At one stage this evening at Moyle View Park in Milford, the scoreboard froze with the hosts six down to Sean MacCumhaill’s.
Milford 1-16 Sean MacCumhaill’s 4-13
That, though, made little difference to the outcome, with MacCumahill’s putting in an electric performance perhaps even better than those that helped them to promotion to the All-County Football League Division 1 this season.
In a contest that was a barometer of sorts, to see just how far they’ve progressed in this calendar years, they ticked considerable boxes and now have a chance of reaching the last eight of the Donegal SFC with a home match against Killybegs to come next weekend.
Milford, making their first appearance in the senior bracket in 25 years it must be remembered, did produce something of a late fightback built primarily on a stack of long balls in. By that stage, however, the damage had been done with MacCumhaill’s having netted four times through the impressive Oisin Gallen, two from Brian Lafferty and a fourth courtesy of Martin O’Reilly.
Milford’s response late in the match, though a fisted effort from Joey Cullen was really only mere consolation, although had O’Reilly not blocked on his own goalline from Gary Merritt, things may or may not have been that little more competitive.
But as it is, Milford, who picked up three points from Kilcar in Division 1 this season, will in all likelihood need something from their trip to Towney next time out.
There was very little in it, until the margin became stretched at the end of the first quarter. Milford had tip-toed into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead by then with David Curley edging them ahead. Padhraic Patton kicked two early MacCumahill’s points and would go onto kick a third.
MacCumhaill’s managed to score the opening goal on 15 minutes through a terrific bit of play from Gallen – who would score 1-5 in all – having skipped in from the left and when the angle presented itself, shooting past Caolan McGettigan.
A second MacCuamhill’s goal arrived six minutes later and this time it was Lafferty who slapped in from close range following a move that ripped through the Milford defence with Martin O’Reilly and his brother Stephen at its heart.
In-between times, Milford managed to keep one out when Aaron Kelly slapped off the crossbar from a Martin Gallagher diagonal ball and McGettigan in Milford’s goal saved from Gallen on the follow-up, although the MacCumhaill’s forward did manage to post a point.
At the break, Milford were glad to hear the whistle, 2-7 to 0-7 down.
However, manager Danny O’Donnell’s hopes for an instant response didn’t work out as Lafferty added his second goal two minutes after the restart. It was finished similarly as his first, a slap in from inches and this time it came about as David Curley was dispossessed coming out from the back and Gary Wilson, Gallen and then Lafferty worked it home.
That made it 3-7 to 0-7 and despite Milford getting a couple of scores through the boot of Cathal McGettigan, they were rocked again on 50 minutes when Martin O’Reilly scored McCumhaill’s fourth goal when he was assisted by Stephen Mulligan.
At 4-10 to 0-11, the batteries had long since gone dead on Milford, as they had on the scoreboard but the home team did at least manage a goal through Cullen six minutes from time. They chipped over a series of points but in the end, the deficit was too much and MacCumhaill’s were the ones singing in the rain.
Milford: Caolan McGettigan; Gary Merritt, Barry McNulty, Conor McHugh; Sean Black, Paddy Peoples (0-1), David Curley (0-1); Joey Cullen, Luke Barrett (0-3, 1f); Cathal McGettigan (0-6, 3f), Christopher Barrett (0-3), Tony McNamee (0-1), Daragh Black, Pauric Curley (0-1). Subs: Ryan McMahon for B McNulty (half-time), Conor McNulty and James Doyle for S Black and P Curley (43), Ronan Docherty for K Black (49), Eric Black for D Curley (58).
Sean MacCumhaill’s: Eoin Gallen; Christopher Gallagher, Martin Gallagher, Conor Griffin; Ronan McMenamin, Gary Dunnion, Luke Gavigan; Padhraic Patton (0-3), Martin O’Reilly (1-0); Gary Wilson (0-1), Steven O’Reilly, Oisin Gallen (1-5, 2f); Brian Lafferty (2-0), Gavin Gallagher (0-3), Aaron Kelly (0-1). Subs: Adam Lynch and Stephen Mulligan for Griffin and Lafferty (47), Chad McSorley for Mulligan (53, black card), Nathan Gavigan for Patton (59).
Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill)
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