A strong second-half performance by Glenswilly saw them lift the Division Two League title this afternoon at Davy Brennan Memorial Park in Glenties.
Glenswilly 1-14
Naomh Columba 0-9
With the team’s level at 0-05 points apiece at the interval, it looked like anybody’s game. However, a super Glenswilly start to the second-half saw them score 1-06 without reply.
With the start of the Michael Murphy Championships just around the corner, this Division 2 League final was an opportunity for both teams to get a good test, Glenswilly for the Senior and Naomh Columba for the Intermediate.
Neither team were at full strength as both are still nursing key players back to full fitness and no risks were taken two weeks ahead of championship. Michael Murphy for Glenswilly and Aaron Doherty for Naomh Columba were both named at full-forward and their impact could have a big influence on the result if provided with quality possession.
Gary McFadden from a free and KevinMcNern from play exchanged points in the opening five minutes and then Caoimhin Marley from play and Aaron Doherty’s free left in 0-02 apiece after ten minutes. That pattern continued with Donal Gallagher and Philip Doherty kicking excellent points from play to leave it 0-03 apiece after fifteen minutes. Micheal Murphy converted after he was fouled to put Glenswilly ahead for the fourth time. A good Glenswilly move created a goal chance for Kealan Dunleavy, but he dragged his shot wide from 14 metres.
We endured a nine minute scoreless period before Aaron Doherty levelled it up again but Micheal Murphy immediately converted another free as the tit for tat shape of the game continued. It was no surprise then when the final score of the half came from Liam Boyle’s forward mark which he comfortably converted to leave it 0-05 apiece at half-time.
Michael Murphy’s third free opened the scoring after the break, and Caoimhin Marley from play made it a two point game for the first time – 0-07 to 0-05 for Glenswilly.
A minute later there was a huge score. Donal Gallagher’s attempt for a point dropped short but was fisted across the goal by Sean Wogan and palmed to the net by Gary McFadden, 1-07 to 0-05. Three more quick points from Murphy , Jack Gallagher and Caoimhin Marley’s third from play left Glenswilly 1-10 to 0-05 and Naomh Columba with a mountain to climb.
Aaron Doherty converted a 45 but Oisín Crawford and the excellent Caoimhin Marley with his fourth point from play brought Glenswilly’s tally to 1-13 , 1-08 in the second-half . Philip Doherty and Aaron Doherty added points but Cormac Callaghan replied before Aaron Doherty blasted a penalty over the bar after a foul on Paul O Hare had been fouled.
It finished 1-14 to 0-09 to Glenswilly after an impressive second-half.
Glenswilly: Kealan McFadden , Jake Kelly, Mark McAteer, Donal Gallagher (0-01), Cormac Callaghan (0-01), Shane McDaid , Sean Collum, Caoimhin Marley (0-04) , Sean Wogan , Caolan Kelly , Kealan Dunleavy (0-01), Daithi Gildea, Gary McFadden ( 1-01),Michael Murphy (0-04/f’s), Jack Gallagher ( 0-01), Subs ; Oisín Crawford (0-01), for Collum (25 mins), Shane McDevitt for Gildea ( 55mins), Mark Bonner and Christopher McMonagle for McFadden and Dunleavy ( 58 mins), Naomh Columba ; Shane O Gara ,Barry Carr , Stephen Callaghan , Pauric Ward , Darragh Cunningham , Philip Doherty (0-02 ), Pauric Hegarty , Kevin McNern (0-01), Padraig Byrne, Paul O Hara , Michael Callaghan, Sean Hardy , Liam Boyle ( 0-01), Aaron Doherty (0-05), Ronan O Hare. Subs ; Stephen Jones for Boyle (41 mins), Joseph Lyons for O Hare (48 mins), Cian Gillespie for Carr ( 56 mins) , Jamie McNern for Stephen Callaghan (60mins), Referee ; Pat Barrett ( Milford ).
