Sean MacCumhaills defeat St Eunan's to win U16 Division 1 title

Sean MacCumhaills claimed the Under 16 Division 1 title with a three point win over St Eunan’s in the final in Convoy.

The Twin Towns men started brightly but were pegged back as a low-scoring first 25 minutes left the game at 0-3 apiece.

But MacCumhaills led by one at the break thanks to a Matthew Dowds goal, with Cathal Doherty’s two pointer leaving one in it.

The game was levelled at 1-6 to 0-9 in the fourth quarter, but a second goal for the victors through Caolan Gillespie made the difference with ten minutes to go.

MacCumhaills started bright and two of their liveliest forwards got on the score sheet inside three minutes, Jack Byrne getting ahead of his man and curling over, while Shay McNulty fired over with the outside of the boot soon after.

Kian Fletcher got St Eunan’s off the mark with a free from the right as MacCumhaills had a couple of wides.

First, a loose ball was flicked up by Byrne who drove down the right and fired a shot towards the bottom corner, but it went wide of the far post.

Cathal Doherty cut in from the left and levelled the game at the other end before Byrne went even closer.

An unorthodox one-two with Oisin Mullen allowed Byrne to get a shot away from a similar position as the previous effort, but this time it came crashing off the crossbar and was cleared.

MacCumhaills captain Mullen put his side ahead again after a neat layoff from Caolan Gillespie, but Evan Daly responded with a free on 26 minutes.

But the Twin-Towns men doubled their scoring with a somewhat fortunate goal just before half-time, as Matthew Dowds fired a ball in from outside the arc and as Jack Byrne ran in, he just did enough to put St Eunan’s goalkeeper Ruben Carey off and the ball bounced into the net.

St Eunan’s did reduce the deficit with the last score of the half as Cathal Doherty fired over a brilliant laces effort from outside the arc, leaving one in it at 1-3 to 0-5.

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Soon after the restart, Peter Byrne’s men went further ahead as Niall McBrearty fired over a two point free from off the ground, with Fletcher tapping over a free at the other end.

Matthew Brady caught a ball in from Max McKeever to make it a one point game again but the Letterkenny men were penalised for a breach in defence, allowing McNulty to kick over a 13 metre free.

But St Eunan’s replied swiftly, a Duffy free and a good move finished off by Naoise Kavanagh brought the scores level for the fourth and final time in the match.

For MacCumhaills countered swiftly, with Byrne blitzing forward and he found an unmarked Caolan Gillespie on the far side who fired low in for a second goal.

Jack Byrne did great then to pick up loose possession and after a quick one-two, fisted over for a four point lead.

Duffy and Conor Gallen traded frees in the final minutes as McNulty missed a couple chances to put his side four ahead again, but MacCumhaills held on to take the win.

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Matthew Dowds and Caolan Gilespie 1-0 each; Jack Byrne 0-2, 1f; Nathan McBrearty 0-2,tp; Shay McNulty 0-2,1f; Oisin Mullen 0-1; Conor Gallen 0-1f

St Eunan’s scorers: Cathal Doherty 0-3, 1tp; Evan Duffy 0-3f; Naoise Kavanagh 0-2f; Kian Fletcher 0-2f; Matthew Brady 0-1.

Sean MacCumhaills: Callum Kyle; Ben Murray, Raynne Rowan, Kyle Burke; Sean Óg Hannigan, Niall McBrearty, Ryan McMenamin; Luke Gallinagh, Corey Doherty; Matthew Dowds, Oisin Mullen, Daimhin Byrne; Jack Byrne, Shay McNulty, Caolan Gillespie.

Subs: Conor Gallen for McMenamin (41).

St Eunan’s: Ruben Carey; Jamie McGee, Oisin Higgins, Senan Gibson; Senan Kavanagh, Senan Kelly, Colm Óg Breathnach; Max McKeever, Cathal Doherty; Evan Duffy, Finn Nolan, Josh Ryan; Kian Fletcher, Naoise Kavanagh, Matthew Brady.

Subs: Oran Daly for Brady (49).

Referee: Clint Marron (Urris)