Goals make the difference as MacCumhaills hold off old foes Glenfin 

MacCumhaills took what must have been a very satisfying two points away from Pairc Taoibhoige on Sunday as they just about held on for the win. 

With Glenfin landing the last seven points of the game to claw themselves back to within the bare minimum, the Twin Towns outfit somehow held off that late onslaught to fall over the line and nab the win. 

A third MacCumahills goal, that opened up an eight-point deficit on 50 minutes, seemed to put paid to any hopes of a Glenfin revival. 

But to be fair to the hosts, they threw the kitchen sink at it in the end and almost nabbed a leveller with the last kick of the game. 

Into a blustery breeze, Glenfin seemed to have managed the elements well early on in the day as they led 3-1 four minutes out from the break. 

However, crossed wires coming out of their own defence seen Frank McGlynn’s side cough up possession and allowed Matthew McGeehan to hammer in the first of three goals and, at the same time, push MacCumhaills in front for the first time. 

Jason Morrow lamped a superb effort for the hosts but with Aaron Kelly sailing over a brilliant two-pointer just before the whistle, Gary Wilson’s side departed two to the good. 

Shaun Ward and Morrow had given their side an early two-point advantage before MacCumhaills got off the mark through Chad McSorely on 12 minutes. 

Aaron McGlynn then drew a brilliant stop out of Eoin Gallen but collecting the rebound, the same player made it a two-point game.  

By the end of the first half, the visitors exited 1-3 to 0-4 in front. And right at the start of the new period, Sean Martin ghosted into position and with Joe Boyle spotting that run, Martin nailed in a second goal to widen the gap to five. 

Aaron Kelly made sure MacCumhaills’ momentum continued when he landed another well-worked point. Glenfin were off the mark in the second stanza through Shaun Ward and it was an impactful one coming from a two-point free. 

Still, Conor McGinty responded up the other side and 2-5 led 0-6 nearing the fourth and final quarter. 

The same player then scuffed a free from distance but with the ball landing in the grasp of the alert Chad McSorley, Andrew Walsh did well to deny his quick turn and shot but with Kelly on hand to gobble up the rebound, MacCumahills were now eight clear with ten to go. 

The hosts, with the wind in their backs, put huge pressure on the visiting knockout down the stretch to great reward. 

Tommy McNulty, twice, and a pair of two-pointers from Ward, Shane McCormick and Luke McGlynn reeled a panicking MacCumhaills back into 3-5 to 0-13 late on. 

But a huge fetch by Joe Boyle finally broke that middle stranglehold and relieved the pressure. And while there were nervy moments at both ends late on, MacCumhaills did just about enough to nick the victory. 

Glenfin scorers Shaun Ward 0-5, 1tp, 1tpf; Jason Morrow 0-2; Tommy McNulty 0-2; Luke McGlynn 0-2, 1tp; Aaron McGlynn and Shane McCormick 0-1 each.  

MacCumhaills Scorers: Aaron Kelly 1-3, 1tp; Matthew McGeehan and Sean Martin 1-0 each; Chad McSorley 0-1; Conor McGinty 0-1,1f.

Glenfin: Andrew Walsh; Martin O’Donnell, John Harkin, Ross Marley; Jack Long, Daniel McGlynn, Odhran McGlynn; Stephen Ward, Jason Morrow; Tommy McNulty, Shaun Ward, Aaron McGlynn; Daire Quigley, Luke McGlynn, Odhran O’Connor. 

Subs: Shane McCormick for D McGlynn (23, inj); Daniel Marley, Oisin McGlynn and Gerard Ward for Quigley, S Ward and O’Connor (all 40); Frank McGlynn for O McGlynn (49).

MacCumahills: Eoin Gallen; Alan Sproule, Conor Griffin, Fionn McGinty; Cian Mulligan, Sean Martin, Adam Lynch; Joe Boyle, Finton Griffin; Chad McSorely, Conor McGinty, Jack Duffy; Matthew McGeehan, Martin O’Reilly, Aaron Kelly. 

Subs: Sean Breen for Duffy (46). 

Referee: Marc Browne (Four Masters)