Gaoth Dobhair see off MacCumhaills to march into last eight as SFC group toppers 

Gaoth Dobhair made sure they maintained their one hundred percent SFC group stages record as they squeezed out MacCumhaills by two points in Convoy. 

READ NEXT: Hugh McFadden powers Killybegs through to SFC preliminary round quarter-finals 

Gaoth Dobhair had trailed by three at the turnover but kicking with the aid of the stiff breeze at the Donegal GAA Training Centre in the second-half, the visitors’ clinical approach made all the difference. 

Gaoth Dobhair nailed four quickfire points on the restart as they went in front for the first time on 34 minutes. 

And nearing the end of the third quarter, they found themselves 0-11 to 0-6 clear. MacCumhaills would keep themselves in contention with two goals from corner back Ruairi Callaghan. 

Fintan Griffin pushed the Twin Towns back in front one last time going into the final ten minutes. 

But down the stretch, Gaoth Dobhair did enough as an Ethan Harkin two-point free and a breakaway Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhride point brought the curtain down on proceedings. 

Ronan Mac Niallais’ side came into the fourth and final round of group stage clashes with three wins from three, while the only real blot on MacCumhaills’ copybook was a drawn encounter with Glenswilly - a game in which they led at one stage by 13 points.

Playing with the aid of the breeze early on, MacCumahills exited with a 0-6 to 0-3 advantage at the midpoint but having kicked six wides in that same spell. 

Sean Martin and Mac Giolla Bhride swapped early points before Oisin Gallen made his presence felt for the first time on five minutes to again edge Gary Wilson’s side ahead. 

MacCumhaills seemed to pick up the pace nearing the ned of the opening quarter as Kevin McCormick and Gallen both lofted over to open up a three-point gap. 

Brilliant link-up play by Jamie Keegan and Gallen then prised open the visitors’ defence but Keegan’s effort dropped short. 

Still, it broke in-and-around the feet of the lurking Callaghan and his swiped effort took a nick off a MacCumhaills body and went just the wrong side of the post. 

Gallen was off cue from the resulting ‘45 but with Conor McGinty clipping a free, 0-5 led 0-1 seven minutes out from the break. 

Daire Ó Baoill then looked to grab the game by the scruff of the neck as he brilliantly jinked through to split the posts. Gallen replied down the other side from a free from the hands. 

Just before the short whistle, Ó Baoill again put the burners on to clear the crossbar. And while a hesitant pair of umpires eventually waved the shot wide, Mark Dorrian rightly awarded the over as Gaoth Dobhair cut the deficit to three at the changeover.  

Eoin De Burca, Michaél Roarty and another De Burca effort, this time a two-pointer, seen the momentum change hands inside four productive minutes for Gaoth Dobhair. 

A poor Eoin Gallen dispatch then let in Harkin as Gaoth Dovhair’s newfound lead jumped to two. 

Harkin, from a ‘45 , and an Ó Baoill two-pointer meant that the upper hand now swelled to five. 

Disjointed MacCumhaills looked to go long through Martin and that engineered the desired outcome as Callaghan flicked to the net. 

Roarty responded but Callaghan was again the man reacting first when Luke Gavigan drilled in a low delivery and, suddenly, matters were tied up once more. 

Another route one ball into the area caused bother for Gaoth Dobhair and with Griffin picking up the pieces, MacCumhaills were now back in front. 

But Harkin landed that two-point free to once again propel Gaoth Dobhair to the fore and with Mac Giolla Bhride following that up, Gaoth Dobhair march through to the last eight while MacCumhaills must settle for seventh spot and a preliminary round quarter-final tussle with Downings next weekend. 

MacCumhaills scorers: Ruairi Callaghan 2-0; Oisin Gallen 0-3, 1f; Conor McGinty 0-1, 1f; Sean Martin, Fintan Griffin and Kevjn McCormick 0-1 each. 

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Ethan Harkin 0-4, 1tpf, 1’45; Daire Ó Baoill 0-4,1tp; Eoin De Burca 0-3,1tp; Donal Mac Giolla Bhride 0-2 and Michaél Roarty 0-2 each. 

MacCumhaills: Eoin Gallen; Ruairi Callaghan, Conor Griffin, Fionn McGinty; Cian Mulligan, Sean Martin, Fintan Griffin; Luke Gavigan, Joe Boyle; Chad McSorley, Jamie Keegan, Conor McGinty; Kevin McCormick, Oisin Gallen, Marty O’Reilly. 

Subs: Sean Breen for McSorley (46), Aaron Kelly for O Gallen (59, inj).

Gaoth Dobhair: Padraig McBride; Neasan McBride, Gary McFadden, Eamon McBride; Aodán Breathnach, Donal Mac Giolla Bhride, Ethan Harkin; Fiachra Coyle, Peter McGee; Fionnan Coyle, Daire Ó Baoill, Michaél Roarty; Eoin De Búrca, Odhran Mac Niallais, Eamon Colm.

Subs: Stephen McFadden for F Coyle (40), Cathal Gillespie for E Colm (48), Jordi Gribben for E McBride (54), Cathal Gallagher for De Burca (59). 

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada).