Donegal SFC: St Eunan's and Naomh Conaill triumph
Naomh Conaill manager Martin Regan. Photo by Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile
Donegal SFC Semi-Finals
Naomh Conaill 0-22 Glenswilly 0-19 (after extra time)
St Eunan’s 2-18 Gaoth Dobhair 1-19
By Chris McNulty
For the seventh time, Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s will meet in the Donegal SFC final.
Dr Maguire Cup holders Naomh Conaill looked for long spells like they might be dethroned by neighbours Glenswilly, but somehow, from somewhere, they summoned a stirring response.
The Michael Murphy-inspired Glenswilly - bidding for a return to a first final since they toppled Kilcar in 2016 - led by five points with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Murphy scored 10 points as Glenswilly came close, but two-pointers by Shea Malone and Odhrán Doherty narrowed the margin to one before Ciaran Thompson forced extra time.
Route one to Murphy paid some early dividend for Glenswily, who might’ve had a goal only for Stephen McGrath saving from Daithi Gildea.
Glenswily led 0-10 to 0-6 at half-time in normal time and they were six and five ahead at different stages of part two before the dramatic finale.
Malone boomed over a two-pointer in the extra period as Martin Regan’s men, powered by that famous never-say-die persona, drove back down a familiar route.
Naomh Conaill are heading into a remarkable 14th final since 2005 - and are going for a ninth win - while St Eunan’s will be gunning to win Dr Maguire for a 17th time
On Saturday night, St Eunan’s held off a comeback by Gaoth Dobhair to make their return to the final.
Dylan Doogan blasted the goal as St Eunan’s led 1-9 to 0-0. Doogan managed to find a way through when Luke McGuinness teed him up.
before Gaoth Dobhair hit back and a Daire O Baoill goal from a penalty had the Gaeltacht side five behind, 1-14 to 1-9, in arrears at half-time.
In the early moments of the second half, Ciaran Moore riffled in a second goal for St Eunan’s, stretching the lead to nine points.
Gaoth Dobhair, though, wouldn’t buckle and when Stephen ‘Donna’ McFadden arrived over a superb two-pointer, there was just a point in it, with a minute to play.
Oran Winston fisted his second of the game to, finally, seal the deal.
