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Buncrana bow out to Fanad
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Late goal not enough to
force play-off Fanad Gaels...1-12 (S. Friel 0-7, A. McAteer 1-1, M. Sweeney 0-3, P. McConigley 0-1) Buncrana...2-8 (O. Doherty 2-3, P McGonigle 0-2, W. McLaughlin 0-1, R. Bradley 0-1, A. Doherty 0-1) Report: Inishowen Independent DESPITE a late Odhran Doherty goal, Buncrana made a first round exit from this year’s Donegal Senior Football Championship as Fanad Gaels deservedly advanced following the second leg clash at Portsalon on Saturday evening. Manus McFadden’s side led by seven points early in the second half but the visitors battled back with 1-4 in the closing stages to make it a nervous finish for the reigning intermediate champions. The Gaels led 1-7 to 0-4 at the break with the foundation for the lead laid by an early Aidan McAteer goal. Buncrana were presented with the ideal opportunity to mount a comeback after Odhran Doherty converted a penalty four minutes after the interval to leave just three points between the sides. However, it was the home side that seized the initiative again slotting over four unanswered points and in the end that advantage was enough to book Fanad’s quarter-final spot. |
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Buncrana started brightly,
against the breeze, getting the game’s first point
through Odhran Doherty but were stung by McAteer’s third
minute goal after the full-forward gathered a long ball
from Eamon Sweeney taking a few paces before firing past
Noel O’Donnell. William McLaughlin and Doherty were on
the mark for Buncrana while at the other end McAteer and
Michael Sweeney registered white flags before the Gaels
hit a purple patch to go 1-6 to 0-3 in front thanks to
three from Seimi Friel and one from county player Paddy
McConigley. Friel converted his second free while Paul McGonigle replied to complete the first half scoring leaving the home team six points clear at the break. Fanad were clearly the better side Aidan McAteer in fine form up front with Seimi Friel’s accuracy again a key factor in building up the lead. After an ineffective first half out the field, Ryan Bradley moved to full-forward at the start of the second half and he made an immediate impact with a fine point after Michael Sweeney |
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had got the first score
after the restart. The visitors were then handed a
lifeline when Odhran Doherty converted a 34th penalty
following a foul on William McLaughlin. However, instead
of building on that goal Buncrana’s hopes of forcing a
play-off were effectively buried as Fanad Gaels hit four
points without reply courtesy of three Seimi Friel
scores and one from Michael Sweeney for a 1-12 to 1-5
advantage. Despite the uphill nature of their task of securing a victory the Inishowen outfit kept plugging away and cut the deficit to three points thanks to two from Paul McGonigle and another effort from Adrian Doherty. Odhran Doherty got his second goal in the dying seconds but there wasn’t enough time for the visitors to mount another attack and so disappointingly bow out of this season’s senior championship. All their focus now will be on achieving promotion to Division 1A of the league. Fanad Gaels: Oisin Blaney; Cathal Martin, Fergal Friel, Ephrim McFadden; Paddy Shiels, William McAteer, Shane McAteer; Eamon Sweeney, Michael Sweeney 0-3; Eamon McGrenaghan, Paddy McConigley 0-1, Colm McElwaine; Ciaran McElwaine, Seamus Friel 0-7, Aidan McAteer 1-1. Subs: Davitt Walshe for Shiels (half-time), Benny Callaghan for E Sweeney (55 mins). Buncrana: Noel O’Donnell; Simon McGrory, John Doherty, Matthew O’Donnell; William McLaughlin 0-1, Ciaran McCallum, Andrew McLaughlin, Paul McGonigle 0-2, Ryan Bradley; Christy Bell, Odhran Doherty, David Bell; Adrian McColgan, Garvan Friel, Adrian Doherty 0-1. Sub: Stephen McGonigle for McCallum (46 mins). Referee: Sean McLaughlin (Malin) For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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