Milford claimed their first win of the Division 1 season against the 14-men of St Eunans at O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny.
St Eunans 1-06 Milford 2-09 Report by Shaun Keenan at O’Donnell Park.
The visitors more than deserved their victory and Cathal McGettigan was the focal point of their charge as he scored five on the day to give Danny O’Donnell’s side their first victory of the new campaign.
The defeat will come as a setback to Richard Thorton’s side, their second loss of the campaign, but they will look to use their two-week break to bounce back against Bundoran.
20 seconds is all it took for the game to register its first goal of the contest, Milford setting the pace quickly before Pauric Curley got in behind Eoin O’Boyle to give the visitors an early lead.
And Cathal McGettigan ensured they didn’t stop there, the forward getting his first point of the contest after four minutes to give Milford a four-point lead.
However, St Eunans regained their composure and hit back with a goal and point of their own.
Rory Kavanagh and Rory Carr doing the damage, Carr showing determination ahead of the Milford defence to punch past the emerging Coalan McGettigan.
It was end-to-end stuff and both teams didn’t look like relenting, Curley striking his effort behind the post to restore Milford narrow advantage.
The home side charge took a blow when Conor Morrison saw red for striking out at the Milford opposition.
But a double Conor Gibbons free-kick gave the home side the advantage 10 minutes before the interval.
However, two open plays from Milford’s McGettigan and Kane Barrett restored parity after 28 minutes.
Shortly after the break, the Letterkenny side were caught resting on their laurels again when Barrett cheeky lob bundled into the net over the head of O’Boyle, who should have done much better.
The St Eunans stopper redeemed himself a minute later when Milford looked like they would score their third goal of the contest, tapping over Rory O’Donnell’s close-range effort.
Fighting points from James Kelly and Rory Kavanagh for St Eunans was admirable from Thornton’s side but it wasn’t enough as Milford final blitz ensure the victory.
Four points from Christoper Barnett and a triple barrage from McGettigan sealed the tie in Letterkenny.
St Eunans: Eoin O’Boyle, Conor Parke, Conor Morrison (Sent off 17′), Anthony Gallagher, Sean Halvey, Aaron Deery, Sean Ryan, Sean McGettigan, Rory Kavanagh (0-2), Peter McEniff, Sean McVeigh, James Kelly (0-2), Jamie Doherty, Rory Carr (1-0), Conor Gibbons (0-2).
Subs used: Niall Hannigan for Sean McVeigh (HT), Conor O’Donnell for Conor Gibbons (HT) Conor O’Donnell for Jamie Doherty (47′).
Milford: Coalan McGettigan, Peter Curran, Sean Black, Connor Coyle, TJ Evesson, Anthony Fisher, Ryan McMahon, Ronan Doherty, Rory O’Donnell (0-1), Luke Barrett, Christopher Barrett (0-1), Cathal McGettigan (0-5), Kane Barrett (1-1), Pauric Curley (1-1), Paddy Peoples.
Subs used: Rory O’Donnell for Gary Merrit (49′), Kyle Blackney for Pauric Curley (57′), Patrick Ferry for Christopher Barrett (60′).
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