Naomh Conaill heading towards top of table after win over Downings

After an entertaining 60 minutes of football in Davy Brennan Park, Naomh Conaill are just a point adrift of Termon at the top of the Brian McCormick All County League Division 1.

The reigning Democrat Cup holders also have a game in hand.

They were given a good game on Friday evening thanks mainly to the efforts of Johnny McGroddy and Paddy McElwee, who accounted for 1-14 of the visitors’ tally.

The first half was pretty close with the sides level at 0-5 each after 17 minutes. Then a couple of two points, the first from the impressive Eoghan McGettigan and the second from Dermot Molloy with his first touch after coming in as a sub, was a turning point in the game.

McGettigan fired home the opening goal on 28 minutes but Downings hit back immediately with Paidin Shields and Alex Gerwatowski setting up Paddy McElwee to bundle home within 30 seconds.

Naomh Conaill led 1-11 to 1-7 at the break but that was back to a point by the 32nd minute with two from McGroddy and one from McElwee.

It was then that Naomh Conaill got their act together hitting five points in reply. McElwee and McGroddy again got points but Naomh Conaill replied with six unanswered points to lead 1-22 to 1-12 after 50 minutes. Max Campbell got the last of those six points and he was one of the most impressive performers for the winners.

Downings kept plugging away and cut the lead to five before Tiarnan Ward and Mark McDevitt closed out the game with late points.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Eoghan McGettigan 1-6,2f; Dermot Molloy 0-5,1tp,1’45’,2f; Tiarnan Ward 0-3; Mark McDevitt, Jack McGlynn 0-2 each; Kevin McGettigan 0-2,tp; Max Campbell, Kieran Gallagher, Kealan McGill, John O’Malley 0-1 each.

Na Dúnaibh scorers: Paddy McElwee 1-7,1f; Johnny McGroddy 0-7,1tp; Ronan Gallagher 0-2,2’45s’; Paidin Shields 0-1.

Naomh Conaill: Jordan O’Donnell; Logan Quinn, AJ Gallagher, Jason Campbell; Jack McGlynn, Kevin McGettigan, Max Campbell; Kieran Gallagher, Kealan McGill; Daniel Gildea, Mark McDevitt, John O’Malley; Tiarnan Ward, Eoghan McGettigan, Charles McGuinness.

Subs: Dermot Molloy for Quinn (24); Neil Francis Boyle for Campbell (ht); Seamus Corcoran for Gildea (42); Oran Doherty for D Molloy (53).

Na Dúnaibh: Jordi Nugent; Hugo Davis, Ben McNutt, Tiarnan McBride; Paidin Shields, Ronan Gallagher, Ronan Pasoma; Oisin Boyce, Shay Coyle; Kyle McFadden, Shane Coll, Alex Gerwatowski; Oisin McClafferty, Paddy McElwee, Johnny McGroddy.

Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs)