Naomh Ultan were too strong for Naomh Colmcille in this 2020 Championship Playoff at O Donnell Park and retained their Intermediate status for the forthcoming 2021 Championship campaign.
By Charlie Collins at O’Donnell Park
The teams were level at the first water-break 0-03 apiece , Dermot Gallier , Alan Lyons and Peter Alvey for Naomh Ultan , Daniel Clarke, Conor Grant and Hugh O Donnell for Naomh Colmcille.
The Newtoncunningham men failed to score again before halftime while the Dunkineely men added 1-03 .
Dermot Gallier got his second point from play and then they goaled when Alan Lyons intercepted a kick-out , fed Daniel Gallagher who unselfishly set up James Bryne to slot the ball to the net 1-04 to 0-03.
Byrne and Darragh Murrin added points to leave it 1-06 to 0-03 at halftime and in control.
Murrin produced a fine finish from distance to increase the lead , quickly followed by a good score from Sean White as Naomh Ultan began to dominate.
Daniel Gallagher, Cian Kennedy and Alan Lyons all added further points and they led by 1-11 to 0-03 at the second water-break. Paul Friel converted
Naomh Colmcille’s 4th point in the 50th minute, a gap of 34 minutes since their 3rd in the 16th minute.
Naomh Ultan responded quickly and Mark Hutchinson and Sean White both pointed from play and then James Byrne finished a good move with his second goal to make it 2-13 to 0-04.
Daniel Clarke got the game’s final score but it was only a consolation for an outplayed Naomh Colmcille who nonetheless kept trying until the end.
Naomh Colmcille: Matthew Whoriskey; Paul Friel (0-01), Eddie Gillespie, James Kernan; Bradley Doherty, John Fullerton, Hugh O’Donnell (0-01), Daniel Clarke (0-02), Stephen Gallagher; Jordan Gallagher, Michael Friel, Reece Duncan; Shane Monaghan, Conor Grant (0-01) , Sean Bond. Subs ; William Gillespie for Kernan (15mins), Keenan Diver for Gillespie , (24mins), Gillespie for Bond ( 41mins),Bond for Fullerton (46mins).
Naomh Ultan: Daniel McGlynn; Ryan Rose, Christopher Boyle, Aaron Kyles; Joe Alvey, Aidan Duffy, Mark Hutcheson (0-01), Dermot Gallier ( 0-02 ), Shaun White ( 0-02 ), James Byrne ( 2-01 ), Cian Kennedy (0-01f), Daniel Gallagher ( 0-01 ), Peter Alvey (0-01), Alan Lyons (0-02 ), Darragh Murrin ( 0-02). Subs ; Jordan Watters for Duffy ( 42mins), Jonathan Bach for Byrne (54mins) Dermot McGlynn and Michael Breslin for Murrin and White ( both 57mins).
Referee ; Shaun McLaughlin ( replaced by Connie Doherty after 9mins due to injury).
