WHEN THE FIXURES for 2018 were thrown out, followers of Cloughannely would’ve let their eyes wander to see when they’d be playing Gaoth Dobhair.
Cloughaneely 0-11 Gaoth Dobhair 2-3
And so after their hiatus in Division 2, this evening in Falcarragh there were scenes of delight following a contest that didn’t follow that adage of goals win matches.
Cloughaneely took their points and although the goals didn’t come, their abilities to outscore the Magheragallon outfit 0-4 to 0-0 in the final quarter was enough to seal the win.
At half-time, Cloughaneely’s lead was slender but a lead it was, 0-5 to 1-1. The hosts made a competent start and by the 12th minute were 0-3 to 0-0 in front with Jason McGee, Paddy Cannon and Mark Harley on the scoresheet.
Gaoth Dobhair, who had shared the spoils in Letterkenny against St Eunan’s on Thursday night, got back into the match through a goal from Eamon Columb in the 13th minute.
However, it was the home team in Falcarragh who went in at the break with a one-point lead as Aidan Doohan and McGee scored either side of Gaoth Dobhair’s James Carroll.
Gaoth Dobhair scored the first two points of the second half inside of five minutes – both from Neasan McBride – to edge into a one-point lead of 1-3 to 0-5. However, Cloughaneely grasped the initiative again moments later thanks to a free from McGee and point by Ciaran McFadden.
The hot potato was grasped again by Gaoth Dobhair, though, as on 41 minutes they mustered a second goal of the match, this time though Shane Ferry. That established a 2-3 to 0-7 advantage but it would be the visitors last score.
Cloughaneely finished much the stronger and popped over the final four points. The well-groomed Denis Boyle scored three of those and Cillian Gallagher was also on the mark and with that the local bragging rights – as well as two vital points – in the north-west stayed in Falcarragh.
Cloughaneely:Shaun McClafferty; Michael Mulhern, Ciaran Scanlon, Michael Fitzgerald; Kevin Mulhern, Jack Halvey, Mark Harley (0-1); Lee O’Brien, Jason McGee (0-3, 1f); Paddy Cannon (0-1), Denis Boyle (0-3, 1f), Ciaran McGeady; Ciaran McFadden (0-1), Shaun McGuire, Aidan Doohan (0-1). Subs: John McGarvey for Cannon (36), Cillian Gallagher (0-1) for McGuire (40), Declan McGarvey for Fitzgerland (58)
Gaoth Dobhair:Christopher Sweeney: Gary McFadden, Chris McFadden, Ryan Kelly; Shane Ferry, Niall Friel, Conor McClafferty; Dan McBride, Peter McGee; Naoise O Baoill, Shaun Boyle (1-0), James Carroll (0-1); Eamon Columb (0-1), Kevin Cassidy, Neasan McBride (0-2). Sub: James Gallagher for Boyle (44).