Dungloe too strong for Letterkenny Gaels in Minor Division 2 final

Dungloe’s much more potent attack was crucial in this fairly emphatic win over Letterkenny Gaels at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy.

The winners had an advantage in physique in central slots and had two elegant clinical finishers in team captain Cianan McDaid and the jinking Danny McCready.

And between them, this deadly duo accounted for 0-10 of their team’s total score.

For a game yet outgunned Gaels, midfielders Callum McGilloway and Cathal Doherty battled hard but lacked consistent support.

Paddy Bonner got the Gaeltacht boys off to a bright start with a pointed free in a scrappy opening ten minutes.

Both teams were showing signs of nerves before wind-assisted Gaels levelled matters through McGilloway in the 11th minute.

But, McDaid responded almost immediately through a fine effort into the wind and he then combined cleverly with McCready to make it 0-3 to 0-1 after 13 minutes.

Scores were scarce but Gaels corner forward Sam O’Donnell found himself in loads of space and a half chance of a goal, but he fired over to reduce the margin to 0-3 to 0-2 in a very low scoring first half.

Dungloe did manage to unlock the Gaels defence in the run-up to the break, but Paddy Bonner’s low shot flew across the goals and wide.

The Gaels had a brisk opening to the second half with two pointed frees from McGilloway easing them into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead.

But this galvanised Dungloe as Chrisopher O’Donnell hit a wind-assisted two pointer to put his side back in front.

The momentum was with Dungloe as McDaid and McCready pushed them to a 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 38th minute.

Paddy Bonner and Odhran Bonner made it 0-10 to 0-5 with McGilloway responding for the Gaels.

But, it was all Dungloe with Bonner and McDaid landing two pointers, and sub Kyle Bonner and McCready also on the scoresheet.

McGilloway did find the net from a free, but it didn't make a difference on a night when Dungloe’ greater physique and scoring power proved crucial.

Dungloe scorers: Danny McCready 1-5,1tp; Cianan McDaid 0-5,1tp; Christopher O’Donnell 0-2tp; Paddy Bonner 0-3,1f. Kieran Doherty 0-1.

Letterkenny Gaels scorers: Callum McGilloway 1-4,2f; Cathal Doherty 0-1; Sam O’Donnell 0-1.

Dungloe: Ronan O’Donnell; Ryan Grannell, Joe Neely, Joe McElroy; Michael Houston, Odhran Bonner, Logan O’Donnell; Christopher O’Donnell, Kieran Doherty; Liam Ferry, Paddy Bonner, Dylan O’Donnell; Cianan McDaid, Danny McCready, Seamus Boyce.

Subs: Kyle Bonner for Dylan O’Donnell (h-time),

Letterkenny Gaels: Cormac Crossan; Luke Patterson, Ronan Cullen, Jarlath Lafferty; Marc Nichols, Ryan Buckley, Dylan Singaroyan; Cathal Doherty, Callum McGilloway; Paul Speer, Jack Murphy, Lochlainn Lafferty; Darragh Doherty, Jack Lannon, Sam O’Donnell.

Subs: Luan Lynch for Lochlainn Lafferty (37).

Referee: Val Murray (Aodh Ruadh).