Naomh Conaill 0-12
Termon 2-12
Termon recorded a superb six-point victory over Naomh Conaill at Davy Brennan Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Glenties men held a three-point advantage at the short whistle in this match but a strong second stanza display helped the visitors to turn the game around.
The home side got the afternoon’s scoring underway inside two minutes on Sunday, with John O’Malley firing over a fine effort from outside the arc.
Termon responded well by slotting over the contest’s next two points through John James Sweeney and Ruairi Conaghan to level proceedings.
Both outfits created chances to add to the scoreboard in the next period of play but their shots went wide off the mark.
The next score of the afternoon arrived on 18 minutes when Daire McDaid got on the scoresheet after he struck a 45’ straight over the black spot.
But it was soon cancelled out, with Eoghan McGettigan converting a placed ball of his own at the other end of the pitch.
Martin Regan’s men saw the orange flag raised for a second time on the 24 minute mark when Tiarnan Ward found the target from range.
Ward quickly added to his personal tally as Seamus Corcoran pounced on a stray kickout before laying it off to the young forward who stuck the ball over the bar.
The last two points of Act One were shared between the sides, with Gary McGettigan and Stephen McDevitt kicking good scores, leaving the hosts three ahead at the break.
The Burn Road residents made a bright start to the second stanza, with John James Sweeney pointing just 10 seconds after the restart.
Termon’s Ryan McFadden and Naomh Conaill’s Kevin McGettigan exchanged efforts before the visitors kicked over back-to-back points through Sweeney and Conaghan to level proceedings.
Kieran Gallagher soon fired the Glenties men back in front courtesy of a well-taken 45’.
Midway through Act Two, the hosts had a goal chance as Gallagher squared the ball to Mark Campbell but Kevin McGettigan made a fine block to stop him from palming it home.
Moments later, the away side were the ones to find the game’s opening goal as Patrick Fegan played the ball across goal where Bobby McGettigan was on-hand to palm it into the net.
Eoghan McGettigan responded with a fisted point for Martin Regan’s side at the other end but two successive scores through Ryan McFadden and Shea Boyle stretched Termon’s lead to three as we entered the final five minutes.
Naomh Conaill continued to battle and kicked back-to-back scores through Danny Brown and Eoghan McGettigan (free) to cut the deficit to the minimum.
However, Caolan McDaid’s men rallied back once again and points from Shea Boyle and Daire McDaid (free) accompanied by a major from Aiden Sweeney sealed a superb away win for the Burn Road residents.
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Daithi Molloy, Jason Campbell, Shean Roarty; Kevin McGettigan (0-1), Keelan McGill, Seamus Corcoran; Anthony Thompson, Mark Campbell; Mark McDevitt, John O’Malley (0-2,1tp), Daniel Gildea; Tiarnan Ward (0-3,1tp), Leo McLoone, Eoghan McGettigan (0-3,0-2f). Subs: Stephen McDevitt (0-1) for Gildea (14 mins), Kieran Gallagher (0-1,0-1 45’) for Corcoran (half-time), Danny Brown (0-1) for Ward (51 mins).
Termon: Darragh Russell; Emmett McGettigan, Conor Cassidy, Eoin Gallagher; Patrick Fegan, Kevin McGettigan, Rory McGrenra; Ruairi Conaghan (0-2), Bobby McGettigan (1-0); John James Sweeney (0-3), Ryan McFadden (0-2), Gary McGettigan (0-1); Daire McDaid (0-2,0-1f,0-1 45’), Jack Alcorn, Ciaran Cassidy. Subs: Cormac Gallagher for Emmett McGettigan (half-time), Shea Boyle (0-2) for Gary McGettigan (45 mins), Aiden Sweeney (1-0) for McGrenra (55 mins), Conor Black for Conaghan (60 mins), Enda McCormick for Alcorn (61 mins).
Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan).
Game at a Glance
Man of the Match: Patrick Fegan (Termon). The Termon wing-back was superb throughout proceedings on Sunday and provided the assist for both of his side’s goals. John James Sweeney also impressed while Tiarnan Ward was lively for the hosts.
The Whistler: Referee Anthony McCallig had a good outing in the middle marshalling this contest on Sunday.
Turning Point: Midway through the second stanza, the hosts had a goal chance superbly blocked by Kevin McGettigan and they went up the other end and landed a major of their own through Bobby McGettigan which gave Termon serious momentum heading into the last quarter.
Talking Point: Caolan McDaid will be delighted with the second half performance of his side on Sunday to secure a brilliant win on the road. Martin Regan’s outfit will be disappointed having led at the break but they’ll look to bounce back best time out.
What’s Next: Termon are scheduled to face Dungloe at Rosses Park this Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Naomh Conaill will be in action next weekend.