Gaoth Dobhair 0-12 St Eunan’s 3-17
ST Eunan’s produced a scintillating performance this evening to defeat Gaoth Dobhair in the Under 16 Division 1 Championship Final in Convoy.
Young corner-forward Sam Tourish was the star of the show as he posted 2-6 for the victors.
Ethan Buchanan notched the other goal as St Eunan’s gradually pulled clear from their opponents in the second half.
The O’Donnell Park side, who are managed by Barry Meehan, Eugene Duffy, and Brendan Kilcyone, opened the scoring through county minor Cathal Doherty in the second minute.
Gaoth Dobhair had the breeze at their backs and they soon settled with good scores from Aaron Mac Giolla Bhríde, Dylan Ó Gallchóir and Adam Mac Giolla Bhríde (free).
‘Eunan’s midfielder Senan Kavanagh then levelled matters with a superb two-pointer from distance.
Tarlagh Mac Aoidh and Sam Tourish traded points before Dylan Ó Gallchoir and Ruadhán Ó Baoill pushed Gaoth Dobhair into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead.
St Eunan’s went close to grabbing a goal but Dáire Ó Rabhartaigh made a fine save from Eoghan Callaghan.
Odhran Daly and Sam Tourish followed up with points for St Eunan’s before Adam Mac Giolla Bhríde drilled over a free for the Magheragallon side.
St Eunan’s then landed the first goal of the game in the 23rd minute. Gaoth Dobhair gave the ball away carelessly and Senan Kavanagh hammered inside where Tourish stretched high to palm to the net.
Tourish – who is only Under 14 – was a livewire inside and drilled over another point.
That left St Eunan’s 1-7 to 0-7 ahead at the break and that was a good position.
Dylan Ó Gallchóir had the first say of Act Two with a free but St Eunan’s soon started to motor again.
Colm Óg Breathnach slotted over from the right wing and then Cathal Doherty nailed a two-pointer from play.
Dylan Ó Gallchóir and Kavanagh (sideline) swapped points before Gaoth Dobhair went close to scoring a goal but Ronan Nathan saw his effort scrambled clear.
At the other end of the field, substitute Ethan Buchanan raced through but his powerful effort came back off the post.
Tourish was denied a second goal by a great clearance from Colman MacCumhaill but the Letterkenny side kept the pressure on and pushed eight ahead thanks to efforts from Jamie McGee and Cathal Doherty (2).
Tourish made it 1-15 to 0-9 after 52 minutes and St Eunan’s were well on their way to victory at that stage.
Adam Mac Giolla Bhride hit a free for Gaoth Dobhair’s first point in 16 minutes but they couldn’t stop the bleeding at the other end.
Tourish helped himself to another two points and there was a huge roar when Ethan Buchanan rattled home a second goal in the 55th minute.
That man Tourish was electric and he registered another major before receiving a rapturous applause when replaced with a couple of minutes to go.
Adam Mac Giolla Bhríde concluded Gaoth Dobhair’s scoring but they had to settle for defeat as St Eunan’s deservedly claimed the spoils.
Gaoth Dobhair: Dáire Ó Rabhartaigh; Caomhan Mac Suibhne, Alex Mac Íomhair, Seosamh Mac Grianna; Ruadhán Ó Baoill (0-1), Fionn Mac Grianna, Jamie Mac Aoidh; Tarlagh Mac Aoidh (0-1), Zach Ó Colla; Dylan Ó Gallchóir (0-4, 1f), Adam Mac Giolla Bhríde (0-5, 3fs, 1tp), Pádraig Ó Gallchóir; Aaron Mac Giolla Bhríde (0-1), Colman Mac Cumhaill, Máirtin Óg Ó Coll. Subs: Ronan Nathan for C.Mac Suibhne (Half-time), Nathan Ó Gallchóir for P.Ó Gallchoir (38 mins), Nathan Ó Baoill for Mac Cumhaill (48 mins).
St Eunan’s: Dylan Doherty; David McFadden, Daire Gallagher, Eoghain Duffy; Jamie McGee (0-1), Colm Óg Breathnach (0-1), Stephen McShane; Senan Kavanagh (0-3, 1sl), Tom McElwaine; Zac O’Carroll, Odhran Daly (0-1), Senan Gibson; Eoghan Callaghan, Cathal Doherty (0-5, 1tp, 1m), Sam Tourish (2-6). Subs: Ethan Buchanan (1-0) for McShane (38 mins), Matthew Brady for Tourish (58 mins).
Referee: Daniel Carlin (Naomh Pádraig, Lifford).