Cathal O’Brien ensures St Eunan’s take Setanta scalp in O’Donnell Park 

A strong finish from the gritty home side earned them two precious points against Setanta in a well-contested affair at O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.

Late points from ace marksman Cathal O’Brien ensured victory for a St Eunan’s side who could mount a real challenge this season.

Setanta had led for considerable periods but were just not able to close out the game. The sides were level at 0-7 apiece at half-time.

O’Brien opened the scoring for the home side and Oisín Marley responded with a pointed free for the visitors.

Dean Harvey and Josh Cronolly McGee made it 0-3 to 0-1 for Setanta after ten minutes.

But O’Brien pointed a free, and Brendan Gaffey, from play, levelled matters.

It was point for point as Cronolly McGee put Setanta back in front, with O’Brien replying from a free to leave it 0-4 each with 20 minutes gone.

Bernard Lafferty and Oisín Marley eased Setanta into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead. Thomas Crossan had a point for St Eunan’s, as did Gaffey, while Cronolly McGee and O’Brien swapped scores to leave the sides level at the break.

On the resumption, Marley hit two pointed frees before Eunan’s struck for a goal as the Setanta defence snoozed.

A free was cleverly played to the unmarked Cian Randles, who rammed the sliotar to the net to put them ahead 1-6 to 0-8 in the 39th minute.

O’Brien added a point from play as Eunan’s led 1-8 to 0-9 but Cronolly McGee struck for a fine goal in response.

Gavin Forde pointed a free for Eunan’s to edge them in front, and O’Brien added another point to put Eunan’s into a 1-12 to 1-10 lead.

Eunan’s were not to be denied though as O’Brien got their final clinching scores.

St Eunan’s scorers: Cathal O’Brien 0-7, 3f; Gavin Forde 0-3, 1f; Cian Randles 1-0; Brendan Gaffey 0-2; Thomas Crossan 0-1.

Setanta scorers: Josh Cronolly McGee 1-3; Oisín Marley 0-5, 5f; Dean Harvey 0-1; Bernard Lafferty 0-1.

St Eunan’s: Cian Hennessy; Lorcan Heavey, Conor McVeigh, Sean Halvey; James O’Donnell, Kieran Harkin, Conor Parke; David Horgan, Cormac Finn; Pierce Glynn, Cathal O’Brien, Russell Forde; Gavin Forde, Stephen Donaghue, Brendan Gaffey.

Subs used: Cian Randles, Thomas Crossan, James Patrick Curran.

Setanta: Kevin Campbell; Mark Callaghan, Justin McBride, Fionn Farren; Dean Harvey, Bernard Lafferty, Ruairí McLaughlin; Ryan Callaghan, Conor McGettigan; Sean D’Arcy, Josh Cronolly McGee, Jack Hilliard; Aed McLaughlin, Niall Cleary, Oisín Marley.

Subs used: Pauric Moss, Denim Rowan.