St. Eunan’s set up a semi-final tie with St. Michaels as St.Nauls Stephen Griffin was sent-off inside the first minute.
St. Eunan’s 2-12 v St. Naul’s 2-05
Griffin was sent off by referee Mark Dorrian for what appeared to be a striking offence on Eamonn Doherty, leaving the 14 men of St. Naul’s to face an uphill battle.
The 14 men did well up to the first water break, trailing by only four points, 0-05 to 0-01, Conor O’Donnell Sr, Shane O’Donnell, Kieran Tobin Niall O’Donnell and Conor O’Donnell Jr, all scored from play for Eunan’s, with Gavin Mulreany’s free the only St.Naul’s reply.
Both teams scored just one point each before half-time, Conor O’Donnell Jr for Eunan’s and Stuart Johnston for Naul’s, both from play, making it 0-06 to 0-02 in St. Eunan’s favour at half-time.
Daniel Meehan got a point from a close range free to leave three in it and two minutes later, first goal arrived.
Peadar Mogan played a super ball through to the overlapping McCole, his shot was saved by Shaun Patton but the ball hit Caolan Ward and flew back into the net making it 0-06 to 1-03.
Eunan’s responded well to that setback as Shane O’Donnell and Eóin McGeehin scored from play and just before the water break , Niall O’Donnell scored a free-kick which was brought forward for dissent and the lead was three points again.
Eunans continued to dominate the ball and added points from a Conor O’Donnell Jr 45 and Conor Parke.
St.Naul’s kicked away a sideline ball and Eunans broke away and Shane O’Donnell raced 50 metres up the pitch and blasted the ball low to the net to make it 1-11 to 1-03.
Peadar Mogan and Caolan Ward exchanged points and Michael Coughlan broke free to slot away St.Nauls second goal but Eunans again responded and Conor O’Donnell Jr set up Kieran Tobin who scored Eunan’s second goal from close range. Another Mogan free finished the scoring as Eunan’s won by 2-12 to 2-05.
St.Eunan’s go through to meet St.Michael’s in the semi-final but will have learned very little from this victory.
St.Eunan’s : Shaun Patton , Conor Parke ( 0-01), Caolan Ward (0-01), Aaron Deeney, Kieran Tobin (1-01 ) , Eamonn Doherty, Conor O Donnell Sr (0-01), Kevin Kealy, Damien Mulgrew, Eoin Dowling, Shane O’Donnell (1-02), Sean McVeigh , Conor O’Donnell Jr ( 0-03 /45), Niall O Donnell( 0-02/1f), Eoin McGeehin ( 0-01).
Subs: Peter Devine for Doherty (40mins), Padraig McGettigan for McVeigh (45mins), James Kelly for Dowling (50mins ), Ronan McGeehin for Eoin McGeehin ( 55mins).
St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreany (0-01f), John Relihan, Barry Griffin, Brendan McCole; Diarmuid Gallagher, Kyle Campbell, Thomas White, Stuart Johnston (0-01), Stephen Griffin, Michael Coughlan(1-00), Shane Connelly , Martin Breslin , Daniel Meehan (0-01f), Peadar Mogan (0-02/1f), Ian Campbell.
Subs: Cathal Lowther for Ian Campbell 18mins), Conor McBrearty for Rehilan (45mins), Brian McGroary for Meehan (46mins), Joseph Campbell for Connelly (50mins), Lee McCabe for Breslin (55mins). Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gael Fhanada).
