An early goal set Letterkenny Gael on the right path as they overcome Na Rossa to reach the Junior Final.
Despite having to field without two of the top forwards, Conor McBrearty and Ronan Frain , Gaels got the best possible start with a goal after 14 seconds.
Letterkenny Gael – 1-9 Na Rossa 0-10
Ben Gallagher and Ciaran Kilfeather combined and when the latter’s high dropping ball wasn’t dealt with leaving wing back Brian Diver to slam it to the net.
By Charlie Collins
We didn’t have the next score until the 14th minute when John McDyer opened Na Rossa’s account from play.
Gaels responded well to this with two pointed frees by Cormac Cannon and one from play by Sean McDonagh to lead by 1-03 to 0-01.
McDyer scored two excellent points from play but Gaels responded with fine scores from Ciaran Lynch and Sean McDonagh to leave it 1-05 to 0-03 at half-time.
Na Rossa started the second-half well with points from Aidan McHugh and sub John Paul McCready inside five minutes.
It took Gaels sixteen minutes to reply thanks to Ciaran Lynch from play to leave it 1-6 to 0-05.
McCready kicked two quick frees to leave just two between them but Cormac Cannon’s free and an Conor Walker point from play restored Gaels four point advantage 1-08 to 0-07.
Back came Na Rossa again however and excellent points from play by McCready , Daniel Martin Melly and Aidan McHugh left a point in it and all to play for.
Na Rossa threw everything they had at it but it was the Gaels that finally clinched it when goalscorer Brian Diver finished where he started.
Racing forward from midfield but this time making the wise decision to take a point that ensured Letterkenny Gaels place in the Junior A County Final in a couple of weeks.
A gallant effort by Na Rossa but the concession of that early goal meant they were chasing this game right from the start.
Na Rossa: Aidan McCahill , Sean McMonagle , Johnny Bonner , Brian O Donnell , Adam McHugh , Daniel Martin Melly (0-01), , Ryan Hennessy, Eugene Molloy, Christian Bonner , Odhran Molloy , Aidan McHugh (0-02), , Matthew Smith, John McDyer ( 0-03 ) , Keelin Dunleavy John Paul Breslin,
Subs ; John Paul McCready( 0-04/3f’s), for Breslin (28mins ), Jamie McCready for Smith ( 38mins), Denis O Donnell for Jamie McCready (42mins),
Letterkenny Gaels: Ryan Graham; Niall Diver, Conor Browne, Kevin Kilkenny ,; Diarmuid Cathail, Darren Hunter, Brian Diver (1-01), Paddy Doherty , Oisin McElhinney; Sean McDonagh,(0-02), , Cormac Cannon ( 0-03f’s), Conor Walker (0-01), Ciaran Kilfeather, Ben Gallagher , Ciaran Lynch (0-02). .
Subs:Brendan O Brien for Ben Gallagher ( 40mins) Kevin Langan for Kilfeather ( 60mins).
Referee ; Siobhan Coyle ( Gael Fhanada).
