THE TALL order proved too much for Glenswilly who bow out of the race for Dr Maguire despite a home win over Milford.
Glenswilly 1-13 Milford 2-7
By Chris McNulty at Pairc Naomh Columba
13-man Glenswilly defeated the already-qualified Milford by three points, but the landslide margin they required to advance to the quarter-finals never really seemed likely.
They made a fist of it, but the 11-point loss to Four Masters last Sunday night loomed large a week on as it proved the stone upon which the Glenmen’s hopes fell.
Milford were assured of the top spot in the group as they arrived in Foxhall with wins in each of their opening two games and Danny O’Donnell put out a strong XV.
Kyle Black’s goal after nine minutes rocked Glenswilly, who responded four minutes later when Donnacha Gallagher slid home from close range.
Glenswilly were five to the good at the break, but just couldn’t muster enough in the second half and, as the night began to unravel, Oisin Crawford and Darren McGinley were sent off for the hosts.
Black fired past Gerard McGrenra after a good move from the visitors involving Kane Barrett and James Doyle.
Early scores by Crawford – who scored four fine points from play – Michael Murphy (2) and Caolan Kelly had Glenswilly with the early edge, but Black’s goal shook them.
Their response was almost instant as Gallagher fired in from close range after Murphy knocked Crawford’s dropping ball into his path.
Crawford, Kelly and Farrelly arched over three points in a five-minute spell.
Caolan McGettigan, the Milford goalkeeper, saved well from Crawford, after Farrelly slipped the ball into his grasp.
Crawford sent Glenswilly five up at the break with a superb score, sweeping over from wide on the left after initially doing well to keep the ball in play.
It took Glenswilly ten minutes of part two to add to their tally as Murphy landed a free from 40 metres.
Less than a minute later, loud Glenswilly appeals for a penalty were waved away. Murphy surged from deep inside his own half and worked a one-two with Kelly. As Murphy went down, the big home crowd expected a spot kick and Jimmy White’s firm shake of the head drew their considerable ire.
McGettigan saved again, this time from Farrelly’s close-range swing when a Murphy shot dropped off an upright.
Murphy went close twice to another Glenswilly goal in the closing moments, but they were in vain
Glenswilly: Gerard McGrenra; Paddy Diver, Eamonn Ward, Aidan McDevitt; Ruairi Crawford, Mark McAteer, Caolan Kelly (0-2); Leon Kelly (0-2), Caoimhinn Marley; Ciaran Bonner, Brian Farrelly (0-1), Oisin Crawford (0-4); Donnacha Gallagher (1-0), Michael Murphy (0-4, 3f), Neil Gallagher. Subs: Shane McDaid for R.Crawford (39), Darren McGinley for D.Gallagher (44), Ryan Diver for Bonner (56).
Milford: Caolan McGettigan; Sean Black, James Doyle, TJ Evesson (0-2); Peter Curran, Gary Merritt, Ryan McMahon; Joey Cullen, Luke Barrett (0-1f); Paddy Peoples, Christopher Barrett (0-1), Cathal McGettigan (0-1f); Kyle Black (1-1), Kane Barrett, Rory O’Donnell. Subs: Daragh Black for O’Donnell (35), Conor McHugh for Peoples (35), Marty Doyle (1-0) for Merritt (43), Ronan Docherty for K.Black (51), Pauric Curley for L.Barrett (51).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
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