Gaelic Games

St Eunan’s recapture Donegal SFC title as pressure finally tells on Glenswilly

Michael Murphy’s side dethroned after tight game decided by late scoring burst

St Eunan’s Rory Kavanagh lifts the Dr Maguire Cup after the Donegal county final. Photograph: Inpho/Presseye/Lorcan Doherty
St Eunan’s Rory Kavanagh lifts the Dr Maguire Cup after the Donegal county final. Photograph: Inpho/Presseye/Lorcan Doherty
Sun Nov 02 2014 - 19:57

St Eunan's 0-9 Glenswilly 0-6

St Eunan’s of Letterkenny won their 14th county title when they dethroned reigning champions Glenswilly in the final in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.

In wet conditions and in front of 6,000 supporters, the scoreline suggests a tight final, which in fact it was, with Glenswilly relying on stout defence against a youthful St Eunan’s side.

But it was not the youth that made the difference for the Letterkenny side, but rather the experience of 37-year-old John Haran, who was playing in his 12th final, and team captain, Rory Kavanagh, who had a huge influence at midfield.

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St Eunan’s had most of the possession in the opening half but they hit eight wides.

Conall Dunne was, however, in good form for St Eunan’s, hitting two frees and one great effort from play.

At one stage they led by 0-4 to 0-1 but Michael Murphy took a hand in the final quarter to win and point a free.

Couple of steps

He then set up Brian Farrelly to score and finally hit a free from fully 45m and near the sideline to level matters on 29 minutes at 0-4 each.

St Eunan’s sharpest forward Conor Gibbons then registered a score and the Letterkenny side went in at the break 0-5 to 0-4 ahead.

The second half was more of the same with St Eunan’s dominating possession but finding it difficult to translate their superiority into scores.

However, in the final quarter, the pressure told on Glenswilly and points from Conall Dunne and corner back Conor Parke opened the gap to three.

Murphy landed a ‘45’ with eight minutes left but despite moving Murphy and Neil Gallagher to the edge of the square, Glenswilly were unable to get the goal they needed to turn the game around.

St. Eunan’s had the last say when the ball broke and Dunne pointed a free in the last attack of the game.

St Eunan’s will now play Fermanagh champions, Roslea, in the quarter-final of the Ulster Club Championship in MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey, on Sunday next.

GLENSWILLY: G McGrenra; B McDaid, E Ward, L Kelly; A McDevitt, J Gibbons, C Callaghan; N Gallagher, C Bonner; R Crawford, G McFadden (0-2, 0-2frees), B Farrelly (0-1); D McGinley, M Murphy (0-3, 0-2 frees,0-1 '45'), O Crawford. Subs: C Gallagher for Bonner (34 mins) K McFadden for Farrelly (45 mins). ST EUNAN'S: S Daffan; C Parke (0-1), M Martin, C Morrison; C Ward, E Doherty, D Mulgrew; K Rafferty, R Kavanagh; C Gibbons (0-2), C Dunne (0-5,0-4 frees), S McVeigh (0-1); R Carr, J Haran, S Hensey. Subs: M McGowan for Rafferty (9 mins), D Gallagher for Martin (40 mins). Referee: M Coll (Gaoth Dobhair).