High drama in Letterkenny as Naomh Conaill strike late to deny Termon

Naomh Conaill are into the semi-finals of the Donegal SFC as Termon were left to ponder what might have been after the most dramatic of ‘smash and grabs’ in Letterkenny. 

With the Glenties men on the ropes deep into injury time, teenager Max Campbell was the one banging in a goal to draw the sides level. 

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And in added time at the end of added time, Finnbarr Roarty somehow found the energy to get forward and kick a dramatic winner. 

The fact that it was the first time Naomh Conaill led throughout highlights just how much last term’s Intermediate champions got right at the weekend. 

But really, it was Naomh Conaill’s reaction at the tail end of both halves that made all the difference in this one. 

Termon seemed to be on their way in at the break with a nine-point lead but that was eventually trimmed to five. 

And, down the actual stretch, Naomh Conaill’s absolute refusal to fold again saw them find a way. 

The opening exchanges were sloppy at either end but once Termon found gear, they really kicked on. 

Daire MacDaid and Cormac Gallagher landed back-to-back points nearing the end of that lethargic first quarter but it was Jack Alcorn’s goal that really lit the touch paper inside O’Donnell Park. 

McDaid instantly followed that green flag up with a two-point free to open up a gap of seven. 

Roarty went inside for a spell and won a direct ball and free, allowing Charlie McGuinness to finally get Naomh Conaill off the mark on 18 minutes. 

Still, Termon continued to set the pace as wingback Patrick Fegan pulled on a loose ball to leave it 1-5 to 0-1. 

Oisin Harkin - who had threaded a brilliant ball through for the Termon goal - again played with his head up as Aaron Reid was sourced in space inside. 

And while he did get his shot away, it was easy enough for Stephen McGrath to deal with. 

Three minutes out from the end of the first-half, McGuinness was thwarted by Emmett Maguire as Naomh Conaill looked to make some headway before the break. 

As the mercury continued to rise, Glenties boss Martin Regan’s remonstrating with the match referee resulted in a 21m free and McDaid moved the leaders out to 1-6. 

Things seemed to get even better for Termon in time added on as Cormac Gallagher made serious yards through the middle and his offload was clipped over by Alcorn. 

However, Naomh Conaill dug deep and going right to the wire, pulled back four points inside a frantic last 60 seconds of three minutes of injury time. 

First, McGuinness slammed home a John O’Malley clip into the area, while moments later, Kevin McGettigan drove forward to land between the posts. 

And, with that, left Naomh Conaill looking to bridge a five-point deficit instead of nine, at the changeover.

Brendan McDyer grabbed the first score on the resumption from a close-range free but Termon substitute Ciaran Cassidy soon stroked that headway out. 

A poor dispatch from Maguire on 37 minutes then let in Odhran Doherty but Maguire redeemed himself with a really good save. 

O’Malley left it 1-8 to 1-4 but nearing the end of the third quarter, Termon grabbed a second goal - gift-wrapped on this occasion as they once again moved seven clear. 

Alcorn’s speculative delivery into the area somehow evaded the grasp of McGrath and with Fegan on hand, Termon were right back in the driving seat. 

Naomh Conaill again began to pluck that cushion as McDyer and O’Malley landed frees while a huge two-pointer from Anthony Thompson left it 2-8 to 1-8, and it suddenly felt like game on.

Termon, to their credit, tagged on three on the trot as McDaid, Alcorn and Fegan registered. 

Shay Malone nailed a two-pointer before quickly following that up with another over to again leave just a goal in it, a minute out from the end of normal time. 

But Termon appeared as though they were going to hang on before Campbell landed that huge leveller. And right at the death Roarty snatched the winner. 

Naomh Conaill scorers: Charlie McGuinness 1-1; Max Campbell 1-0; Shea Malone 0-3, 1tp; John O’Malley 0-2,1f; Brendan McDyer 0-2,2f; Anthony Thompson 0-2, 1tp; Kevin McGettigan, Finnbarr Roarty 0-1 each.  

Termon scorers: Jack Alcorn and Patrick Fagan 1-2 each; Daire MacDaid 0-5, 1tpf, 1f; Ciaran Cassidy and Cormac Gallagher 0-1 each. 

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, AJ Gallagher, Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí; Kevin McGettigan, Anthony Thompson, Finnbarr Roarty; Kieran Gallagher, Ethan O’Donnell; Brendan McDyer, John O’Malley, Odhrán Doherty; Shea Malone, Charles McGuinness, Max Campbell.

Subs: Leo McLoone for C McGuinness (45); Dermot Molloy for McDyer (54); Charlie McGuinness for J O’Malley and Mark McDevitt for Mac Ceallbhuí (both 57); Neil Francis Boyle for Malone (60+2)

Termon: Emmett Maguire; Cormac Brady, Cormac Gallagher, Oisín Cassidy, Patrick Fegan, Conor Cassidy, Ricky Gallagher, Oisín Harkin, Kevin McGettigan, John James Sweeney, Aaron Reid, Steve McDaid, Dáire McDaid, Jack Alcorn, Ryan McFadden.

Subs: Ciaran Cassidy for S McDaid (ht); Bobby McGettigan for JJ Sweeney (45); Barry McGeehin for P Fagan (60+1)

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada)