Glenswilly 0-9 St Michael’s 1-14
BY RYAN FERRY
ST MICHAEL’S kept their faint hopes of Division 1 survival alive on Sunday with a deserved victory over Glenswilly.
It’s been a challenging campaign for St Michael’s and they could yet be relegated before they play their final league match.
However, they did what they could do in Páirc Naomh Columba.
St Michael’s were 0-8 to 0-3 ahead at the break and while Darren McGinley’s Glenswilly got back on level terms, it was the men from the Bridge who pushed on down the home straight.
Carlos O’Reilly fired in a goal and Michael Langan – in his first appearance for his club this year – posted a brace of two-pointers.
Glenswilly knew a win would keep them in the mix for a spot in the Division 1 Final, but Mark Bonner missed out with a hand injury, Jack Gallagher was suspended, and Michael Murphy and Eoghan Scott were absent.
St Michael’s were down Mark Anthony McGinley, Liam Paul Ferry and Daniel McLaughlin but they knew they had to get a result.
There was a minute’s silence observed before throw-in for Glenswilly underage player Tadhg Callaghan Carter who tragically passed away the previous week.
St Michael’s played against the breeze in the first half and started with intent.
They reeled off the first five points of the match as they dominated the aerial battle.
Michael McGinley posted two points from play while Andrew Kelly and Carlos O’Reilly notched frees and Michael Cannon was also on target.
Glenswilly were very much second best but Reid Kelly got them going with a score in the 16th minute.
The home side stole the resulting kick-out and moved the play quickly with Shane Tinney laying across goal for Mark Collum palming to the net.
However, referee Pat Barrett immediately ruled it out for a square ball much to the dissatisfaction of the Glen dugout.
Kealan Dunleavy did register an attacking mark but the men from the Bridge were looking dangerous.
Michael McGinley and Colin McFadden popped over while they also fluffed two decent goal chances.
Glenswilly couldn’t tie down Michael McGinley and he fired over a fourth point to put his team 0-8 to 0-2 down.
Dunleavy had the final say of the half with a free but they were five down as the teams headed for the dressing rooms.
McGinley’s men were off the pace in Act One and it was no surprise that they upped the ante after the restart.
Dunleavy and Pauric Devine fired over before Donnacha Gallagher expertly converted two-point free.
That reduced the deficit to one but Colin McFadden did find the space to pop over for St Michael’s.
However, they couldn’t find the traction they needed and Glenswilly were level by the 47th Minute after Dunleavy (free) and Matthew Enright pointed.
St Michael’s then introduced county star Langan and Glenswilly handled him well with Dylan McAteer brilliantly dispossessing him in the 55th minute.
However, Glenswilly then coughed up possession cheaply themselves on their own ’45’ and St Michael’s worked the play in with Carlos O’Reilly firing into the bottom corner.
That proved to be the crucial score and Carlos O’Reilly followed up with a point and the Glenswilly challenge faded.
Michael Langan didn’t look to be motoring at his best but he did land a brace of two-point frees to finish off the match.
The win keeps St Michael’s afloat in Division 1 but if Gaoth Dobhair get a victory against either Naomh Conaill on Thursday or Kilcar on Sunday, they will be relegated.
Glenswilly: Donnacha Gallagher (0-2, 1tpf); Cormac Callaghan, Jake Kelly, Liam McGinley; Dylan McAteer, Shane McDaid, Pauric Devine (0-1); Jamie McCauley, Sean Collum; Reid Kelly (0-1), Oisin Crawford, Oisin McGrenra; Shane Tinney, Kealan Dunleavy (0-4, 2fs, 1m), Mark Collum. Subs: Gary Kelly and Mikey Toner for McCauley and McDaid (Half-time), Matthew Enright (0-1) for Crawford (33 mins), Paddy Ward for J.Kelly (54 mins), Jamie McCauley for Tinney (59 mins).
St Michael’s: Oisin Cannon; Fionn Chernick, Stephen Doak, Kyle McGarvey; Oisin Langan, Ciaran Kelly, Packie Spiers; Michael McGinley (0-4), Michael Cannon (0-1); Max Roarty, Martin McElhinney, Colin McFadden (0-2); Eddie O’Reilly, Carlos O’Reilly (1-2, 1f), Andrew Kelly (0-1, 1f). Subs: Michael Langan (0-4, 2tpfs) for A.Kelly (47 mins), John McFadden for C.O’Reilly (63 mins).
Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).