GAOTH DOBHAIR look set to be without several key players for this Sunday’s Ulster Under-21 semi-final against Watty Graham’s.
Gaoth Dobhair overcame Antrim’s Aghagallon 1-12 to 1-5 yesterday and have been drawn to face three-in-a-row-chasers Watty Graham’s in the Paddy McLarnon Cup semi-final this weekend.
However, team manager Sean ‘Nancy’ Gallagher seems likely to have to line out with a number of frontline men.
Micheál Carroll was Man of the Match yesterday, scoring 1-4, but with the Donegal senior team to line out in a challenge game on Sunday, Carroll’s participation for his club is in jeopardy.
Donegal begin their Allianz League Division 1 programme on Sunday-week against Kerry in Letterkenny and Rory Gallagher has a final challenge match for his men this weekend.
Carroll is tipped to be involved in the county shirt on Sunday, while Gaoth Dobhair could also be without Ciaran Gillespie, Cian Mulligan and Niall Friel.
Gillespie and Mulligan are injured at the moment but, like Carroll, are also in Gallagher’s senior plans.
Gillespie injured a hamstring in last weekend’s McKenna Cup game against Cavan while Mulligan picked up an injury in a challenge game for Donegal against Meath on Saturday.
Gaoth Dobhair skipper Friel limped out of yesterday’s quarter-final win and is also regarded as doubtful.
The situation is not too disimmilar to last year when a depleted Kilcar lost out to Magheracloone in the same competition on a day when they lined out minus Stephen McBrearty, Ryan McHugh and Eoin McHugh, who were playing with the county seniors in a challenge game on the same day.
The Ulster Under-21 Tournament is not regarded as being ‘official’ in that it is organised and hosted by the Kickhams Creggan club in Antrim.
Carroll was on song yesterday in a seven-point win that saw 14-man Gaoth Dobhair overcome the sending off of Gavin McBride to triumph.
McBride was sent off late in the first half after receiving both yellow and black cards.
The teams were level at 0-7 to 1-4 at half-time, Eunan Walsh netting for Aghagallon midway through the first half.
Aghagallon scored only once in the second half and Carroll slammed home a penalty to give the Magheragallon men the win, but an already tricky task in the semi-finals appears likely to get even tougher.
Gaoth Dobhair: Charles John Doherty; Ryan Kelly, Gary McFadden, James Boyle; Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde, Niall Friel, Odhrán McFadden-Ferry; Conor McCafferty, Micheál Carroll (1-4, 1-0pen, 1 ‘45, 1f); Dáire Ó Baoil (0-2), Aodhán Ferry (0-2), Naoise Ó Baoill; Gavin McBride (0-1, 1 ‘45), Eamonn Collum (0-3), Conor Boyle. Subs: Daniel McLaughlin for Friel, John Brown for C.Boyle.
