History will tell us that the meeting of Cloughaneely and Gaeil Fhánada on Championship day always makes for a close and entertaining encounter.
Cloughaneely 1-15 Gaeil Fhánada 1-8
Páirc Naomh Fhionáin was the stage for this evening’s match-up – the same venue that saw the Falcarragh-based side left a first Donegal Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta title since 1998 on Monday.
Seamus Friel was on fine free-taking form for the visitors with six of his points coming from frees.
Denis Boyle got Cloughaneely on the scoreboard with his first free of the day in the seventh minute. Fanad’s Oisin Shiels was quick to respond with a point from play in the 11th minute.
Fanad were then held scoreless for a period of 20 minutes, despite attempts by Michael Sweeney which was cleared to safety by Cloughaneely keeper Shaun McClafferty.
Another dangerous ball in from Sweeney was contested again by McClafferty and Eoghan Carr but McClafferty again managed to clear the ball to safety.
Cloughaneely managed to extend their lead by 5 points thanks to Mark Harley, Martin McGuire, Sweeney, Boyle and Mulhern. A Seamus Friel free brought Fanad back to within four points just before half time.
The home side were 0-7 to 0-3 up at the break.
With all still to play for Fanad got of to a storming start to the second half. Sweeney won the ball straight from throw-in; a shot for point ricocheted of the post and was recovered by Eoghan Carr who blasted the ball past Cloughaneely’s number 1 for a goal, bringing it to a one-point game.
Mulhern added another point for the homeside which was quickly cancelled out by another Friel free. The turning point for Cloughaneely came in the 36th minute when a superb shot by McGeever hit the back of the net after a splendid supply from Aiden Doohan.
Fanad again tried to narrow the gap with three unanswered points from Friel – one coming from play. Cloughaneely started to pull clear within the last 10 minutes with Scanlon, McGeever, Declan McGarvey, Mark Harley, Aidan Doohan and John McGarvey adding points for the home side.
Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty, Cian McFadden, John Harley, Ciaran McFadden, Michael Fitzgerald, Paddy Cannon, Declan McGarvey (0-2), Darren McGeever (1-1, 1f), Kevin Mulhern (0-2), John McGarvey (0-1), Denis Boyle (0-2, 2f), Ciaran Scanlon (0-1), Mark Harley (0-2), Paul Sweeney (0-1), Martin McGuire (0-2). Subs: Aidan Doohan (0-1) for Martin McGuire (34 mins), Shaun McGuire for Denis Boyle (44),
Gaeil Fhánada: Mark McConigley, Aidan Heraghty, James Anthony Coyle, Frankie Sweeney, Odhran Shiels, James Gallagher, Kevin McGonigle, Seamus Friel (0-7, 6f), Michael Sweeney, Jonathan Friel, Mark Friel, Oisin Shiels (0-1), Niall Carr, Eoghan Carr (1-0), Patrick Heraghty.
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