Letterkenny Gaels up and running with a win over Naomh Colmcille

Letterkenny Gaels got their junior championship campaign off to a winning start with a closely contested victory over Naomh Colmcille in Pairc Naomh Colmcille on Sunday afternoon. 

Two points separated the sides at the finish, with the Gaels pushed all the way by the locals who were more than a match for their highly fancied opponents.

But some wayward shooting in the closing minutes of the game could have saw a different outcome.

Shay Doherty scored the Gaels’ goal and also capped a fine individual performance with four points. Rowan Smith, Diarmuid O’Cathal, Conor Walker, and Brian Diver were the other point scorers for the winners.

READ NEXT: Naomh Brid scrape through in good contest with Pettigo in Junior Championship

Matthew Doran top scored for Naomh Colmcille. Oran Downey, Eoin Flanagan, Michael Friel, Hugh O’Donnell, Shay McCole, Cian Kennedy, and Tiernan Browne were the other point scorers for the locals.  

In all, Naomh Colmcille had eight different scorers, a stat that would have satisfied manager Packie Gallagher. 

Naomh Colmcille scorers: Matthew Doran 0-3, Oran Downey 0-2, Eoin Flanagan, Michael Friel, Hugh O’Donnell, Shay McCole, Cian Kennedy,  Tiernan Browne 0-1 each. 

Letterkenny Gaels scorers: Shay Doherty 1-4, Rowan Smith 0-3,1f, Diarmuid O’Cathal, Conor Walker, Brian Diver 0-1 each. 

Naomh Colmcille: Matthew Whoriskey; Marty Devenney, Jason Fitzpatrick, Alex Devenney; Eoin Flanagan, Michael Friel, Joshua Kildea; Hugh O’Donnell, Shay McCole; Kevin Dolan, Cian Kennedy, Luke Coyle; Oran Downey, Matthew Dolan, Shane McCauley. 

Subs: Ciaran Logue for E Flanagan; Tiernan Browne for S McCauley. 

Letterkenny Gaels; Mark Margey; Conor Browne, Ray Quinn, Charlie Robinson; Liam McAlary, Brian Diver, Diarmuid O’Cathail; Darren Hunter, Paddy Doherty; Conor Walker, Jack Keys, Matthew Callaghan; Rowan Smith, Matthew Winters, Shay Doherty.

Referee: Clint Marron (Urris).