Both teams made the short trip to Páirc Naomh Columba in Glenswilly for this derby clash in the semi-final of the Donegal Under 21A Championship.
Termon 1-5 St. Eunan’s 0-6
By Charlie Collins
When they met in the Northern Group section match-up back in November a late goal earned Termon a hard earned narrow victory and this game was expected to produce another cracker between two evenly matched teams full of talented young players.
In blustery conditions teams found scoring a tricky business and that produced a low scoring but entertaining game.
Jamie Grant gave Termon an early lead with a point from play in the third minute.
St.Eunan’s had plenty of the possession but found space hard to find as Termon defended well in numbers.
Termon went four ahead in the 8th minute when Cian McMenamin’s effort for a point dropped shot and Bobby McGettigan fisted the ball high into the net, 1-01 to no score.
Shane O’Donnell finally got Eunans on the scoreboard with a free, David Boyle did the same and O’Donnell got their third also from a free to leave a point in it on the fifteen minute mark.
Five minutes later they were level when Padraig McGettigan was put clear by David Boyle, he went for goal but was just too high and the ball flew over the bar , 1-01 to 0-04 and that’s the way it remained at the half-time break.
The scoring situation didn’t improve in the second-half as defences again dominated.
Cian McMenamin came forward to put Termon ahead again in the 33rd minute but we didn’t have another score until Cian again pointed in the 47th minute and Termon led by two, 1-03 to 0-04.
Shane O’Donnell’s free left a point in it again a minute later but sub Stephen Black coolly tapped over to restore Termon’s two point advantage in the 56th minute.
Eunans needed a quick response and they got it from an excellent Dylan Doogan point from distance.
Termon, who kicked ten wides to Eunans three missed several chances to extend the lead again but failed to take them until Stephen Black stepped up again to score from close range, 1-05 to 0-06 with time running out.
St. Eunans now needed a goal and they pressed hard to get it ,however Termon as they had done all game defended their goal area and in the dying seconds of the game one superb block followed by Ryan McFadden’s grab near his goal line kept Eunans out and saw Termon through to the County Under 21 A Championship final.
And Termon boss Stevie McElwaine praised his sides performance against the elements in Glenswilly.
Termon: Thomas Cannon, Conor Cassidy, Cormac Gallagher, Caolan Gallagher, Cian McMenamin , Kevin McGettigan , Evan Coleman , Jack Alcorn , Ryan McFadden, Steve McDaid , Bobby McGettigan , Aaron Reid , Jamie Grant , Gerry McGettigan , Mark Gallagher.
Subs: Stephen Black and Oisin Harkin for Steve McDaid and Mark Gallagher ( both 45mins), Conor Black for Reid (50mins), Jack O Neill for McGettigan ( 58mins).
St.Eunans: Ronan Coady , Noah Barrett , Pauric Hughes , Gavin McCarron, Cian McMonagle, Kieran Tobin, Dylan Doogan (0-01), Eoin Dowling , Noel O Donnell, Oran Winston ,, Shane O Donnell (0-03f’s), , Ciaran Moore , Darragh Ellison, David Boyle (0-01f), , Padraig McGettigan (0-01).
Subs: Donal Higgins for McMonagle (25mins), Eoghan Doherty for McCarron (50mins).
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada).
