DANIEL Meehan’s late goal scraped St Naul’s past Glenswilly in a tense Donegal SFC clash in Mountcharles.
St Naul’s 1-10 Glenswilly 0-12
By Charlie Collins at Gerard Gallagher Memorial Park
Meehan struck three minutes from the end of normal time to tip the scales in St Naul’s favour.
Glenswilly were leading by two when St Naul’s pounced for the winner. It was the first time that St Naul’s were ahead for the whole game.
Gary McFadden was turned over ad St Naul’s broke at pace. Glenswilly goalkeeper Philip O’Donnell made a superb save to deny Stephen Griffin, but Meehan riffled the rebound to the net.
Glenswilly were 0-8 to 0-7 in front at half-time, with all of St Naul’s points coming from placed balls, with Peadar Mohan posting four and Stephen Griffin landing three.
Gary McFadden, Keelin Dunleavy and Michael Murphy each hit two apiece with Sean Wogan on target for Glenswilly.
Glenswilly had a big goal chance three minutes into the second half. A sweeping Glenswilly move ended with Wogan teeing up Murphy, whose shot was saved by Gavin Mulreaney.
Three from Murphy had Glenswilly 0-12 to 0-10 in front down the home stretch, but there was another sting to come.
Glenswilly, at that stage, were in the quarter-finals, but now their future is uncertain.
St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreaney; John Relihan, Barry Griffin, Brendan McCole; Dermot Gallagher, Kyle Campbell, Thomas White; Stephen Griffen (0-4, 3fs), Stuart Johnston; Martin Breslin, Shane Conneely, Michael Coughlan; Daniel Meehan (1-1), Peadar Mogan (0-5f), Ian Campbell. Subs: Cathal Lowther for Conneely (57), Daniel Brennan for Campbell (45).
Glenswilly: Philip O’Donnell; Mark McAteer, Ruairi Crawford, Sean Collum; Cormac Callaghan, Shane McDaid, Jake Kelly; Michael Murphy (0-5, 3f), Leigh Crerand; Sean Wogan (0-1), Caoimhin Marley, Keelin Dunleavy (0-3), Shane McDevitt, Gary McFadden (0-2, 1f), Caolan Kelly (0-1). Subs: Oisin Crawford for McDevitt (45), McDevitt for Shane McDaid (47).
Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters).
