Wonderful, at times wacky and oh so utterly entertaining!
Bundoran 0-20 Termon 1-16 (AET)
By Gerry McLaughlin in Convoy
Games like this would make the blanket defence brigade cringe but who cares when you have such sweet Saturday night fever at a great setting in the Convoy GAA Training Centre.
In the end it was Bundoran’s greater experience and new-found resolve that edged this thriller against a Termon side who had the chance to seal this epic in normal time-but inexperience cost them dearly.
They were leading by 1-12 to 0-16 in the 68th minute, but they had a few big calls that went against them-before Bundoran’s veteran Darragh Hoey levelled matters to bring this tie to extra time.
And then county midfielder Paul Brennan (pictured above) effectively won this match for his side with three of the finest individual points that you are likely to see anywhere to put his side into a 0-18 to 1-13 lead.
Termon rallied in the second half of extra time but Bundoran just hung on for an ultimately deserved win as Termon’s Ryan McFadden’s last gasp blaster just screamed over the crossbar.
Termon were quick off the mark with a well struck point from Stephen McElwaine after two minutes.
And that set the scene for a humdinger of a first half that gifted us a total of 0-18 from two teams who mercifully forgot the blanket defence and concentrated on outscoring the opposition.
Wing back James McSharry charged through and put Termon ahead by 0-2 to 0-0.
It took Bundoran seven minutes to get their first point-from a free from the boot of Cian McEniff.
But it was Termon who were on top and ex Donegal U-20 star Ryan McFadden hoofed over a great point in the 10th minute.
However, Bundoran struck back like a rattler with two clinking points from Aaron Reid and rejuvenated veteran Tommy Hourihane who was proving to be an excellent target man.
McFadden and Hourihane then swapped a few more scores as the hard running Cian McEniff of Bundoran tied matters at 0-6 in the 24th minute.
In between we had some great efforts from McElwaine and Hourihane-but Termon hit six wides in this period.
The pace accelerated as we headed for half time with both sides playing at most welcome manic pace and we had some super scores.
McElwaine edged Termon in front with a pointed free, but McGloin levelled In style.
But it was the younger Termon who surged clear as the break beckoned.
Ricky Gallagher, Aaron Reid and Bobby McGettigan pushed Termon to a 0-10 to 0-8 lead at half time with Govorov hitting a fine point for Bundoran.
And then two minutes into the second half, Termon struck for what some felt was the crucial goal.
It was a great lightning move that ended with James McSharry’s piercing run opening the Bundoran defence and Ricky Gallagher was on hand to blast the ball to the roof of the net.
Suddenly Termon led by 1-10 to 0-8.
But, the more experienced Bundoran dug deep and hit the next five points on the trot to level matters on a score of Termon 1-8 Bundoran 0-11.
Their scores came from McEniff and two wonderful efforts from Shane McGowan by the second water break.
Termon had loads of chances in the final quarter, but their inexperience showed as they hesitated when scores were on.
But it was then that Bundoran’s big players stood to them.
Barry McGeehin and the impressive Ricky Gallagher put them two points in front as the game came to a closs.
But an injury to Bundoran’s Adam Gallagher caused a major stoppage and it was in these extra frenetic moments that the Seasiders clawed their way back into contention.
But Hoey’s late leveller was a real heart breaker for Termon.
And even though Stephen McElwaine edged them in front at the start of extra time-it was Brennan’s three brilliant points on the trot that was to be their undoing.
But both teams deserve enormous credit for bringing some real fire, passion and no little panache on a cold winter’s night.
Something else!
Bundoran: Conor Carty; Adam Gallagher, Johnny Boyle, Matty Duffy; Brian McHenry, Shane McGowan (0-2) Ciaran McCaughey, Paul Brennan (0-3) Cian McEniff, (0-63f); Timmy Govorov (0-1) Adam McGloin (0-2) Niall Carr; Dara Hoey (0-1) Alan Russell (0-1) and Tommy Hourihane (0-43f). Subs: Niall Dunne for Adam Gallagher (50) ; James Stewart for Ciaran McCaughey (37), Shane Carr for Brian McHenry (82) Jack Delaeny James Stewart, Tommy Hourihane, Ryan Walsh, Aaron Keaney, Shane Carr, Barry McGowan.
Termon: Emmett Maguire; Caolan Gallagher, Jamie Grant, Oisin Cassidy; James McSharry (0-1) Kevin McGettigan, Barry McGeehin (0-1); Richard Gallagher (1-1), Ryan McFadden (0-63f)); Aaron Reid (0-2), Anthony Grant Kevin McDaid.Stephen McElwaine (0-42f)) Bobby McGettigan (0-1) and Jack Alcorn. Subs; Evan Coleman for Bobby McGettigan (47), James Doherty for Caolan Gallagher (51), Jamie Gallagher for Aaron Reid (62)
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhanada)
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