large crowd totally engaged.

Tomás McNulty was excellent for MacCumhaills and his two goals had his team in charge before Oisin McGrenra landed a major for the Páirc Naomh Columba side.

MacCumhaills came back for more but fell narrowly short in their bid to get some sort of result from the contest.

These sides had met in the Division 1 Minor final four years previously with MacCumhaills winning by 2-9 to 0-3.

The Twin Towns side fielded nine of the players that featured in that final in 2021 on Sunday, while Glenswilly had ten.

Daithi Gildea opened the scoring for Glenswilly before McNulty fired over off his left for MacCumhaills in the tenth minute.

Glenswilly then swooped for a goal moments later. Strong tackling saw them win the ball in the middle of the field, and Reid Kelly and Jamie McAuley combined before Gildea fired low to the net.

MacCumhaills, who hammered Buncrana in their opener, responded well with Sean Martin and McNulty (free) on target.

Shane Tinney (free) and Gildea pushed the Glen men three but MacCumhaills then won a penalty in the 20th minute.

They put a good move together and McNulty was fouled by McAuley as he was about to pull the trigger.

Oisin McGlinchey did hammer the ball into the top corner but the referee Anthony McCallig had already blown his whistle.

McNulty held his nerve and smashed his spot-kick to the net.

Gildea was really in the mood and he kicked a two-point free.

However, placed balls from Martin and McNulty tied matters up once again.

Gallagher’s men lifted it late in the half with Gildea and Tinney on the mark and they were 1-7 to 1-5 ahead at the break.

There was a fast pace when the action resumed with McNulty, Andrew Murray and McGlinchey all scoring for MacCumhaills, while Liam McGinley and Reid Kelly raised white flags for Glenswilly.

MacCumhaills had Darragh Boyle black-carded but it didn’t deter them from scoring a goal in the 36th minute.

Jamie Gavigan and Conor Murphy linked up before the ball was sent across goal to McNulty and he palmed to the net.

McNulty followed up with a point to put his team into a 2-9 to 1-9 lead after 38 minutes.

Tinney and Gildea got Glenswilly going again with frees but the forwards on both sides were causing problems. McNulty and Reid Kelly traded efforts before McGlinchey fired over following a lovely turn.

Tinney got Glenswilly back to within one but their fans were starting to get frustrated that they couldn’t get back on level terms and another McNulty free put MacCumhaills two ahead again.

Mark Bonner then came to the fore with a lovely point from play for Glenswilly.

And in the 57th minute, Bonner’s effort dropped short but Oisin McGrenra was alert and slapped the ball into the net.

That was the score that Glenswilly craved and Eoghan Scott appeared to land the insurance point in the 59th minute.

However to their credit, MacCumhaills kept battling.

Sean Martin fired over from a sideline ball but as it was inside the ‘21’, it didn’t count as a two-pointer.

Martin had a chance to level at the death but his free from outside the arc didn’t have enough gas. Adam Byrne did get a hand to the ball but fisted over.

MacCumhaills will feel they should have got something from the match but it was Glenswilly who went home with the spoils.

Teams

Sean MacCumhaills: Charlie Byrne; Ryan Galvin, Ruairi Callaghan, Ronan McHugh; Shaun McMenamin, Darragh Boyle, Andrew Murray (0-1); Adam Byrne (0-1), Sean Breen; Conor Murphy, Jamie Gavigan, Sean Martin (0-3, 1f, 1sl); Alan Sproule, Tomás McNulty (2-7, 1 pen, 3fs), Oisin McGlinchey (0-2).

Glenswilly: Kealan Curran; Liam McGinley (0-1), Jamie McAuley, Dylan McAteer; Reid Kelly (0-2), Donal Gallagher, Pauric Devine; Mark Bonner (0-1), Darragh Enright; Gary Kelly, Eoghan Scott (0-1), Aiden Friel; Shane Tinney (0-4, 2fs), Daithi Gildea (1-6, 2fs, 1tpf), Oisin McGrenra (1-0). Subs: Conor Kelly and Matthew Enright for G.Kelly and Friel (42 mins), Mandy Kelly for D.Enright (50 mins), Paddy Ward for O.McGrenra (62 mins).

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan).