Huge two points earned by St Michael’s as they topple Naomh Conaill at the Bridge 

St Michael’s battled brilliantly at the weekend to down Naomh Conaill and, in the process, gave their chances of staying in Division 1 a huge shot in the arm. 

The men from the Bridge opened on Sunday fourth from bottom in the All-County League’s top tier and looking to fend off the threat of a relegation battle while Martin Regan’s side, third in the standings, were aiming to keep hopes of a league final spot on track. 

At the break, Naomh Conaill held a 2-7  to 0-11 advantage. But with St Michael’s restricting their visitors to just three points on the changeover, a huge second-half performance from Martin McElhinney and Daniel McLaughlin’s team deservingly edged them across the line. 

In a lively opening quarter, nothing separated the sides at 0-7 to 1-4. Joint player/boss McLaughlin - who kicked three two-pointers across the hour - pinged the first two points for St Michael’s, one from play and one from a free, while Kieran Gallagher got the visitors off the mark in between. 

A well-worked move involving Mark McDevitt and Gallagher then helped set up Max Campbell and even though Oisn Cannon got a hand to the effort, the power behind it meant it still found its way across the line. 

Dermot Molloy quickly followed that up from play as 1-2 led 0-2 nearing the ten-minute mark. McLaughlin again was the player showing the way for the hosts as he launched over a brilliant two-pointer with the outside of the left. 

Shea Malone responded down the other side but with Oisin Langan matching that, just one point split the sides. 

Molloy did double that advantage but with McLaughlin landing once again from outside the arc, matters were soon back on an even keel. 

Gallagher and Eddie O’Reilly traded points before Tiernan Ward nudged the visitors back to the fore. 

Five minutes out from the midpoint Naomh Conaill seemed to steal a real march when Malone’s lobbing effort dipped just under the crossbar. And whether the Glenties attacker meant it or not, it was still an intervention that catapulted his side 2-6 to 0-8 clear. 

Before the break, Max Roarty moved St Michael’s to 0-9 while Molloy rounded off the scoring for Naomh Conaill. 

But with Michael McGinley notching a two-point free off the ground just prior to the short whistle, only a pair of points split the teams on their way back to the changing rooms. 

It took a little while for the second period to settle but, seven minutes in, Molloy stretched the Glenties advantage after he’d done well to keep a stray effort from crossing the sideline. 

AJ Gallagher then got up from full-back as Naomh Conaill went four clear. Still, with Langan muscling in on the two-point action for the home side, they shaved that back to two on 40 minutes. 

With tempers flaring, Molloy would clip another free as 2-10 led 0-13. With the angled breeze now slightly favouring the home outfit, St Michael’s refused to fold and a third McLaughlin two-pointer of the contest reeled the leaders back into the minimum. 

And following that lead Langan, who also registered from a similar position in the opening period, tied up proceedings on the 50-minute mark with his second.  

Down the stretch, St Michael’s need being greater was what really set them apart as O’Reilly, the excellent McLaughlin and Roarty tagged on insurance overs. 

Nearing the end, matters again spilt over with McLaughlin and Shane McDevitt both black carded. It mattered little, though, with full-time being blown immediately after. 

St Michael’s scorers: Daniel McLaughlin 0-9, 3tp, 1f; Oisin Langan 0-5, 2 tp; Michael McGinley 0-2, 1tp; Max Roarty and Eddie O’Reilly 0-2 each.  

Naomh Conaill scorers: Dermot Moloy 0-5,4f; Shea Malone 1-1; Max Campbell 1-0; Kieran Gallagher 0-2; Tiernan Ward 0-1. 

St Michael’s: Oisin Cannon; Seamus Ferry, Liam Pól Ferry, Jamie Hunter; Oisin Langan, Stephen Doak, Michael Cannon; Ciaran Kelly, Patrick McGinley; Max Roarty, Daniel McLaughlin, Michael McGinley; Eddie O’Reilly, Patrick O’Neill, Eoghan Kelly. 

Subs: Calvin Murray for E Kelly (50)

Naomh Conaill: Jordan O’Donnell; Marcas Campbell, AJ Gallagher, Hughie Gallagher; Max Campbell, Oran Doherty, Shane McDevitt; Kieran Gallagher, Neil Francis Boyle; Daniel Gildea, Mark McDevitt, Tiernan Ward; Shea Malone, Dermot Molloy, Leo McLoone. 

Subs: Ultan Doherty and Logan Quinn for K Gallagher and McLoone (both 49). 

Referee: Martin McCormick (Glenfin)