Conor Gibbons steered St Eunan’s to victory against Sean MacCumhaills as new boss Richard Thornton got his sides All County League campaign off to a winning start at O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.
St Eunan’s 2-16 Sean MacCumhaill’s 2-09
Report by Shaun Keenan at O’Donnell Park
Eleven points from Gibbons proved to be the most dominant performance on the field as he put the divisions new-boys to the sword.
It wasn’t the return Bernard McGeehan would have wanted for his side after a 14-year absence from Donegal’s Division One but upon reflection, he may choose to take the positives in what was a fast-paced affair.
The Letterkenny side started the brighter of the two, scoring two early points within the first two minutes.
Conor O’Donnell and Conor Gibbons both getting themselves on the scoresheet before Sean MacCumhaill’s pulled back with an effort of their own.
Oisin Gallen from close range securing the first goal of the contest when Stephen Mulligan slipped in Gallen who made no mistake from less than 10-yards.
Conor Gibbons was vital for the St Eunan’s charge in the opening half, securing an emphatical seven points for Thorton’s Eunan’s.
And it wasn’t long before his got a goal of his own, majestically providing excellent movement before bundling home to retake the lead for the home side.
After eight minutes, Stephen Mulligan pulled the game to within one for MacCumhaill’s but St Eunan’s took real charge from here in an excellent 20-minute spell before the break.
Two further scores from Conor Gibbons and Conor O’Donnell was followed by Eoin McGeehan got in on the action with a pristine goal after some slick movement to outmanoeuvre the pressuring defender.
Darren O’Leary and Mulligan momentarily stopped the bleeding for MacCumhaill’s but the visitors could barely catch their breath before St Eunan’s were on their tails and scampering on the counter-attack
Pinching possession time and time again, the Letterkenny outfit snatched the impetus once again and secured three very good points to extend the lead.
Conor Gibbons showing his worth to the St Eunan’s pack once more, shrugging off Ronan McMenamin before securing another point from an acute angle – adding two more minutes later in what was an outstanding individual performance from the forward.
Just before the interval, O’Leary sailed a free-kick between the sticks before St Eunan’s responded with another rebounding score through a Gibbons set-play.
Shortly after the restart, Mulligan got McGeehan’s side off to the start they would have wanted in the second period.
Two free-kicks from Mulligan and O’Leary put the pressure back on Eunan’s but the Letterkenny outfit really turned on the style after the 40-minute mark.
Any anxieties McGeehan may have harboured about his team switching off were realised in the final stretch.
St Eunan’s were full of energy and MacCumhallis discovered that time on the ball was at a premium.
Brilliant play in the final quarter of the march from Rory Carr, Gibbons (x4), Eamonn Doherty, O’Donnell secured another seven points to put the game out of reach for the visitors.
However, MacCumhallis didn’t lie down that easily and Oisin Gallen scored two gallant points, one from open play and free-kick to show true determination going into the final stages.
And just when it looked as if they were down and out following another Gibbons score, substitute Aaron Kelly came up with the most unlikely of goals.
With time ticking on, other chances presented themselves for MacCumhallis but they failed to take them and in the end, it was a case of too little too late.
St Eunan’s: Blake Forkan; Conor Moore, Oisin Toal, Conor Parke, Daragh Mulgrew, Eamonn Doherty; Shane Ryan, Conor O’Donnell (0-3), Rory Kavanagh, James Kelly, Caolan Ward, Jordan O’Dowd; Conor Gibbons (1-10 5F), Rory Carr (0-1), Eoin McGeehan.
Subs used: Niall O’Donnell for Eoin McGeehan (39), Sean McVeigh for Jordan O’Dowd (47), Sean Halvay for Shane Ryan (47), Brian McIntyre for Rory Carr.
Sean MacCumhaill’s: Eoin Gallen, Adam Lynch, Marty Gallagher, Ronan McMenamin, Luke Garavan, Martin O’Reilly (0-1), Gavin Gallagher, Stephen O’Reilly, Padhraic Patton, Christopher Gallen, Gary Wilson, Stephen Mulligan (0-4, 4F), Oisin Gallen (1-1), Darren O’Leary 0-3, 3F), Gary Dunnion
Subs used: Aaron Kelly (1-0) for Ronan McMenamin (HT), Aaron Gillooey for Christopher Gallen (HT), Rory Dunleavy for Adam Lynch (40), Conor Griffin for Stephen Mulligan (49).
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