Comhghairdeas Naomh Conaill who won both the Senior A and Senior B finals in Páirc Sheáin MhicCumhaill this afternoon. St Eunans were the stronger team in the opening quarter of the Reserve final at the end of which they led 0-3 to 0-1, The second quarter belonged to Naomh Conaill, scoring 1-3 without reply to lead 1-4 to 0-3 at the break. There were just five points in a low scoring second half as Naomh Conaill ran out 1-7 to 0-5 point victors.
Naomh Conaill were anxious to ensure there was no repeat of last year’s drubbing from the Cathedral town club and, playing into the breeze hit the first two points of the Senior A final but were rocked back when Eoin McGeehin struck for goal 13 minutes in. Martin Regan’s men would have been relatively happy to be trailing by just two points as the game ended first half injury team but there chances received another boost when St Eunan’s Shane O’Donnell received a controversial red card for an altercation with Jeaic MacCeallabhuí.
Ciaran Thompson hit the first score of the second half and when Charles McGuinness goaled soon after to give them a 1-5 to 1-3 lead it looked ominous for the men in Black and Amber. Kevin Kealy hauled Eunans back into contention when he goaled in the 50th minute to level the game at 2-5 to 1-8 but within a minute Ciaran Thompson had Naomh Conaill back in front with what proved to be the last score of the game.
Go raibh maith agat to Geraldine Diver for all the images.
A good day for Naomh Conaill then but one still overshadowed by the tragic loss of life in Creeslough eight days ago. Heartfelt tributes were paid by both Naomh Conaill captain Kevin McGettigan and manager Martin Regan and a minute’s silence during which you could hear a pin drop preceded the game. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Sat 15th Oct
