Dungloe overcame their neighbours and the severe weather conditions tonight to reach the last four of the Intermediate Football Championship.
Dungloe 1-13 Naomh Mhuire 1-02
By Charlie Collins
The clash of these next door neighbours was played in terrible weather conditions at Pearse Memorial Park in Ardara.
The pitch was in excellent shape but heavy rain and a strong wind blowing from right to left towards the sea made things very difficult for the players.
Dungloe, who started without both Luke Neely and Daniel Ward, had the elements in their favour in the opening half.
Two early points from Oisín Bonner (free) and Daire Gallagher and Shaun McGee from play inside the first ten minutes got Dungloe off to a good start.
Naomh Mhuire were forced to defend and did it well – at the first water break it remained 0-03 to 0-00 to Dungloe.
Barry Curran added a fourth point for Dungloe from a mark and then was wide from a good position a minute later.
Oisín Bonner added his second in the 23rd minute but Dungloe were also guilty of some bad wides and carelessness with the ball when in possession.
With half-time approaching they suddenly found a better formula with three impressive points from play by Matthew Ward, Gerard Walsh and Barry Curran to go 0-08 ahead.
Just before half-time Oisín Bonner pointed a free from close range to leave Dungloe 0-09 to 0-00 ahead at the break.
Dungloe began the second-half well and Oisín Bonner fisted his fourth point in the 33rd minute to bring up a double figure lead 0-10 to 0-00.
Naomh Mhuire finally scored in the 41st minute – a poor clearance by Dungloe was snapped up by Eoin Martin and he side-stepped two defenders and drilled the ball low past Danny Rodgers to the net.
Three minutes later, Martin added a point to make it a six point game.
However, any thoughts of a comeback disappeared two minute later when Matthew Ward took a pass from Mark Curran and blasted to the Naomh Mhuire net to leave it 1-10 to 1-01 at the water break and Dungloe’s nine point half-time lead restored.
Barry Curran added his third point – sub Ultan Boyle replied for Naomh Mhuire but a Oisín Bonner free made it a ten point game yet again.
Daire Gallagher completed the scoring with his second point as it finished the scoring with a super effort to leave the final score 1-13 to 1-02 and Dungloe through to meet Naomh Columba in what should be a cracking semi-final.
Dungloe: Danny Rodgers, Jack Scally, Mark Curran, Jason McBride , Barry Curran (0-03 ), Conor O’Donnell, Darren Curran, Noel McBride , Matthew Ward (1-01), Dylan Sweeney, Ryan Connors, Shaun McGee ( 0-01), Daire Gallagher ( 0-02), Oisin Bonner (0-05/3f’s) and Gerard Walsh (0-1). Subs; Christy Greene for Mark Curran (54mins),
Naomh Muire: Declan Ward; Conor Cannon, Michael Greene, Shane Boyle , Cian Boyle, Tomas O Donnell, Brian Gillespie, Daniel Ward, Tuathal Lunny, Eoin Martin (1-01), Daniel Devlin, Fintan Doherty, Jack O’Donnell, Joey Gillespie and Ferdia Doherty. Subs; Ultan Boyle (0-01) for Lunny (45mins),
Referee: Val Murray (Aod Ruadh).
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