ST NAUL’S WERE delighted to pip Dungloe by a single point to begin life back in the SFC with a bang this afternoon with John Rose popping over the winner, writes Charlie Collins.
St Naul’s 1-14 Dungloe 1-13
Senior championship football returned to Mountcharles for the first time since 2012 but it was the visitors who made the early running, scoring two points from Daniel and Matthew Ward. The team from the Rosses might’ve furthered their lead but for a fine save from Gavin Mulreany, at the expense of a point, from Darren Curran.
Stephen Griffin and Peadar Mogan got scores for St Naul’s, although it was Robert Wherley’s team who led on 25 minutes, 0-5 to 0-4, with Daniel Ward adding two further points. Ian Campbell and Griffin were the scorers of St Naul’s first half points.
Thomas White managed to fist a goal for St Naul’s, taking advantage of some poor enough Dungloe defending when Daniel Brennan centered. However, Dungloe managed to level it at 1-7 apiece right on half-time when Barry Curran netted after fine approach play by Gerard Walsh and Adrian Hanlon.
Hanlon was on song in the second half’s opening exchanges, scoring three times by the 54th minute to give Dungloe a 1-10 to 1-9 advantage. St Naul’s dug in though and four points in a row from Griffin were huge.
That made for a 1-13 to 1-11 lead for the Barry Doherty-managed side. In a dramatic finish, Daniel Ward scored twice in the last five minutes for Dungloe to make it all square, only for Rose to win it for St Naul’s at the bitter end.
St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreany; Conor McBrearty, Brendan McCole, John Rose (0-1); Martin Breslin, Barry Griffin, Shane Conneely; Peadar Mogan (0-3), Stephen Griffin (0-7); Brian McGroary, Stuart Johnston (0-1), Ian Campbell (0-1); Cathal Lowther , Daniel Brennan (0-1), Thomas White (1-0). Subs: Shane Meehan for McGroary (15), Daniel Meehan for Brennan (55).
Dungloe: Ciaran Sharkey; Chris Boyle, Conor O’Donnell, Mark Curran; Matthew Ward (0-1), Jason McBride , Barry Curran (1-0); Christy Greene, Noel McBride (0-1); Darren Curran (0-1) Gerard Walsh, Dylan Sweeney; Dylan Boyle, Daniel Ward (0-7), Martin Redmond. Subs: Adrian Hanlon (0-3) for Dylan Sweeney (30), Jack Scally for Chris Boyle (35),Caolan Ward for Dylan Boyle (53),David McCarron for Walsh (55), Sean Wallace for McBride (60+6)
Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill).
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