Gaoth Dobhair 0-07 v 0-08 St Eunans
By Charlie Collins
These old rivals met with a bit prize in the Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure Senior Championship , a place in the 2024 final. Gweedore had won their earlier meeting in this championship, beating Eunans by one point in O Donnell Park and this encounter was expected to be every bit as close with so much at stake.
Eamonn Collum gave Gweedore an early lead, St. Eunans replied with three in a row, two from Conor O Donnell Jnr frees and one from Niall O Donnell to lead 0-03 to 0-01.
Michael Roarty kicked a cracker from wide on the right, James Kelly restored Eunans two points lead with a fine effort but Roarty landed another beauty this time from the left to leave just one in it.
Conor Morrison received a black card for a foul on Daire O Baoill but St. Eunans added another Conor O Donnell free, 0-05 to 0-03. That score was the only one of the last sixteen minutes of the half as Gweedore failed to take advantage of the extra man.
Eoin Mc Geehin and Eoin de Burca exchanged points from marks in the 7th minute of the second-half as neither team could take a real grip of the game and errors became the norm on and off the ball. De Burca added his second point but Eoin Dowling replied immediately and then Stiofan Donna McFadden’s good score left one point in it, 0-07 to 0-06.
As the tension increase Shaun Patton denied Cathal Gillespie’s shot for goal with a brilliant save and then Daire O Baoill kicked a super long range effort to leave one in it.
But then with the last kick of the match he was just wide and St. Eunans had won to reach the final.
Gaoth Dobhair: Daithí Roberts, Fiachra Coyle, Gary McFadden, Danny Curran, Stephen Donna McFadden (0-01), Niall Friel, Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde , Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Micheál Roarty ( 0-03), Fionnán Coyle, Eamonn Collum (0-0 1), Adam McGeever, Eoin de Burca (0-02), Daire. Ó Baoill (0-01), Ethan Harkin. Subs used: Cian McEntee, Shane Ferry, Cathal Gillespie.
St. Eunans: Shaun Patton, Aaron Deeney, Conor Morrison, Caolan Ward, Kevin Kealy, Conor O Donnell (Snr), Kieran Tobin, Eoin Dowling (0-02), James Kelly (0-01), Ciaran Moore, Shane O Donnell, Oran Winstone, Conor O Donnell (Jnr) (0-03), Niall O Donnell (0-01), Eoin McGeehin (0-01). Subs used: Pauric Boyle, Darragh Mulgrew, Lee McMonagle, Eamonn Doherty.
Referee: Enda McFeely (Convoy).
