By Charlie Collins
Buncrana 1-10 vs 0-10 Dungloe
A first half goal by Man of the Match Dylan Mulholland proved the difference in this cracking final.
Luke Clerkin and Ryan Brennan for Dungloe and Sean McLaughlin for Buncrana scored from play and then Daire Gallagher from a close-in free all inside the opening ten minutes got this Under 21B Final in O Donnell Park off to a lively start. Two excellent points from play by Billy Duffy and Liam Jordan had Buncrana back on level terms very quickly, 0-03 apiece.
Dungloe were back in front by two are we approached the twenty minutes mark, Oran Fallon finishing off a good move and Daire Gallagher with another free, 0-05 to 0-03. Back came Buncrana with a Dylan Mulholland point and then after a super run and pass by Niall Breslin, Mulholland drove in a piledriver to the roof of the net and Buncrana led for the first time, 1-04 to 0-05.
Only a super save by their goalkeeper Adam Harrigan kept them ahead as he denied Daire Gallagher a minute later as Dungloe attempted to hit back quickly. It remained 1-04 to 0-05 to Buncrana at half-time.
Dylan Mulholland opened the second-half scoring with a fine point but Daire Gallagher replied with his third free, 1-05 0-06. Sub Oisín Porter added another Buncrana point and then after a super run by Karl McGee to set up Oisín McKelvey, goalkeeper Adam Harrigan again denied Dungloe with a foot save.
Karl Magee converted the 45, Liam Jordan got his second point, McGee and Gallagher replied for Dungloe to leave just one in it, 1-07 to 0-09.
Billy Duffy added his second as things heated up, Karl McGee converted another 45, Andrew Davidson replied for Buncrana, Ryan Brennan crashed a shot off the Buncrana crossbar as Dungloe dropped a free into the danger area and Kevin Jordan had the final say with a fine point to wrap up a hard earned but history making victory for the Buncrana club.
Buncrana: Adam Harrigan, Conor Graham, Sean Doherty, Caolan O’Neill, Liam Jordan (0-02), Oisin Crawford, Andrew Davidson (0-01) Darrach Corry, Michael Bernard McLaughlin, Niall Breslin, Sean McLaughlin (0-01), Aaron Cleary, Billy Duffy (0-02), Kevin Jorden (0-01) Dylan Mulholland (1-02 ), Subs used: David Carey for O Neill (36mins), Oisín Porter(0-01) for Breslin (39mins), Finn McColgan, Jamie Friel.
Dungloe: Damien McGowan, Anthony ODonnell, Aaron Ward, Aidan McGee Jordan Saville, Brendan McCafferty, Conor Diver, Luke Clerkin (0-01), Karl Magee (3/45’s), Oisin McKelvey, Daire Gallagher (0-04), Oran Gallagher. Oran Fallon (0-01) , Ryan Brennan (0-01), Aaron Neely. Subs used: Cian McGee for Aidan McGee (40mins), Ethan McCaffrey for Oran Gallagher (46mins), Dylan Wallace for Saville (55mins).
Referee: Shane Murrin (Killybegs).
