A topsy turvy game saw Glenswilly rally in the second half to deservedly retain senior status for another season against Termon at Letterkenny’s O’Donnell Park.
By Charlie Collins at O’Donnell Park
Termon may have go two goals but it was Glenswilly’s chipping away at the points which eventually got them over the line.
A very good crowd turned up to see this encounter against these neighbours.
Glenswilly 0-17 Termon 2-06
Cormac Gallagher gave Glenswilly the lead after just 30 seconds with a point but 20 seconds later Termon were ahead as Daire McDaid grabbed Ryan McFadden’s high ball from midfield and hammered it low to the net.
Michael Murphy from a free and Steve McElwaine’s fisted effort exchanged , and Sean Collum’s fine point for Glenswilly in the 11th minute left a point between them , 1-01 to 0-03.
Both teams seemed determined to keep the game open as play swung from end to end and both were guilty of some poor misses.
Ryan McFadden kicked Termon two ahead from a long range free but Glenswilly’s reply was impressive as they hit five points on a row .
Michael Murphy converted a free , then Caoimhinn Marley , Shane McDevitt , Oisín Crawford and Sean Wogan all scored fine points from play to it 0-08 to 1-02 to Glenswilly .
Termon also lost ace marksman Daire McDaid to injury during this period , but his replacement Caolan Gallagher made an immediate impact as he outmuscled a Gleswilly opponent and set up the overlapping Jamie Grant who hammered the ball to the far corner of the net to level the scores, 0-08 to 2-02 .
Anthony Grant’s fisted point put Termon ahead in the 29th minute but injury-time scores from Jack Gallagher and Michael Murphy’s free had Glenswilly 0-10 to 2-03 at half-time.
Murphy opened the second-half with another converted free and when Caoimhin Marley kicked a super long range effort the lead was three points, 0-12 to 2-03.
Ryan McFadden matched Marley’s effort for Termon’s first of the second-half but Cormac Callaghan produced a gem off the outside of his right foot from distance to restore the three point lead.
Ryan McFadden replied again but two super scores by Kealan Dunleavy pushed the lead outer five points and Glenswilly in control. Ryan McFadden again replied bur a Michael Murphy free and a final point from Leigh Crerand rounded off an impressive Glenswilly victory and ensure Senior Championship football next year .
Termon will meet Bundoran in a final play-off match to decide which will stay in Senior and who will play Intermediate football in 2022.
Glenswilly: Philip O’Donnell; Mark McAteer, Ruairi Crawford, Shane McDaid; Cormac Callaghan (0-2), Jack Gallagher (0-1), Sean Collum (0-1); Leigh Crerand (0-1), Caoimhin Marley (0-2) Shaun Wogan (0-1), Oisín Crawford (0-1), Kealan Dunleavy (0-2); Shane McDevitt (0-1), Michael Murphy (0-5, 5f), Caolan Kelly. Sub: Ryan Diver for Gallagher (54)
Termon: Emmett Maguire; Conor Cassidy, Jamie Grant (1-0), Oisin Cassidy; James McSharry, Kevin McGettigan; Barry McGeehin; Ricky Gallagher; Ryan McFadden (0-4, 2f); Conor Cassidy, Bobby McGettigan, Steve McElwaine; Jack Alcorn, Anthony Grant , Daire McDaid (1-2). Subs: Caolan Gallagher for McDaid (21), Mark Gallagher or McSharry (46), Kevin McDaid for Cassidy (49), Johnny McCafferty for McGettigan (57)
Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Ruadh).
