Cathal O'Brien on song as St Eunan's brush aside MacCumhaills in Donegal SHC

MacCumhaills produced a spirited display but ultimately came up short in an entertaining affair against a sharp-shooting St Eunan’s side.

St Eunan’s started strongly with Cathal O’Brien hitting three early points, two 65s and from a free in the first eleven minutes.

The visitors dominated possession and scoring chances throughout the first half with Kieran Larkin, Brian MacIntyre and Russell Forde all shooting points from play. Despite being under pressure, the hosts showed resilience.

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Rory Doherty got them on the board in the seventh minute and Fintan Griffin and Jacob Malone added to that tally, and Dean Hannigan found the net for the hosts in the 17th minute.

But St Eunan’s responded well with a goal from John Kealy and further points from O’Brien, Kealy and Hilferty gave them a commanding 1-13 to 1-4 lead at the break.

The home side came out with renewed energy after the interval with Malone and Hannigan landing points.

Gavin Browne got their second goal in the 40th minute to narrow the gap to 1-13 to 2-6.Lee Henderson chipped in with two points (one from a 65 and one from a free) while sub Pauric Kelly added another score. But Eunan’s attacking depth proved decisive.

O’Brien continued to impress, finishing with an impressive tally of (0-9), while Brian MacIntyre, Peter Kelly and Matt Ahern all kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Despite two great saves from MacCumhaills keeper Fintan Mac An Ultaigh, the visitors maintained control, and ran out twelve-point winners in the end.

The O'Donnell Park outfit remain joint top of the SHC league standings with Setanta with both sides taking seven points from their four outings to date while MacCumhaills remain in fourth spot on four points. 

MacCumhaills scorers: Dean Hannigan 1-1; Gavin Browne 1-0; Jacob Malone 0-3; Lee Henderson (0-3, 2f); Rory Doherty 0-1; Fintan Griffin 0-1; Pauric Kelly 0-1.

St Eunan’s scorers: Cathal O’Brien 0-9 (2 ‘65s); John Kealy 1-1; Russell Forde 0-3; Brian MacIntyre 0-3; Peter Kelly 0-2; Ryan Hilferty 0-2; Matt Ahern 0-2; Kieran Larkin 0-1; Sean Halvey 0-1; Conor O’Grady 0-1.

MacCumhaills: Fintan Mac An Ultaigh; C Gallagher, Aaron Toner, Davitt Bradley Flynn; Peter Byrne, John Chambers, Sean Brady Devenney; Jacob Malone, Gavin Browne; C Murphy, Fintan Griffin, Darren McGowan; Lee Henderson, Dean Hannigan, Rory Doherty.

Subs used: Eoghan Wright, Aaron McCauley, Pauric Kelly.

St Eunan’s: Cian Hennessy, Sean Halvey, David Horgan, Brendan Horgan; Brian MacIntyre, Cathal O’Brien, Brendan Larkin; Conor McVeigh, Fergal Delaney; Ryan Hilferty, Conor O’Grady, Cian Randles; Russell Forde, Cormac Finn, John Kealy.

Subs used: Peter Kelly, Oisin Randles, Matt Ahern.