Naomh Conaill 1-15 St Eunan’s 1-16
CIARAN Moore scored a last-gasp winner as St Eunan’s dethroned Naomh Conaill to win the Dr Maguire Cup in MacCunhaill Park today.
It proved to be an exciting second half with Ethan O’Donnell and James Kelly swapping goals.
Naomh Conaill pushed two ahead in injury-time but St Eunan’s refused to wilt.
Niall O’Donnell levelled matters with a super score and then man-of-the-match Moore stepped up to win it at the death.
Kieran Donnelly’s St Eunan’s got off to a brilliant start with Oran Winston, Ciaran Moore, and Eoin McGeehin on target within the opening four minutes.
Naomh Conaill then picked it up and Odhran Doherty had a sniff at goal but was denied by a good save from Shaun Patton.
Doherty was pushed in the back so that allowed John O’Malley a handy free and Ciarán Thompson then levelled matters with a super two-pointer from play.
St Eunan’s were attacking with intent in the first quarter and Eoin Dowling helped himself to a two-pointer and McGeehin then won a free which Conor O’Donnell Jnr nailed.
Brendan McDyer pulled one back for Naomh Conaill but O’Donnell Jnr pushed his side into a 0-7 t 0-4 lead after McGeehin was pulled again in the 20th minute.
St Eunan’s were firmly in control at that stage but Thompson nailed a brilliant two-pointer from play.
Martin Regan’s Naomh Conaill then picked off a Shaun Patton kick-out and Odhran Doherty set up older brother Eunan to drive over the leveller.
St Eunan’s knew that the majority of Stephen McGrath’s restarts were going to go long to his left and they were able to disrupt that plot.
Shane O’Donnell broke free from Finnbarr Roarty to dissect the posts and Niall O’Donnell did likewise three minutes after his introduction.
St Eunan’s were 0-9 to 0-7 ahead at the break and would have felt they could have been further in front.
Dowling had the first say of Act Two and Conor O’Donnell Jnr thought he had added another but the referee agreed with the umpire who signalled wide.
Naomh Conaill then swooped for a goal in the 39th minute. Daithi Molloy found himself under serious pressure but managed to get the ball away to Ethan O’Donnell, who stepped inside and then sent an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Shea Malone tagged on a two-pointer and suddenly St Eunan’s were behind for the first time in the game.
Donnelly’s side didn’t panic and they got a major themselves in the 43rd minute.
There was a hint of good fortune as Conor O’Donnell Snr was going for a point with a fisted effort but it lacked gas. It was helped on in the contest and James Kelly dived in to tap home a goal.
St Eunan’s could have had another goal two minutes later when Niall O’Donnell raced clear but he was a tad too relaxed and his shot was expertly saved onto the post by Stephen McGrath.
Max Campbell equalised for Naomh Conaill and the intensity of the Davy Brennan Memorial Park men went up a notch.
Malone started to become a bigger feature in the game and landed another two-pointer as his team moved 1-12 to 1-10 ahead.
St Eunan’s were under pressure but Moore then kicked two in quick succession, the second of Naomh Conaill appeared to go wide.
Oran Winston nudged St Eunan’s back in front but the Naomh Conaill side went back in front when O’Malley landed an exquisite two-pointer.
When Charlie McGuinness put Naomh Conaill two ahead with three minutes to go, it looked like the Doctor was going to stay in Glenties.
However, St Eunan’s refused to accept defeat and Niall O’Donnell equalised with a stunning two-pointer.
Odhran Doherty had a chance to win it for Naomh Conaill but his effort dropped short and St Eunan’s were able to break.
They worked the play up the field and county star Moore raced through to win the championship for St Eunan’s.
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, Shean Roarty, Kevin McGettigan; Finnbarr Roarty, Ethan O’Donnell (1-0), Odhran Doherty; Max Campbell (0-1), Ciarán Thompson (0-4, 2tps); Eunan Doherty (0-1), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Daithi Molloy; Brendan McDyer (0-1), Shea Malone (0-4, 2tps), John O’Malley (0-3, 1tp, 1f). Subs: AJ Gallagher for S.Roarty (35 mins), Charlie McGuinness (0-1) for Mac Ceallabhuí (47 mins), Keelan McGill for McDyer (54 mins)
St Eunan’s: Shaun Patton; Josh Hay, Caolan Ward, Noah Barrett; Oran Winston (0-2), Kieran Tobin, Luke McGuinness; Eoin Dowling (0-3, 1tp), Ciaran Moore (0-4); James Kelly (1-0), Conor O’Donnell Snr, Shane O’Donnell (0-1); Dylan Doogan, Conor O’Donnell Jnr (0-2, 2fs), Eoin McGeehin (0-1). Subs: Niall O’Donnell (0-3, 1tp) for Doogan (26 mins), Brian McIntyre for Kelly (44 mins), Pauric Boyle for C.O’Donnell Jnr (51 mins).
Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara).