CLOUGHANEELY put in a superb showing to win the Northern Board Minor Division 2 title at the expense of Glenswilly at the Burn Road in Termon this evening.
Cloughaneely 2-8 Glenswilly 0-10
Glenswilly were 3-15 to 0-11 winners against the same opponents in August but poor shooting and shot selection this evening cost them dear.
Part of the reason for that was a great defensive showing from Cloughaneely, who were driven on by Shaun Curran and Conor Coyle at midfield in particular and took their chances when they arrived.
Padraig Coyle and Ethan Friel were the goalscorers, to complete a real twist in fortunes.
It means a final for the novel competition, with this evening’s winners going straight into the final where they’ll face Dungloe or Naomh Padraig, Muff.
The Falcarragh-based side grabbed the opening goal of the game on 12 minutes when Friel was on hand to tuck home a rebound when Fintan O’Kane didn’t hold onto a dropping ball from Padraig Coyle.
The Glenswilly goalkeeper suffered an arm injury – early indications suspect it may be broken – in the exchange and had to be replaced by Kealan Curran, with their side 1-2 to 0-2 down.
Cloughaneely had twice taken the lead, with Cian Doogan and Keenan Gallagher posting early scores. Glenswilly’s first two came from Jack Gallagher and Kealan Dunleavy. A point apiece for either side made it 1-3 to 0-3 – Jack Gallagher and Curran on target.
Curran then scored a great point on the run – the first of four on the evening – having won a Glenswilly kick-out himself. He’d add two more before the break.
Dunleavy put over fine long-ranger at the other end, to end a bad run – Adrian Glackin’s side kicked eight first half wides. Cloughaneely were 1-5 to 0-4 up at half-time.
Cloughaneely were defending well as the second half began, determined to hold onto what they had. They were dealt a blow with Dara Ferry picking up a black card. In his absence, they survived and Curran grabbed another point.
Sean Collum finally broke the Glenswilly duck, coming forward from the full-back berth, to score on 42 minutes and then another a minute later. Cian Doogan popped over a Cloughaneely point right before the water-break. They led 1-7 to 0-6.
Donal Gallagher pulled one back at the start of the fourth quarter and then at the other end, Collum had a last-ditch block to prevent a certain Ciaran Coll goal as another Glenswilly score, from Jack Gallagher’s free, meant there was still a race to be run.
However, Cloughaneely managed to get a goal four minutes from the end, when Padraig Coll stabbed home a dropping ball which Ciaran Coll tried to grab. The lead, at 2-7 to 0-8, looked as comfortable as it could with Glenswilly deflated just when it was looking like they were building a head of steam.
Jack Gallagher managed two late points to bring it back to three – or a goal – to give some sort of hope. However, Kevin Scanlon’s team were deserving winners; Ciaran Coll’s free made certain.
Glenswilly: Fintan O’Kane; Jack ‘Brian’ McGlynn, Sean Collum (0-2), Oisin Ward; Jake Kelly, Jack Gallagher (0-5, 4f), Oisin McDaid; Kealan Dunleavy (0-2), Gary Kelly; Michael Doherty, Gerard Shiels, Caolan Glackin; Donal Gallagher (0-1), Peadar Gallagher, Emmet O’Boyle. Subs: Kealan Curran for O’Kane (14), Jack ‘Damien’ McGlynn for P Gallagher (48), Mark Mulholland and Daire Maguire for Glackin and Ward (53).
Cloughaneely: Oran Craig; Shane Curran, Kevin Boyle, Brian Gallagher; Ethan Friel (1-0), Dara Ferry, Keenan Gallagher (0-1); Conor Coyle, Shaun Curran (0-4, 2f); Cathal McGeever, Cian Doogan (0-2), Blake Coyle; Padraig Coyle (1-0), Ciaran Coll (0-1, 1f), Stephen Ferry. Subs: Ciaran Mulhren for Ferry (42).
Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).
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