Carndonagh take another step towards survival with big win over Convoy

Carndonagh took another big step towards securing the Division 2 status for next year with this big win over basement side Convoy at O'Doherty Park on Saturday night.
Michael O'Donnell side backed up their big win away to Cloughaneely a week previously by taking care of business on their home turf.
While there was 16 points between the teams at the end, Convoy turned in a strong first half performance that belied their lowly position on the league table.

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A Richie Cunningham goal midway through the first half helped shake Carn out of their sluggish start, and with Cian Doherty contributing eight points they were seven up, 1-12 to 0-8 at half time.
Convoy, though, would have the wind on their backs for the second half and given the quality they'd shown in the first period spectators would not have expected to see such a poor showing after the break.
As it was, Carndonagh had things nearly all their own way in the second half, kicking over nine points while Convoy failed to score at all.
Team captain Darragh Brown opened the scoring for Carn inside the opening minute with a wind-assisted two pointer, but the visitors hit back with Pauric Gordon and Connor Bonner hitting a point apiece.
Indeed, Bonner's point came on the follow up after Carn keeper Daniel McDaid had denied Convoy a goal.
Cian Doherty, Carn's score-getter in chief, got his first score from play in the sixth minute, but Convoy were playing well and prompted by wing back Niall Sweeney and the centre field pairing of Conal McDermott and Pauric Gordon, went toe-to-toe with the home team.
Bonner and Ciaran Dolan edged Convoy ahead with quick-fire points, before Cian Doherty drew Carn level again by the 12th minute.
Convoy were then twice punished for breaches of the new rules, the experienced Padraig Doherty drawing both, first when he was impeded after taking a mark from a kick-out, and then when he was impeded from a solo and go.
Referee Anthony Finn applied the penalty in both instances, allowing Cian Doherty to clip over a couple of close in frees for a two point lead.
Conal McDermott hit back with a point for Convoy, but the game's only goal arrived on 17 minutes, Richie Cunningham slamming the ball to the net after Fergal Doherty had turned over Convoy corner back Sean Doherty inside the arc.
To their credit, Convoy responded again with the impressive Niall Sweeney firing over a two pointer into the wind and Anthony Browne pointing to make it 1-6 to 0-8 by the 20th minute.
You'd have got long odds on Convoy not scoring again afterwards, but that's what happened.
Two two pointers, from Cian Doherty and Padraig Doherty put Carn five clear, and Cian Doherty added a further two points before half time.
Carn led by 1-12 to 0-8 at half time, and played some excellent controlled football into the breeze making full use of the massive playing area on Foden's main pitch.
It's hard to put one's finger on why Convoy performed so poorly in the second half when, despite the wind on the backs, they repeatedly dropped shots short into Daniel McDaid's hands.
Carn, though, were content to plough on. A couple of points from midfielders Will Quinn and Sean O'Carroll got them started, and corner forward Michael Noone gave an exhibition at top of the right hitting four fine points from play.
Sub Conor McLaughlin and, inevitably, Cian Doherty from a free, rounded off the scoring for Carn as Convoy's challenge petered out long before the full time whistle.
With nine points on the board, Carn aren't mathematically safe yet, and their three remaining against are against difficult opposition in Dungloe, Naomh Muire and Killybegs, but they have put themselves in a strong position to stay up in Division 2.
Convoy, still without a win ten games in, are doomed to relegation back to Division 3.

Carn scorers: Cian Doherty 0-9 (one 2pt, 4f); Michael Noone 0-4; R Cunningham 1-0; Padraig Doherty 0-2 (2pt); Darragh Brown 0-2 (2pt)Will Quinn 0-2; Conor McLaughlin 0-1; Sean O'Carroll 0-1

Convoy scorers: Niall Sweeney 0-2 (2pt); Conor Bonner 0-2; Anthony Brown 0-1; Pauric Gordon 0-1; Ciaran Dolan 0-1; Conal McDermott 0-1

Carndonagh: Daniel McDaid; Danny Diver, James Monagle, Eoghan Kelly; John O’Callaghan, Darragh Browne, Cian Burke; Sean O’Carroll, Will Quinn; Cian Doherty, Pádraig Doherty, Senan Grant; Michael Noone, Richie Cunningham, Fergal Doherty. Subs: Keith Norris and Brendan McLaughlin for Senan Grant and Fergal Doherty (both 42 mins); Kyran Cantwell, Oran O'Donnell and Conor McLaughlin for Padraig Doherty, John O'Callaghan and Richie Cunningham (all 47 mins).

St Mary’s Convoy: Emmet Doherty; Sean Doherty, Enda Bonner, Michael Mulrain; Conor Donnellan, Bryan McNamee, Niall Sweeney; Pauric Gordon, Conal McDermott; Conor Gordon, Laurence McMullan, Anthony Browne; Ciaran Dolan, Oran Patterson, Conor Bonner. Subs: Eamon Coyle for C McDermott (25 mins); Cormac Mulrain for N Sweeney (45 mins); Conor Gordon for L McMullan (50 mins).

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille).