Gaoth Dobhair hold off Glenfin fight back to win in Magheragallon

Gaoth Dobhair held off a late Glenfin fight back to take the win in an exciting game in Magheragallon.

The home side had a good end to the first half and scores from Ethan Harkin, Adam Mac Íomhair and Eamonn Collum had them ahead at the break, but Gerard Ward's goal made it a two point game at 0-9 to 1-4.

Glenfin were down to 14 just before the break as Luke McGlynn was black carded, and Eamonn Collum hit the net within sixty seconds of the restart and a Harkin point had them six clear.

But in the final ten minutes, two pointers from Shaun Ward (free) and Luke McGlynn left the minimum in it with 57 on the clock.

But patient play from the hosts, holding the ball for near seven minutes with just two efforts at goal, the second sailing over from Harkin, allowed them to take the win. 

Despite missing county stars Dáire Ó Baoill and Odhran McFadden-Ferry, while Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde was on the bench, the hosts were still fancied to take the win

And Adam Mac Íomhair got the scoring going for the home sides, cutting in from the left on two minutes.

Glenfin did respond instantly however, as Andrew Walsh’s long kick out came to Aaron McGlynn who raced forward and pointed, and he added another on five minutes after evading the challenge of three Gaoth Dobhair men before fishing over. 

Ethan Harkin had a half-chance at goal as he sliced through the Glenfin defence, but a heavy solo under pressure foiled that change before Eamonn Collum kicked a free awarded for overcarrying. 

Mac Íomhair got his second point of the game and Collum added another after picking up a loose ball for a two point lead on the 15 minute mark. 

And despite a lull in the game for a few minutes, Odhran O’Connor helped get his side in the lead, first pointing from distance before taking on a shot that rattled off the post and fell to Gerard Ward who rifled home, Eamonn Mac Giolla Bhríde unable to keep it out on the line. 

Harkin responded with a free after good work from Stephen ‘Donna’ McFadden, and Harkin then added another from outside the arc on the right to retake the lead. 

That sparked a good end to the half for the hosts, who won possession back and as Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill was pulled back by Luke McGlynn, the county panellist received a black card.

From that, Glenfin were penalised for having two up and Harkin converted, before Collum curled over after again winning the kick out. 

But the last action of the half came for Frank McGlynn’s men, Daniel Marley firing over a free on the short whistle to make it 0-9 to 1-4. 

But quickly after the restart, Gaoth Dobhair hit the net with a great pass from Aodan Breathnach, finding Collum who turned his man and blasted into the net on sixty seconds. 

Harkin kicked another from play a minute later, but we had to wait ten minutes for another score as two came in quick succession through Shaun Ward frees from close range.

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Gaoth Dobhair substitute Michéal Roarty added a couple of scores in quick succession for a six point lead with ten to play, but that deficit could have been halved when Shaun Ward played through Odhran O’Connor after a long kick out and getting through on goal, he forced a great save out of Pádraig Mac Giolla Bhríde, with Ward’s rebound also saved. 

Glenfin were on the comeback hunt however, Luke McGlynn kicking over from just inside the arc, before an offensive breach allowed Shaun Ward to kick a two point free. 

Luke McGlynn nailed a two pointer from play a minute later to leave one in it with 57 minutes gone. 

But despite a wide from Eoin De Búrca, Adam Mac Íomhair won two huge kick outs and Gaoth Dobhair held possession for long spells, Ethan Harkin kicking over in the 64th minute to seal the win. 

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Ethan Harkin 0-6,1tp,2f; Eamonn Collum 1-3,1f; Adam Mac Íomhair and Michéal Roarty 0-2 each

Glenfin scorers: Gerard Ward 1-0; Shaun Ward 0-4,2f,1tpf; Luke McGlynn 0-3,1tp; Aaron McGlynn 0-2; Odhran O’Connor 0-1; Daniel Marley 0-1f.

Gaoth Dobhair: Pádraig Mac Giolla Bhríde; Neasan Mac Giolla Bhríde, Gary Mac Phaidin, Eamonn Mac Giolla Bhríde; Aodan Breathnach, Fiachra Mac Giolla Chomhaill, Ethan Harkin; Adam Mac Íomhair, Peter Mac Aoidh; Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill, Stephen ‘Donnam Mac Phaidin, Seaghan Ó Fearraigh; Eoin De Burca, Odhran Mac Niallais, Eamonn Collum. 

Subs: Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde for S McFadden (32), Michéal Roarty for Mac Aoidh (42), Jordi Gribben for Breathnach (50), Cathal Gillespie for Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill (54). 

Glenfin: Andrew Walsh; Martin O’Donnell, John Harkin, Ross Ó Mearlaigh; Jack Lomg, Daniel McGlynn, Odhran McGlynn; Stephen Ward, Jason Morrow; Aaron McGlynn, Daniel Marley, Shaun Ward; Odhran O’Connor, Gerard Ward, Luke McGlynn. 

Subs: Karl McGlynn for Odhran McGlynn (37), Ciaran Brady and Frank McGlynn for G Ward and D McGlynn (56).

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan).