Naomh Conaill 0-22 Glenswilly 0-19 AET
BY RYAN FERRY
NAOMH Conaill dipped into their never-ending reservoir of resolve to record a dramatic extra-time win over Glenswilly on Sunday afternoon and reach their tenth county final in 11 years.
Only in 2016 and 2024 have Martin Regan’s Naomh Conaill failed to make it through to the showpiece event but their presence in this year’s decider was in doubt for long periods of Sunday’s match.
Glenswilly brought great hunger and intensity to the match and with Michael Murphy leading the way at full-forward, they were four ahead at the break and five clear in the 55th minute.
However, Naomh Conaill battled back superbly to force extra-time and then kicked the final three points of an exhausting encounter to take the win.
Naomh Conaill went into the match without the injured Kieran Gallagher but they broke through from the throw-in.
Shea Malone worked the ball inside to John O’Malley who fired over after only 22 seconds.
Glenswilly’s first attack was a good one as Eoghan Scott released a long ball into Michael Murphy who collected above Shean Roarty and sent Daithi Gildea through on goal.
Gildea appeared to do everything right as he side-stepped inside but Naomh Conaill goalkeeper Stephen McGrath somehow deflected the ball wide.
The Glenswilly folk could hardly believe it but Murphy landed the resulting ‘45’ and Kealan Dunleavy followed up with a point.
Naomh Conaill then upped the ante and Odhran Doherty and Daithi Molloy pointed.
Darren McGinley’s Glenswilly had the breeze supporting them in the first half and had no intention of taking a backward step.
Caolan Kelly curled over before Murphy registered a majestic two-pointer.
The 2012 All-Ireland winner then swung over a lovely effort off his left foot and Eoghan Scott was also on target as Glenswilly moved 0-7 to 0-3 ahead.
Naomh Conaill went 15 minutes without a score before Kevin McGettigan drove forward for a point and Ciaran Thompson then won and converted a free.
Glenswilly continued to bring intent to the first half and Kelly found a pocket of space to score again before Scott nailed a two-pointer.
Thompson had the final say of the first half with a free but Naomh Conaill were 0-10 to 0-6 down at the break and had plenty to think about.
McGinley’s charges started the second half well and Reid Kelly could have had a goal but Stephen McGrath made another fine save. Murphy nailed the resulting ‘45’.
Naomh Conaill then had a chance of a goal at the other end but Kealan Curran just scrambled back in time to stop Kevin McGettigan’s effort from going over the line.
Murphy pushed Glenswilly into a six-point lead with a free of the soft variety.
Naomh Conaill needed inspiration and Shea Malone found his range before O’Malley fisted over a point after a great drive forward from Max Campbell.
Glenswilly’s kick-outs were all going the one direction out to the goalkeeper’s left but Dunleavy was dominant and he ended up kicking a score after making a fine catch in the middle.
Thompson brought the deficit back to three by raising an orange flag from a free.
However, the Páirc Naomh Columba men were not for flinching and Murphy struck his third ‘45’ of the match and then set up Dunleavy for a nice score.
Malone replied with a ‘45’ for Naomh Conaill. The ball was then put in their net by Murphy but the umpire adjudged that the size five was out of play before Caolan Kelly fisted inside.
Murphy was a huge threat inside and when he lofted over in the 55th minute, Glenswilly were five ahead and seemingly nearly there.
However, Naomh Conaill never threw in the towel.
Malone and Odhran Doherty hit two-pointers in quick succession and suddenly thee lead was back to one.
The clock in MacCumhaill Park froze entering five minutes of injury-time but three of them were played when Thompson supplied the leveller.
Naomh Conaill had a few chances to snatch the victory but couldn’t take them and the game went to extra-time.
Liam McGinley drew first blood in the additional time but Malone cancelled that out with a free.
Naomh Conaill lost the influential Odhran Doherty to injury and Murphy then pushed Glenswilly into the lead.
However, a two-point free had Regan’s side 0-19 to 0-18 ahead as they split for the break.
Murphy soon levelled matters again when the play resumed and bodies were dropping like flies as the second ticked away.
However, when the game was there to be won, Naomh Conaill found a way.
They worked two points down the right flank with John O’Malley and Seamus Corcoran on target.
Glenswilly went for it at the end but Murphy and Gildea were off target and Malone struck the insurance score at the death to set up an appetising final with St Eunan’s.
Glenswilly: Kealan Curran; Jack Gallagher, Jamie McCauley, Mikey Toner; Dylan McAteer, Cormac Callaghan, Donal Gallagher; Sean Collum, Kealan Dunleavy (0-3); Eoghan Scott (0-3, 1tp), Reid Kelly, Shane Tinney; Caolan Kelly (0-2), Michael Murphy (0-10, 1tpf, 2fs, 3 ‘45’s), Daithi Gildea. Subs: Liam McGinley (0-1) for McAteer (39 mins), Pauric Devine for Callaghan (52 mins), Oisin Crawford for Tinney (57 mins), Mark Collum for Gildea (60 mins), Cormac Callaghan for Devine (Start of Extra-time), Daithi Gildea for Crawford (71 mins), Dylan McAteer for J.Gallagher (78 mins), Pauric Devine for D.Gallagher (80 mins).
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, Shean Roarty, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí; Daithi Molloy (0-1), Finnbarr Roarty, Kevin McGettigan (0-1); Max Campbell, Ciaran Thompson (0-5, 1tpf, 2fs); Eunan Doherty, Shea Malone (0-8, 1tp, 1 ‘45’, 1f), Odhran Doherty (0-3, 1tp); Brendan McDyer, Charlie McGuinness, John O’Malley (0-3). Subs: Mark McDevitt for McGuinness (39 mins), Keelan McGill for Mac Ceallabhuí (52 mins), Danny Brown for McDyer (57 mins), AJ Gallagher for S.Roarty (59 mins), Charlie McGuinness for Brown (Start of Extra-time), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for O.Doherty (69 mins), Seamus Corcoran (0-1) for Molloy (77 mins), Brendan McDyer for Mac Ceallabhuí (81 mins).
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s).
