Eunans win entertaining derby clash

GLENSWILLY  1-11  V.  1-16   ST.EUNANS.                                                                  Nine points from the impressive Niall O Donnell and 1-02 from Conor Gibbons helped St.Eunans to victory in this highly entertaining Division One clash at Pairc Naomh Columba.                                                                                                    The home side fielded without a number of regulars including Michael Murphy, but after falling eight points behind when Gibbons hammered the ball to their net in the 45th minute, they fought back to trail by only three with a few minutes to go, but the visitors added two late scores to secure the points.             There was just two points in it at half-time as St.Eunans lead 6-4 after the teams had shared eight points in the opening 20 minutes. Cillian Morrison opened for Eunans in the 2nd minute but Keelan Mc Fadden ( free) and a fine effort by Brian Farrelly had Glenswilly ahead. Niall O Donnell opened his account from a free and then scored from play to push Eunans in front only for Oisín Crawford to equalise with a super score from the right. O Donnell converted another free to restore the lead but back came Glenswilly and when Farrelly did brilliantly to send him clear wing-back Ryan Hunter took his point when a shot for goal was a real option. The visitors responded with the final two scores of the half, Cillian Morrison with his second from play and Niall O Donnell with his third free and fourth point of the game.                                                                                               The opening ten minutes of the second-half followed a similar pattern to the first as the teams exchanged four points, Gary Mc Fadden and Niall O Donnell from frees and Eamonn Doherty and Leon Kelly with two excellent scores from play to leave it 8-6 in St.Eunans favour.                                                                           Eunans lost Cillian Morrison to a Black-Card but then hit a purple patch that ultimately won them the game. They added I-04 without reply to race to a 1-12 to 0-06 lead. O’Donell added two points to his total, Conal Dunne and Conor Gibbons kicked excellent points from play and after Glenswilly had been turned over coming out of defence Gibbons hammered the ball to the net past Philip O Donnell after veterans  Kieran Sharkey and Kevin Rafferty had combined to set him up.                                                                                                                                     To their credit Glenswilly responded well with six of the game’s next eight scores. Oisín Crawford kicked a great point and although O Donnell replied with his 8th of the match, the home side knocked over three, Ciaran Bonner and Keelan Mc Fadden from frees and another fine score from play by Oisín Crawford, his third of the game. Gibbons brought his tally to 1-2 with a great score from way out on the right to make it 1-14 to 0-10 in Eunans favour but Bonner pointed and then sub Christopher Mc Monagle got his fist to the ball when Gary Mc Fadden’s effort for a point fell short and the ball hit the net to leave it 1-14 to 1-11 to the visitors. However St. Eunans kept their heads and late points by sub Paddy Mc Gowan and fittingly his 9th of the game by Niall O Donnell secured the victory for the league leaders.                                                  GLENSWILLY; Philip O Donnell, Ruairi Crawford, Eamonn Ward, Patrick Mc Fadden, Conor Boyce, Ryan Diver, Ryan Hunter ( 0-1 ), Caolan Kelly, Leon Kelly ( 0-1 ), Oisín Crawford ( 0-3 ), Cathal Gallagher,  Brian Farrelly ( 0-1 ), Gary Mc Fadden ( 0-1f ),  Ciaran Bonner ( 0-2 1f ),  Keelan Mc Fadden ( 0-2f ),                   SUBS;  Christopher Mc Monagle ( 1-0 ) for Keelan Mc Fadden ( 56mins ),            Paddy Diver for Hunter ( 58mins ).                                                                                     ST. EUNANS;  Blake Forkan, Conor Morrison, Sean Hensey, Conor Parke, Caolan Ward, Conal Dunne ( 0-1 ), Barry Mc Geehin,  Eamonn Doherty ( 0-1 ), Kevin Rafferty, Cillian Morrison ( 0-2 ),  Niall O Donnell ( 0-9 6f ), Oisín Toal, Kieran Sharkey, Sean Mc Veigh, Conor Gibbons ( 1-2 ).                                                           SUBS; Michael Miller for Cillian Morrison b/card ( 40mins ), Darragh Toal for Parke ( 43mins ), Paddy Mc Gowan for Mc Veigh ( 48mins ),  Oisín Carr for Darragh Toal b/card ( 51mins ).                                                                                        Referee; Andrew Mullin ( Killybegs ).