Having led by four points at half-time and by six with only eight minutes of normal time remaining Glenswilly were forced to hang on by Cloughaneely this evening.
Glenswilly 1-10 Cloughaneely 0-10
By Charlie Collins at Pairc Naomh Columba
Cloughaneely scored the game’s final three points in injury-time to set up a nervous finish for the home team.
In fairness Glenswilly deserved this vital win but once again found closing the game out a difficult task.
This was one of those fixtures in the Brian McCormick Sports and Leisure Division One where both teams knew a win would feel more like four points gained rather than the two on offer.
Games like this between teams in the bottom half of the table will ultimately decide which teams survive or are relegated to Division Two.
Martin Maguire gave the visitors an early lead but Glenswilly hit back in the ninth minute with an excellent goal.
Ciaran Bonner grabbed a long ball in from Brian Farrelly and laid it off to the fast moving Caoimhin Marley who drilled it past Sean McClafferty.
Martin Maguire converted another point from long range to reduce the deficit to a point. We then had a run of scores from frees with Ciaran Bonner and Sean McGarvey each converting two to leave it 1-2 to 0-3 for Glenswilly.
McGarvey narrowed the gap to one with another free but excellent scores, all from play, by Joe Gibbons (a super solo effort), Ciaran Bonner and another cracking effort by Caoimhin Marley left Glenswilly 1-5 to 0-4 in front at the break
The home team had the better of the third quarter as well.
Bonner converted another two frees with Oisín Crawford and Brian Farrelly knocking over two from play.
Sean McGarvey’s free and Martin Maguire’s third from play left six in it with 45 minutes gone.
Sean McGarvey converted another free to narrow the gap to five, but sub Donnacha Gallagher restored the six point lead in the 53rd minute, 1-1 to 0-7.
Glenswilly keeper Gerard McGrenra just about denied Cloughaneely a goal as we entered injury-time, saving a follow up shot on the goal line after he had blocked the initial shot but failed to hold it.
To their credit Cloughaneely kept pressing and as Glenswilly took some bad options when in possession the visitors added three points from frees , one from Sean Maguire and another two from Sean McGarvey to leave three points between them .
The home side just about did enough to hold on for two league points but need to improve when it comes to closing out games like this with vital points at stake.
On Sunday they travel to take on Milford in Moyle Park in another key game for both teams.
Glenswilly: Gerard McGrenra; Shane McDaid, Eamonn Ward, Paddy Diver; Ruairi Crawford, Mark McAteer, Ryan Diver; Leon Kelly, Caoimhin Marley (1-1); Joe Gibbons (0-1), Ciaran Bonner (0-5, 4f), Oisin Crawford (0-1); Keelan McFadden, Brian Marley (0-1), Stephen O’Donnell. Subs: Donnacha Gallagher (0-1) for McFadden (43), Patrick Boyle for O Donnell (58).
Cloughaneely: Sean McClafferty; Ciaran McFadden, Kevin Mulhern, Noel Sweeney; Mark Harley, Ciaran McGeady, Neil Kelly; Michael Fitzgerald, Martin Maguire (0-3); Michael McHugh, Aidan Doogan, Cian McFadden; Cillian Gallagher , Sean McGarvey (0-6f) Sean Maguire (0-1f). Subs: Sean McBride and Michael Causland for Harley and Cian McFadden (45), Finn McGinley for Kelly (48).
Referee: Marc Browne (Four Masters)
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