Naomh Naille won the Cathal McLauglin Intermediate Trophy in Páirc Sheain Mhic Cumhaill earlier today. In a closely fought contest Naomh Naille finished the strongest after Cloughaneely over-turned a first half deficit to take the lead early in the final quarter.
Nauls dominated most of the first quarter but failed to raise a flag with five wides by the fifteen minute mark. Cloughaneely were much more efficient – two scores, one wide. It was the nineteenth minute before Nauls scored but it was game changing, Daniel Brennan drove the ball to the net and gave a massive injection of confidence to the Division 2 side who reeled off three points in the next five minutes to lead 1-3 to 0-2. Cloich Cheann Fhaola regrouped with points from Michael Fitzgerald and Shaun McGarvey leaving it 1-3 to 0-4 at the break.
Both sides exchanged scores early in the second half before Cloughaneely dominated the next twenty minutes. That this dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard owed something to Nauls strong defensive system, an excellent save from Gavin Mulreany and a goal-line clearance by Brendan McCole. Darren Doxy Ferry gave them the lead in the 49th minute but this was as good as it got for Cloughaneely.
Shane Coneelly levelled the game in the 52nd minute, Peader Mogan restored Nauls lead in the 58th and less than a minute later a belter of a point from Daniel Brennan widened the gap. A Shaun McGarvey free put the Division 1 side within a point again as the game entered added time but Daniel Brennan again and a Stephen Griffen free closed out the game. It ended 1-10 to 0-10 – huge dis-appointment for a gallant Cloich Cheann Fhaola and jubilation for Naomh Naille.
Liam Mailey Trophies and Awards man of the match was Kevin Mulhern who completed half a dozen superb tackles over the course of the game with Nauls Stuart Johnson and Daniel Brennan and Cloich Cheann Fhaol’s Mark Harley other contenders.
Nauls now go on to meet Naomh Seamus, the Antrim County Champions. Their quarterfinal will be played in Coorigan Park on November 3rd.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Sun 13th Oct
