Ultimately, Cloughaneely were comfortable winners of a first Donegal Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Sinsir title in 19 years as the host club saw off 14-man Glenfin in the final at Pairc Naomh Fionnan.
Cloughaneely 0-11 Glenfin 0-6
When Cloughaneely were last kings of this competition, 19 years ago, a youthful Denis Boyle was cutting his teeth around the playing fields of Falcarragh and breaking onto the senior team.
Boyle was to the fore here, with five expert scores as Michael Lynch’s men claimed a deserved five-point win on a day when Glenfin – who had John Harkin sent off in the first half – were scoreless from play over the hour.
Cloughaneely had two points to spare at half-time and Glenfin had just a pair of frees from Conor McBride to show for their second-half efforts and by the time Martin McGuire landed the final score of the day the home side were already toasting the winning of their fourth title, adding to their wins in 1992, 1994 and 1998.
In ’98, Cloughaneely defeated Ardara in the final and the teams had a re-match last night when Boyle rolled the years back as Cloughaneely confirmed their passage into the decider, where they met a Glenfin side that was purring from a fine win over Dungloe yesterday.
John Harley is presented with the Feardorcha Ó Colla Man of the Match award.
Scores were a rare commodity in the early stages with Stephen Carr and Boyle swapping frees before Jason Morrow fired wide with a goal chance after being played in at close range by Conor McBride.
In front of their home followers, Cloughaneely were keen to make an impression. McGarvey found the range from distance and Martin McGuire thumped over from beyond 45 metres to raise the decibels.
It was certainly a novel pairing with Cloughaneely in their first final since a 1998 win over Ardara, a triumph that also came on their home sod.
Glenfin – who won their only senior crown back in 1988 – were appearing in the final for the first time since the hosted the finals and were beaten by Gaoth Dobhair in 2005.
Glenfin suffered a hammer blow in the 17th minute when John Harkin was shown a straight red card by referee Enda McFeely. Harkin was in possession as he charged forward, but was sent off for a striking offence and Glenfin were facing a stiff ask.
McBride posted a pair of frees and Stephen Carr tucked another free between the sticks to briefly move Glenfin in front.
Ciaran Scanlon powered over from the right-hand side to move the home side back onto an even footing again.
McGarvey swept over a glorious point and Boyle posted his second of the afternoon to put Cloughaneely 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at the short whistle.
Two Boyle frees, one of them an uplifting effort off the ground from the left-hand side, around 40 metres from the target, moved Cloughaneely into a four-point command.
Two McBride frees kept Glenfin’s hopes alive, but the absence of a score from play, and their obvious numerical disadvantage, was hurting their chances.
Darren McGeever surged through to fist over and Boyle gently stroked a ’45 through the target after a sweeping move saw John McGarvey denied a goal after the ball had been worked his way by Aidan Doohan and Michael Fitzgerald.
Frank McGlynn, so influential against Dungloe last night, pushed on in an attempt to rescue the embers for Glenfin but the former All-Star was well curbed, though he did have one scorching effort deflect wide.
With Boyle on the money and with Declan McGarvey, Ciaran Scanlon and, in particular, John Harley – who won the Feardorcha Ó Colla Man of the Match Award – on form, Cloughaneely were off to toast a priceless win.
Cloughaneely: Sean McClafferty; Cian McFadden, Paddy Cannon, Ciaran McFadden; Michael Fitzgerald, Ciaran Scanlon (0-1), Declan McGarvey (0-2); Kevin Mulhern, Darren McGeever (0-1); Aidan Doohan, Denis Boyle (0-5, 3f, 1 ‘45), Sean McGarvey; Martin McGuire (0-2), Mark Harley, John Harley.
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh; Gary Heron, John Harkin, Daithi Carr; Gary Dorrian, Frank McGlynn, Paddy O’Connor; Hugh Foy, Stephen Ward; Conor Ward, Stephen McGlynn, Kyle Doherty; Conor McBride (0-4, 4f), Jason Morrow, Stephen Carr (0-2, 2f). Subs: Kevin McGlynn for O’Connor (37), Stephen McDermott for Ward (39), Ronan Gallagher for Foy (4), Packie McGrath for McBride (55).
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy)
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