Bundoran upset Naomh Conaill to post fine win in Division 1

The Seasiders were full value for their victory coming from a five-point deficit to eventually claim the win by four. Gary Clancy kicked eight points and Jamie Brennan scored 1-3.

Playing with a very strong breeze the visitors opened the scoring from Brendan McDyer before a Jamie Brennan point  levelled matters.

A brace of scores from AJ Gallagher and McDyer edged Naomh Conaill further in front and then in the 13th minute a brilliant  solo run assisted by Aaron Thompson saw Ethan O’Donnell crash an unstoppable shot to the Bundoran net.

Three unanswered points – one from Gary Clancy and two from the mercurial Jamie Brennan saw Naomh Conaill’s lead cut to two, 1-3 to 0-4.

Ciaran Thompson and Dermot Molloy added further points for the men in blue but this was to be their final scores of the half.

A blistering seven-minute period just before half time changed the game completely.

A Clancy point was soon followed by another from Brennan when he chose to shoot high with the goal at his mercy.

Then, on 29 minutes, a brilliant run from corner back Diarmuid McCaughey opened the Naomh Conaill rearguard and his offload to Peter McGonigle saw him finish calmly to the net.

Another Clancy free was then followed by an incisive run from Brennan and he made no mistake this time with a superbly taken finish past Naomh Conaill keeper Stephen McGrath to leave the half-time score Realt na Mara 2-7 Naomh Conaill 1-5

Naomh Conaill started the second half brightly with a well taken Molloy point.This was soon cancelled out by another Clancy free.

Naomh Conaill then had two very good goal chances superbly  stopped in quick succession  firstly by goalkeeper Ashley Mulhern from a Molloy rasper and then by fullback James Keaney on his own goal line from McDyer.

Another Clancy free on 37 minutes put six between the sides. The Glenties based side began now to dominate possession  but with Paul Brennan, Shane McGowan and midfielder Ciaran Mc Caughey putting in huge performances in the middle of the park for the home side it was always going to be a big ask for the visitors.

Three further scores from McDyer Logan Quinn and Eoin Waide left three between the sides with 15 minutes left on the clock but the Black and Amber lads settled again and hit the next three points from Michael McEniff, Tommy Hourihane and another Clancy free.

A quickly taken free found Quinn in space and he duly obliged finding the corner of the home side’s net.

Memories of Ardara’s visit to Gaelic Park last season when two very late goals defeated the natives came flooding back to the home teams supporters.

But those were soon banished when a poor kick out from the McGrath saw Jamie Brennan’s goal bound effort superbly blocked on the line by Gallagher as the game entered injury time.

From the resultant 45-metre free Clancy lofted it over to give Bundoran a deserved victory.

Bundoran: Ashley Mulhern; Matthew Ward, James Keaney, Diarmuid McCaughey; Peter McGonigle (1-0), Paul Brennan, Shane McGowan; Ciaran McCaughey, Gary Clancy (0-8, 6f); Niall Dunne, Michael McEniff (0-1), Alan Russell; Tommy Hourihane (0-1), Jamie Brennan (1-3) Cian McEniff. Subs Diarmuid Spratt for Russell (35), Timmy Govorov for Dunne (50) Johnny Boyle for Ward (55).

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, AJ Gallagher (0-1), Stephen Molloy; Kevin McGettigan, Aaron Thompson, Eunan Doherty; Kiaran Gallagher, Ciaran Thompson (0-1); Ethan O’Donnell (1-0) Brendan McDyre (0-3) Dermot Molloy (0-2); Paul McGuinness, Logan Quinn (1-1), Leon Thompson. Subs Eoin Waide (0-1) for U Doherty (44), JD Boyle for S Molloy (44), Marty Boyle for L Thompson (54), Johnny McLoone for Paul McGuinness (54).

Referee: Seamus McGonigle (Aodh Ruadh )