Cloughaneely push Gaeil Fhánada into Division 2 relegation play-off bother

Cloughaneely and Gaeil Fhánada met in what turned out to be a tight encounter in the end at Páirc Naomh Fionán on Friday evening.

In the end, it was the hosts that edged matters by a single point and as a result must now play-off with Naomh Brid (who finished third in Division 3) to decide which will play in the higher league in 2026.

The home side started strong with Shaun Maguire scoring a point and Ciaran McGeady then followed with a goal in the 7th minute.

READ NEXT: All-County Leagues: Who got promoted and who got relegated? 

Cloughaneely dominated the game at the start, keeping Gaeil Fhánada scoreless for the first quarter until Bernard McGettigan and Oisín McFadden posted their first scores which were quickly answered by two points from Pádraig Coyle for the home side.

A high ball kicked in by Mark McAteer found its way into the Cloughaneely net and a further point from McAteer left only a point between the teams at the break with the home side leading following a point from Shaun Maguire.

Patrick Doohan, Shaun Curran and Conor Coyle started the second half strong for Cloughaneely picking up a point each which were quickly answered by points from Mark McAteer and Darren McElwaine.

The home side kicked on then with points from Cormac Coyle and Donnachadh Ó Baoighill while the half back duo of Liam McGrenaghan and Shaun Kerr matched this for Gaeil Fhánada.

Cloughaneely picked up another point from a Donnachadh Ó Baoighill free but it was Gaeil Fhánada then who came to life, Bernard McGettigan scoring a point before Liam McGrenaghan scored a crucial two pointer which left the sides level and another point from McGettigan and substitute, Conor Herrity left the men from Fanad two points ahead as they entered the final minutes of the game.

The Cloughaneely men fought hard and two points from Donnachadh Ó Baoighill and a fisted point from John Fitzgerald secured the win for the home side in the end.

Cloughaneely scorers: Donnachadh Ó Baoighill 0-4; Ciaran McGeady 1-0; Shaun Maguire 0-2; Pádraig Coyle 0-2; Patrick Doohan, Shaun Curran, Cormac Coyle, Conor Coyle and John Fitzgerald 0-1 each. 

Gaeil Fhánada scorers: Bernard McGettigan 0-4 1 2pt; Michael Sweeney 1-0; Mark McAteer 0-2 and Liam McGrenaghan 0-2 each; Oisín McFadden, Darren McElwaine, Shaun Kerr and Conor Herrity 0-1 each.

Cloughaneely: Michael McGinley, Remy Moran, Cian McFadden, Cormac Coyle, Seamus Doogan, Darren McGeever, Sean Geaney, Michéal McHugh, Conor Coyle, Shaun Curran, Donnachadh Ó Baoighill, Pádraig Coyle, Ciaran McGeady, Shaun Maguire, John Fitzgerald. 

Subs: Patrick Doohan for McHugh (HT), Shaun McGarvey for McGeady (41), Lee O'Brien for Maguire (56), McHugh for Geaney (61).

Gaeil Fhánada: Eoin McConigley, Odhran Shiels, Patrick Herrity, Ronan McAteer, Liam McGrenaghan, Shaun Kerr, James Coyle, Shaun Carr, Oisín Shiels, Darren McElwaine, Bernard McGettigan, Oisín McFadden, Séamus Carr, Michael Sweeney, Mark McAteer. 

Subs: Conor Herrity for Sweeney (29).

Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy).