Naomh Columba hit four goals in home win over Gaeil Fhánada

Naomh Columba came away with the points in a hard-fought battle in tough conditions against Gaeil Fhánada in Páirc na nGael on Sunday.

In what was far from a classic first half, Alex Cunnea got the first score as he hit the net in the seventh minute.

Liam McGrenaghan and Aaron Doherty traded points from frees on 15 minutes, and it was McGrenaghan again who hit the next score from a placed ball.

Declan McGuire kicked the fifth and final score of the half to make it 1-2 to 0-2 at the break.

Fanad reduced the lead straight off with a point from play from Bernard McGetigan but by the tenth minute, the game turned on its head with two goals in a minute.

First, a good run from Pauric Hegarty saw him find Kevin McNern and he blasted to the net, and from the resulting kick out, Aaron Doherty found himself through on goal but was fouled for a penalty.

County panellist Doherty dusted himself down before dispatching his penalty to the net. 

Fanad responded with a penalty of their own, with Ciaran Sweeney making no mistake from the spot.

Pauric Hegarty responded with a point before Ciaran Sweeney got the only two pointer of the game. 

The home side then stretched the lead with points from Paul O’Hare and an Aaron Doherty free after Fanad got caught by the three-man rule.

Eric Carr settled any nerves with a fine strike into the roof of the net before late points from James Kerr and Shaun Kerr ended the scoring.

Naomh Columba scorers: Aaron Doherty 1-2, 1-0 pen, 2f; Eric Carr, Kevin McNern and Alex Cunnea 1-0 each; Paul O’Hare, Pauric Hegarty, and Declan McGuire 0-1 each.

Gaeil Fhánada scorers: Ciaran Sweeney 1-2, 1-0 pen, 2f; Liam McGrenaghan 0-2f; Shaun Kerr, Bernard McGettigan and James Kerr 0-1 each.

Naomh Columba: Padraig Byrne; Stephen Callaghan, Pauric Ward, Adam Cunningham; Alex Cunnea, Paul O’Hare, Pauric Hegarty; Declan McGuire, Eric Carr;  Darragh Cunningham, Aaron Doherty, Ryan McNern; Shane Callaghan, Kevin McNern, Ronan O'Hare.

Sub: Ronan Gillespie.

Fanad Gaels: Mark McConigley; Patrick Herrity, Odhran Shields, Aaron McConigley; Conor Heraghty, Oisin Shields, Ronan McAteer; Shaun Carr, Bernard McGettigan; Oisin McFadden, Liam McGrannaghan, James Kerr; Shaun Kerr, Darragh O’Doherty, John Patrick Gallagher.

Subs: Ciaran Sweeney, Eoin Logue, Michael Sweeney, Darren McElwaine, Shane Carr.

Referee Cathal Gallagher (Glenswilly)