Nine points from Donegal midfielder Jason McGee – seven from frees – and three from play by young corner-forward Cillian Gallagher gave Cloughaneely their first League win of the season.
Cloughaneely 0-13 Sean MacCumhaills 1-9
By Charlie Collins in Falcarragh
Cloughaneely beat MacCumhaills at the PCC grounds in Falcarragh, which will be Cloughaneely’s home until next year as Pairc Naomh Fhionnain gets a new makeover.
The other news coming from this fixture was the injury sustained by McGee’s county teammate Oisín Gallen late in the game.
The young forward’s shoulder popped out after a heavy collision, was popped back into place immediately by his team physiotherapist and after the game the player himself felt that swift action would ensure that the injury would not be a serious issue; let’s hope he’s right.
The home side were three points up in super quick time, two points from McGee , one from play , and one from Cillian Gallagher all came in the opening four minutes.
MacCumhaills finally settled down after a slow start and Steven O Reilly and Oisín Gallen got the scoreboard ticking over.
Back came Cloughaneely and Jason McGee scored three points in quick succession , two from frees and when Gallagher got his second in the 30th minute it was 0-7 to 0-2 to the home team at half-time.
The visitors had their best period in the opening ten minutes of the second-half, Stephen Mulligan pointed from play, Marty O’Reilly’s piledriver came down off the underside of the crossbar , was it over the line or not, after consulting his umpires Jimmy White decided it had and when Mulligan converted a free five minutes later the teams were level 0-7 to 1-4.
Cloughaneely responded well and scored four points in five minutes , McGee converted two frees, Gallagher and team captain Mark Harley got the others.
The home team had introduced Ciaran McGeady at half-time and he had a huge influence on the game once he got going with his strong forward running at pace and support play. Four points behind again the visitors fought back again and scored four of the next five points, Oisín Gallen, Mulligan, Steven O’Reilly and Martin Gallagher got those scores and only another McGee score kept the home team in front.
They had a number of chances during this period but went for goals instead of tapping over a few more points , a combination of excellent saves by Eoin Gallen and some fine blocking by defenders denied them.
When Steven O’Reilly burst through for his third point to leave just one in it the result was again in doubt.
However despite ten minutes of injury-time , justified one would say due to the number of second-half stoppages including Oisín Gallen’s injury and much indiscipline on both sides, the home team held on for their first win and two vital points.
Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty, Noel Sweeney, Michael Fitzgerald, Finn McGinley , Ciaran Scanlon, Mark Harley (0-1), Ciaran McFadden , Michael McCausland , Jason McGee (0-9, 7f), Martin Maguire, Aidan Doohan, Michael McHugh, Darren Ferry , Shaun Maguire, Cillian Gallagher (0-3). Subs: Ciaran McGeady for Ferry (half-time), John Fitzgerald for Doohan (50), Kevin Mulhearn for McCausland (52).
Sean MacCumhaills: Eoin Gallen, Ronan McMenamin, Martin Gallagher (0-1), Conor Griffin, Luke Gavigan, Gary Dunnion, Martin O’Reilly (1-0), Gavin Gallagher, Gary Wilson, Oisin Gallen (0-2), Steven O’Reilly (0-3), Andrew McCloskey, Stephen Mulligan (0-3, 2f), Rory Dunleavy, Adam Lynch. Subs: Chad McSorley for Gallagher (half-time) , Padhraic Patton for Griffun (44), Aaron Kelly for Dunleavy (48), Rory Mulligan for Lynch (55), Jimmy Keegan for Gallen (60).
Referee: Jimmy White.
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