Three red cards for full time fracas as Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin beat Carndonagh

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin’s superior two point shooting was crucial in their All County League Division 2 win away to Carndonagh on Sunday.

They trailed by a point at the break, but five two pointers in the second half – two from county man Caolan McColgan, two from frees from Jonny Toye and one from Kevin Doherty – helped them build a lead that Carn couldn’t quite bridge.

Carn got a tremendous lift from Senan Grant’s 49th minute goal and Cian Burke immediately pointed to draw them level at 1-10 to 0-13, but Naomh Pádraig finished the half strongly to run out four point winners and move up to fifth in the league standings.

The end of the game was marred by an all-in fracas moments after referee Daniel Carlin sounded the full time whistle. With players from both teams and substitutes getting involved in the melee, it was a sour end to a match where there’d hardly been a dirty blow.

When order was eventually restored, referee Carlin issued straight red cards to Naomh Pádraig pair Kevin Doherty and Rory Hirrell and to Carn’s Danny Diver.

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The first half was played in particularly challenging conditions with a heavy shower passing through and the elements favouring Carndonagh.

Naomh Pádraig kicked the opening two scores into the wind through Jonny Toye (free) and Jamie McColgan, and they had they also had a goal ruled out for square ball by referee Carlin.

Carn got off the mark through Cian Doherty, and Will Quinn drew them level by the eighth minute.

Cian Doherty then spurned a goal chance, blasting wide after intercepting a Naomh Pádraig kickout, and the same player was later denied a goal by a save from keeper Paul Doherty soon after.

Caolan McColgan, who had been in the Donegal matchday squad the previous night, was closely marked by Darragh Browne, but hit his opening point in the 11th minute and drew a free that Kevin Doherty tapped over on the quarter hour for a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Trying to take advantage of the wind on their backs, Carn were guilty of some wild potshots at the posts, but Fergal Doherty landed a two point free in the 17th minute and one from play in the 29th minute on either side of a Cian Doherty free.

In between times, Naomh Pádraig’s Kevin Doherty saw a goal bound shot tipped over the bar by keeper Daniel McDaid, and Caolan McColgan used his blistering pace to escape his marker and notch up his second point of the game.

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Carn led by 0-7 to 0-6 at the short whistle and moved two clear right from the throw-in; dissent after a foul on Will Quinn was punished by advancing the free by 50 metres and Cian Doherty – Carn’s most effective player over the hour – tapped over.
Two pointers from Jonny Toye (a free), Caolan McColgan and Kevin Doherty, as well as a single from Jamie McColgan after fine play by Cillian Doyle, moved Naomh Pádraig four clear, 0-13 to 0-9, by the 48th minute.

Carn were just about hanging in, and they got a real lifeline in the 49th minute when, after good interchange by Fergal Doherty and substitute Ryan Kelly moved the ball around the arc and into the hands of Senan Grant who hit game’s only goal with a well-taken shot across the face of goal and into the bottom corner.

Cian Burke followed up with an equalising point with ten minutes of normal time remaining, but Carn couldn’t maintain their scoring momentum.

Instead, teenager Cillian Doyle won a long wind-assisted clearance in the half forward line and beat his man to score a fine individual point, Kevin Doherty converted a free, Caolan McColgan landed another two pointer while under severe pressure from the Carn defence, and Rory Hirrell's two pointer extended Naomh Pádraig’s lead to six with 56 minutes on the clock.

Carn needed goals, but Muff defended strongly, with Cian Burke pointing after teammates were twice blocked and the visitors led by five as the game moved into the seven minutes of injury time allowed by referee Carlin.

Muff were content to foul rather than allow goal scoring chances and Fergal and Cian Doherty pointed from free kicks to bring the margin back to three points.

However, Jonny Toye made sure of a Naomh Pádraig win when he fired over another two point free deep into injury time.
With time all but up, Carn were awarded a final 20m free and Cian Doherty clipped the ball over the bar.

The row after full time seemed settled a couple of times before reigniting, and when it had finally calmed down referee Carlin sought out Kevin Doherty and Rory Hirrell from Naomh Pádraig, and Danny Diver from Carn, and issued red cards to all three.

Naomh Pádraig’s next game will be at home to Naomh Columba while Carn are away to Cloughaneely.

Scorers

Carndonagh: Cian Doherty 0-6 (4f); Fergal Doherty 0-5 (one 2pt, one 2ptf, 1f); Senan Grant 1-0; Cian Burke 0-2; Will Quinn 0-1.


Naomh Pádraig: Caolan McColgan 0-6 (two 2pt); Jonny Toye 0-5 (two 2ptf, 1f); Kevin Doherty 0-5 (one 2pt, 2f); Jamie McColgan 0-2; Rory Hirrell 0-2 (one 2pt); Cillian Doyle 0-1


Carndonagh: Daniel McDaid; John O’Callaghan, Danny Monagle, Eoghan Kelly; Cian Burke, Darragh Browne, Danny Diver; Will Quinn, Sean O’Carroll; Senan Grant, Fergal Doherty, Cian Doherty; Pádraig Doherty, Michael Noone, James Monagle. Subs used: Jason McCallion, Michael McCarron, Paddy Hirrell, Joe McCauley.

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin: Paul Doherty; Conor Kelly, Caolan Harkin, Darragh McIntyre; Oisin McIntyre, Jonny Toye, Rory Hirrell; Eunan Mullan, Jamie McCauley; Caolan McColgan, Kevin Doherty, Cillian Doyle; Rian Gallagher, Jamie McColgan, Cormac McColgan. Subs used: Ryan Kelly, Brendan McLaughlin, Odhran O’Donnell, Donal Doherty.

Referee: Daniel Carlin (Lifford)