ST NAUL’S MADE the most of their second chance against Gaeil Fhánada to seal their place against Milford in the final of the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal IFC.
St Naul’s 2-14
Gaeil Fhánada 1-9
First half goals from Shane Conneely and Barry Rose put St Naul’s in a commanding position, although a top class Michael Sweeney goal did give hope to those from the Fanad peninsula in the second period.
The damage had by then, though, been done. St Naul’s didn’t win in the group stage but with a fleet of players returning have made the most of the knock-out stages.
Last Sunday, the sides couldn’t be separated in a 0-12 to 0-12 draw at the same venue – it was one of those could’ve and should’ve type of contests, one in which Aidan McAteer’s Gaeil Fhánada were 0-8 to 0-2 ahead in at half-time.
John McNulty, the St Naul’s manager, would’ve been more content with this afternoon’s start, with the margins thin between the teams early on. It was 0-2 apiece after 12 minutes with Oisin Shiels and Brian McVeigh on the mark for those in blue, while Peadar Mogan and Barry Rose pointed for St Naul’s.
However, a St Naul’s goal in that 12th minute put some daylight in it on an autumnal day. John Rose made a penetrating run at the Fanad defence and having got in on goal, fisted to his left and Shane Conneely twisted and shot past Brendan Friel.
And when Barry Rose added another point a minute later, it was 1-3 to 0-2 for the Mountcharles based outfit. Worse was to come for Gaeil Fhanada.
Sixteen minutes in, Stephen Griffin played a short and fast 45 to Mogan, whose pop at goal looked to be dropping short. It certainly was but it worked out just fine for John Rose who stole in to slap home a second St Naul’s goal.
The lead was put to 2-3 to 0-3 and had it not been for a full stretch save by Friel in the Gaeil Fhánada goals from Stephen Griffin it would’ve been even more. Griffin soon added a fine point and St Naul’s were flying. They went in 2-6 to 0-5 in front – a radial turnaround compared with six days’ beforehand.
As at the end of the first half, Gaeil Fhánada’s wides – four in the first half and then three in the opening seven minutes of the second half – was crippling them.
It looked like a magic wand might’ve been needed and when it was needed most, Michael Sweeney provided it with a brilliant individual goal when he ran right at the heart of the St Naul’s defence, beating four challenges, on 38 minutes to smash past Patrick Burke.
Two Stephen Griffin frees and a long ranger from Daniel Friel restored some calm for St Naul’s, who were, on 45 minutes, 2-10 to 1-6 ahead.
Jonny Friel scored the Gaeil Fhánada point in that spell in a frantic period of play when Mark Friel saw a shot saved by Burke and then Conor McGonigle’s rebound from the ground struck the base of the post.
Mogan and Barry’s Rose’s third of the day made for a 2-12 to 1-6 lead, with only seven minutes to go. Three successive Brian McVeigh frees were posted late on but at that stage it was goals more than points that Gaeil Fhánada needed. The last word went to Stephen Griffin, who knocked over after his brother Barry.
St Naul’s march on and their final against Milford will take place net Sunday, October 8.
St Naul’s: Patrick Burke; Conor McBrearty, Brendan McCole, Conor Gavigan; Stuart Johnston, Peadar Mogan (0-3, 2f), Martin Breslin; Lee McBrearty, Daniel Friel; John Rose (1-0), Barry Rose (0-3), Shane Conneely (1-1); Edward Kane, Barry Griffin (0-1), Stephen Griffin (0-4, 2f). Subs: Cathal Lowther for Conneely (57), Aiden Meehan for Friel (59), James Flynn and Daniel Brennan for B Rose and Breslin (60+2).
Gaeil Fhánada: Brendan Friel; Kevin McGonigle, James Gallagher, Odhran Shiels; Conor McGonigle, Patrick Heragthy (0-1), Eoghan Carr; Michael Sweeney (1-0), Jimmy Coyle; Jonny Friel (0-2), Mark Friel, Brian McVeigh (0-5, 5f); Niall Carr, Shaun McElwaine, Oisin Shiels (0-1). Subs: Frank Sweeney for Odhran Shiels (21), Oisin McFadden for Oisin Shiels (29), Davitt Walsh for Carr (37), Alan McAteer for N Carr (45).
Referee: Shaun McLaughlin (Malin).
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