Donegal SFC Final: Eunan's finish with a flourish

Donegal SFC Final

St Eunan’s 1-16 Naomh Conaill 1-15

By Chris McNulty at MacCumhaill Park

St Eunan’s snatched a sensational victory over Naomh Conaill in a gripping Donegal senior football championship final at Sean MacCumhaill Park.

Ciaran Moore delivered the decisive score with the final kick of the game.

In a finish packed with drama, Kieran Donnelly’s St Eunan’s nlooked to be heading for defeat when substitute Charles McGuinness edged Naomh Conaill, the holders, ahead in added time.

However, Niall O’Donnell showed tremendous composure to level matters before Moore completed a remarkable late turnaround to settle a contest that could have gone either way.

Naomh Conaill had the opportunity to make their advantage count at the other end, but St Eunan’s broke at lightning speed and made them pay, leaving champions to reflect on what might have been.

The Letterkenny side had been the sharper team in the opening exchanges, racing into an early three-point lead through Oran Winston, Moore and Eoin McGeehin inside the first three minutes.

Naomh Conaill eventually got off the mark through a John O’Malley free, before Ciaran Thompson produced a fine two-pointer to bring the sides closer together.

Eoin Dowling responded with a two-pointer of his own, while Conor O’Donnell Jnr added another score from play as St Eunan’s established a 0-6 to 0-3 advantage approaching the ten-minute mark.

Brendan McDyer reduced the deficit for Martin Regan’s side, but O’Donnell Jnr restored the three-point cushion from a free.

Thompson landed another excellent two-pointer from outside the arc, and when Eunan Doherty intercepted a rare loose Shaun Patton delivery, Naomh Conaill had drawn level with three minutes remaining in the half.

However, St Eunan’s finished the opening period strongly. Shane O’Donnell and substitute Niall O’Donnell found the target in quick succession to leave the Letterkenny men holding a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage at the interval.

Dowling extended that lead after the restart, but Naomh Conaill responded emphatically when Ethan O’Donnell fired home a brilliant goal to bring the contest level.

Momentum continued to swing as Shea Malone landed a two-pointer to put the Glenties men ahead for the first time. St Eunan’s responded through James Kelly, whose goal restored their advantage and injected fresh life into the contest.

Niall O’Donnell was then denied by an outstanding save from Stephen McGrath, and Naomh Conaill took full advantage as Max Campbell and Malone, with another two-pointer, helped them move 1-12 to 1-10 clear.

With the game entering its decisive phase, Moore stepped forward for St Eunan’s, landing successive points to bring the sides level with four minutes of normal time remaining.

Winston edged the Letterkenny outfit back in front, but O’Malley’s two-pointer swung the lead once more in Naomh Conaill’s favour.
McGuinness then appeared to have delivered the winning score when he found the target a minute into added time.

Yet St Eunan’s refused to surrender. Niall O’Donnell landed a magnificent long-range point to make it all square before a swift counter-attack provided Moore with the opportunity to snatch victory.

The Donegal senior star made no mistake to knot the black and amber ribbons around the ears of Dr Maguire again.

Scorers for St Eunan’s: Ciaran Moore 0-4, Niall O’Donnell 0-3 (1 tp), Eoin Dowling 0-3 (1tp), James Kelly 1-0, Oran Winston 0-2, Conor O’Donnell Jnr 0-2 (2fs), Eoin McGeehin and Shane O’Donnell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Naomh Conaill: Ciaran Thompson 0-4 (2 2tp) Shea Malone 0-4 (2 2pt) John O’Malley 0-3 (1tp) Ethan O’Donnell 1-0, Max Campbell, Eunan Doherty, Charlie McGuinness and Brendan McDyer 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s: Shaun Patton; Noah Barrett, Caolan Ward, Josh Hay; Kieran Tobin, Conor O'Donnell Snr, Oran Winston; Dillon Doogan, Eoin Dowling; Ciaran Moore, Shane O'Donnell, Luke McGuinness; Eoin McGeehin, James Kelly, Conor O'Donnell Jnr.

Subs: Niall O’Donnell for Doogan (26), Brian MacIntyre for Kelly (44), Pauric Boyle for C O’Donnell Jnr (50).

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, Shean Roarty, Kevin McGettigan; Daithi Mollory, Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Ciaran Thompson; Brendan McDyer, Odhrán Doherty, Eunan Doherty; John O'Malley, Ethan O’Donnell, Shea Malone.

Subs: AJ Gallagher for S Roarty (19, blood sub), AJ Gallagher for S Roarty (35), Charlie McGuinness for Mac Ceallabhuí (47), Keelan McGill for McDyer (54).

Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara).