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Scarvey side stunned by Fanad
Gaels
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Buncrana...0-10 (David Bell 0-3, Odhran Doherty 0-2, Oisin Doherty, Ryan Bradley, Paul McGonigle, Matthew O’Donnell, William McLaughlin) Fanad Gaels...0-11 (Seamus Friel 0-4, Ciaran McElwaine 0-2, Eamon McGreaghan, Eamon Sweeney, Aidan McAteer, Michael Sweeney, William McAteer) by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent, at the Scarvey BUNCRANA have it all to do if they are to avoid another first round exit from the Raidio na Gaeltachta Donegal Senior Football Championship. Sean Clerkin’s side have only themselves to blame for allowing Fanad Gaels to sneak a first leg advantage after the home side hit nine wides in the opening half. Those misses ultimately proved expensive for the Scarvey side as Fanad hung around as the second half wore on and won the match with the last kick of the game when wingback William McAteer capped a fine Fanad move with the score of the game from wide on the right sideline. |
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Although Buncrana looked
the more dangerous side going for most of the match, the
belief and desire of the men from Portsalon in the
finals stages was evident. They simply refused to be
beaten. Seamie Friel popped over a free, followed by a score from play, his fourth point of the game, to draw Fanad level at nine points all. Buncrana inched clear once more through the impressive David Bell only for Michael Sweeney to show great tenacity to see off the challenge of two Buncrana players to draw the sides level for the third time in the match in the last minute of normal time The game seemed too be destined to end in a draw. Second half Fanad Gaels substitute Eibhrean McFadden had other ideas. The Fanad man collected the ball outside his own 45 along the left sideline and showed great strength to burst past a robust challenge from Paul McGonigle before passing inside to Paddy McConigley who 40 metres out from the Buncrana target, went cross-field to Paddy Shiels. He in turn fed William McAteer on the overlap for a splendid score that was worthy of winning any game. |
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For most of the first half
this match was a dreary affair. Buncrana had a lot of
possession but were sloppy in the finish. The Intermediate Champions, who were on the end of a heavy defeat at this ground in the league earlier this season, opened he scoring through Eamon McGrenaghan in the 6th minute. They increased their lead through Ciaran McElwaine two minutes later and it wasn’t until the 14th minute that Buncrana got on the scoreboard, courtesy of Odhran Doherty. An interesting tussle developed in the middle of the field between Paul McGonigle and the imposing Eamon Sweeney, which Buncrana’s former Donegal star just shaded. Chances came and went for Buncrana until five minutes from half-time when a flurry of Fanad scores saw them lead by 0-5 to 0-1 by the 27th minute. David Walsh set up Eamon Sweeney for a delightfully swerving first, then Seamus Friel hit another before Ciaran McElwaine pointed. Buncrana clawed back the score to 0-6 to 0-4 at the break with points from Oisin Dohery, Ryan Bradley, who had a disappointing match overall, and McGonigle. Buncrana regrouped and began the second half in great style and on the back of two points from David Bell, and one apiece from Matthew O’Donnell and Odhran Doherty, raced to a 0-8 to 0-6 lead. unfortunately for the home side, they could not maintain that momentum, and Fanad began to win the breaks in the centre of the pitch. There was controversy too as both sides were awarded questionable points. Ciaran McElwaine’s 27th minute effort and Matthew O’Donnells go-ahead score for Buncrana in the second both looked to have gone narrowly wide. Ryan Bradley, who had started the game in midfield, was sent into the full-forward line in the final ten minutes but, although his handling was assured, his shooting was not and he missed from close range. Then came the Fanad late show that left most of the sun-drenched Scarvey crowd feeling deflated as they filed out of the terrace. For Fanad’s first year coaches Marty McAteer and Manus McFadden the mood was markedly different. Buncrana: Noel O’Donnell; Simon McGrory, John Doherty, Matthew O’Donnell; Ronan Doherty, Paul McGonigle, Brendan McGee; Ryan Bradley, Ciaran McCallum; Oisin Doherty, Christy McDermott, Nigel Buchannan; Adrian McColgan, Odhran Doherty, Adrian Doherty. Subs: David Bell for Nigel Buchannan (28), William McLaughlin for Adrian Doherty (HT). Fanad Gaels: Oisin Blaney; Colm McElwaine, Francis Sweeney, Fergal Friel; Paddy Shiels, William McAteer, Shane McAteer; Paddy McConigley, Benny Callaghan; Eamon McGrenaghan, Eamon Sweeney, David Walsh; Ciaran McElwaine, Seamus Friel, Aidan McAteer. Subs: Eibhrean McFadden for Francis Sweeney (22), Mick Sweeney for Eamon McGrenaghan (40), Mark Friel for David Walsh (52) For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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