Win over Moville sees Letterkenny Gaels qualify for the Junior quarter-finals

Letterkenny Gaels advanced to the quarter-finals of the Junior A Football championship with this six point win away to Moville on Saturday evening.

A first half goal from Ronan Frain set the tone for the Letterkenny team who got into an early lead and were able to keep Moville at arm’s length throughout.

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The Gaels, relegated from the Intermediate grade last term, had in Ronan Frain the standout player on display and his pace caused Moville problems.

Leading by 1-7 to 0-7 at half time, Letterkenny Gaels steadily built on their lead throughout the second half.

Moville battled hard and were never blown away by the visitors, and Brennan Moore’s two 2-pointers gave them impetus, but they just couldn’t quite bridge the gap.

Both sides had goals disallowed in the second period, but the Gaels, for whom Frain and Conor McBrearty were joint top-scorers, were never in any danger of losing.

The Gaels have one group match remaining. They play Naomh Ultan next weekend and the result will decide second and third place in the group and whether they play Convoy or Robert Emmet’s in the quarter-finals.

Saturday night brought an end to Moville’s season.

Beaten Junior A finalists in 2023, Moville have been a shadow of themselves this year but showed some signs of improvement as the summer wore on, and with some good under-age teams down the age grades there’s no call for despair at the Carrick Field.

Moville scorers: Brennan Moore 0-6 (two 2pt, 4f); Séimí McLaughlin 0-2 (1f); Danny Murphy 0-1; Joshua Lafferty 0-; Enda Faulkner 0-1; Evan Hudner 0-1; Eoin O’Doherty 0-1

Letterkenny Gaels scorers: Conor McBrearty (0-7); Ronan Frain (1-4) C Walker 0-2; B Gallagher 0-2; B Diver 0-1.

Moville: Dylan Doherty; Brendan McClenaghan, Enda Faulkner, Lorcan Gillen; Eoghan McLaughlin, Declan Diver, Michael Leech; Caillou O’Kane, Daithi Peto; Joshua Lafferty, Christy Hegarty, Séimí McLaughlin; Danny Murphy, Brennan Moore, Evan Hudner. Subs: Eoin O’Doherty for M Leech (23 mins); Malachy McDermott for E McLaughlin (half time); Josh McDermott for L Gillen (45 mins); Shay McLaughlin for E Hudner (45 mins).  

Letterkenny Gaels: Mark Margey; Charlie Robinson, Ray Quinn, Niall Diver; Conor Brown, Brian Diver, Liam McAlary; Darren Hunter, Paddy Doherty; Conor Walker, Jack Keys, Rowan Smith; Conor McBrearty, Matthew Winters; Ronan Frain. Subs: Ben Gallagher for Paddy Doherty (12 mins); Conor Cullen for Ray Quinn (half time); Adam Duffy for Rowan Smith (51 mins).