Carndonagh back in JFC decider after being pushed all the way by St Mary's, Convoy

Carndonagh are back in another JFC final following a hard-fought win over St Mary’s, Convoy, in a cracking semi-final clash at Hibernian Park.

Cian Doherty kicked six points and Conor O’Donnell scored the goal for Carndonagh while James Monagle, Ryan Kelly, Will Quinn, Anthony Doherty, Cian Burke and Michael Nelson all grabbed points for the winners.

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Oran Patterson, one of his side's standout players, scored the goal with Anthony Browne, Corrie Lee Bogan, Niall Sweeney and Conor Donnellan all raising flags for St Mary’s.  

Carndonagh played with the stiff breeze in their backs and got off to a flying start with James Monagle splitting the St Mary’s defence in the opening minute to drill over the opening point that would go down as a goal chance. 

That was the first of two early green flag opportunities the winners had in the opening three minutes.

The other fell to Ryan Kelly at the end of a good move and a brilliant O’Donnell ball over the top only for the big midfielder to drive over Emmet Doherty’s crossbar. 

Bogan and Doherty from a ‘45 scored twice and levelled the tie in those early minutes.

But two points from a livewire corner forward Doherty, either side of a Will Quinn point, saw Carndonagh race into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead by the end of the first quarter. 

And the men from north Inishowen were 0-10 to 0-4 in front at half-time following further points from top scorer Doherty, including a brilliant two-point score and a fine Anthony Doherty over. 

Browne, from a free and Conor Donnellan from play, kept St Mary’s in touch and the men from Convoy would have been happy enough as they headed for the dressing room at half-time. 

Browne, from a close in free, got St Mary’s off the mark at the start of the second half to make it a five-point game. 

But St Mary’s were reeling shortly after when Conor O’Donnell got on the end of a sweeping move to rattled the back of St Mary’s net for a 1-10 to 0-5 lead. 

That was nine minutes into the new half and came after Ryan Davenport took the ball off his own endline before finding Ryan Kelly who charged up the field before laying off to Doherty. 

Doherty quickly popped into All-Star nominee O’Donnell who took the ball on the run to finish off a brilliant team move. 

All of a sudden, Carndonagh were eight points to the good and they went to nine up shortly after when Cian Burke, on the run, split the posts.

Bogan, who had his moments, and Browne from a free, pulled back two points for St Mary’s. 

Doherty and Quinn responded to restore Carndonagh’s nine-point advantage with ten minutes of normal time remaining.  

But a Patterson goal one minute later, after a quick switch of possession with Bogan, trimmed the lead back to six once again. 

Spurred on by the goal, Niall Sweeney with a two-point score from play, and Browne with a two-point free, reduced the Carndonagh lead to two points, 1-13 to 1-11 with three minutes on the clock.

With their backs to the wall, substitute Michael Nelson restored Carndonagh’s lead out to three once more on the stroke of the hour mark. 

Browne had two late chances from long-range frees for St Mary’s, but they were to no avail as Carndonagh hung on to win.

Carndonagh scorers: Cian Doherty 0-6,1tp, 1f; Conor O’Donnell 1-0; Anthony Doherty, Will Quinn 0-2 each; James Monagle, Ryan Kelly, Cian Burke, Michael Nelson 0-1 each.

St Mary’s, Convoy scorers: Anthony Browne 0-6,1tp, 1f; Oran Patterson 1-0; Corrie Lee Brogan 0-2, Niall Sweeney 0-2 each, Conor Donnellan 0-1, 

Carndonagh: Daniel McDaid; Danny Diver, Danny Monagle, Eoghan Kelly; Will Quinn, James Monagle, Darren Browne;  Ryan Kelly, Sean O’Carroll; Cian Burke, Anthony Doherty, Conor O’Donnell; Cian Doherty, Brendan McLaughlin, Feargal Doherty.

Subs: Donal Doherty for S O’Carroll, Michael Noone for B McLaughlin (both 52); Padraig Doherty for A Doherty (59). 

St Mary’s, Convoy: Emmet Doherty; Liam Prunty, Bryan McNamee, Sean Doherty; Niall Sweeney, Conal McDermott, Conor McDaid; Pauric Gordon, Cormac Mulrain; Anthony Browne, Laurence McMullan, Conor Donnellan; Oran Patterson, Corrie Lee Bogan, Conor Bonner.

Subs: Eamon Coyle for L McDaid (42), Conor Godon for C Bonner (45, inj).

Referee: Cathal Gallagher (Glenswilly).