Stephen McMenamin lands crucial goal as Red Hughs progress past Bundoran in IFC

Red Hughs are through to the semi-finals of the Donegal IFC after this narrow but deserved win over wasteful Bundoran in atrocious conditions.

Driving wind, rain and a slippery pitch made for a poor backdrop but both sides served up a cracking encounter given the circumstances.

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A superbly finished goal from Stephen McMenamin was the key score in this ferociously contested encounter.

McMenamin slammed the ball to the roof of the Bundoran net in the 38th minute to put Red Hughs into a 2-7 to 1-5, playing into the wind.

Veteran Shane McGowan and Jamie Brennan sparked a late Realt na Mara rally but it was not enough to derail the Finn Valley men.

And although the impressive Brennan landed a fine two-pointer to reduce the margin to 2-7 to 1-8, Bundoran were punished for a breach of the ‘three up’ rule and Jack Gillespie tapped over the resulting free with Bundoran’s Ryan Barrett getting the final point.

Wind-assisted Red Hughs had a dream start and raced into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead by the 4th minute. Liam Carlin arced over a soaring point with the wind after two minutes.

But it got even better for Red Hughs when Cahair Browne finished a flowing six-man move to the net and Gillespie converted a 45’ for Red Hughs.

But Bundoran were gradually settling and the excellent Shane McGowan pointed before Cian McEniff palmed the ball to an empty Red Hughs net.

McGowan levelled matters with a fine point and another experienced campaigner Peter McGonigle made it 1-3 to 1-2 by the 22nd minute.

But Gillespie landed a fine two-pointer as Cian McEniff and Johnny Carlin, a two-pointer, traded scores before a Ryan Barrett point left the minimum margin between the sides at the break.

Gillespie made it 1-7 to 1-5 as heavy hits thudded in with no quarter given or asked in a full-blooded second half.

But it was Red Hughs who seized the initiative when a long ball was lobbed into the edge of the Bundoran square where McMenamin found himself in an unusual slot.

However, the county defender fielded well, rounded his marker and rammed the ball to the roof of the Bundoran net. This was a huge score and gave Red Hughs a big platform.

And even they only scored one more point, it was enough to advance. But a spirited late rally from a wasteful Bundoran side just came up short.

Red Hugh’s scorers: Jack Gillespie 0-5,1tp; Stephen McMenamin 1-0; Cahair Browne 1-0; Johnny Carlin 0-2, 2tp; Liam Carlin 0-1.

Bundoran scorers: Cian McEniff 1-1; Jamie Brennan 0-3, 2 tp; Shane McGowan 0-2; Ryan Barrett 0-2; Peter McGonigle 0-1.

Red Hugh’s: Luke Kelly; James Gallagher, Ryan Kelly, James Callaghan; Shane Gallagher, Stephen McMenamin, Aaron McGlinchey; Jack Gillespie, Darragh McMenamin; James Doherty, Johnny Carlin, Peadar McGlinchey; Liam Carlin, Calvin Bradley, Cahair Browne. 

Subs: Stephen McBride for Darragh McMenamin (39), Pauric McMenamin for James Doherty (46), Gerard Melaugh for Peadar McGlinchey (55)

Bundoran: Conor Carty; Matthew Tierney, Johnny Boyle, Matthew Ward; Michael McEniff, Ryan Barrett, Ryan McGloin; Gary Clancy, Jamie Brennan; Shane McGowan, Peter McGonigle, Darragh Hoey; Anton Govorov, Cian McEniff, Kyle McNulty. 

Subs: Adam McGloin for Anton Govorov (39), Dara Conwell for Peter McGonigle (49).

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille).