Naomh Conaill edge out Gaoth Dobhair in breathless Senior B final

Naomh Conaill overcame Gaoth Dobhair in an exciting Senior B Championship final at O’Donnell Park on Sunday.

James ‘Plumber’ Boyle’s side had to navigate extra time to dethrone holders Gaoth Dobhair, but Joseph Shankey Smith’s goal in the second half of extra time proved the big score of an eventful contest as Naomh Conaill take the silverware for the first time since 2022.

The game see-sawed in a breathless finale to normal time; Shane McDevitt goaling and Thomas McDevitt pointing either end of a trio of Gaoth Dobhair points that felt decisive.

Danny Brown, who ended with seven points, scored a brace in the first period of extra time and Tiarnan Ward’s free put Naomh Conaill three up, 2-16 to 1-16, as the teams huddled at the midway point of the additional instalment.

Gavin McBride batted in a Gaoth Dobhair goal in the 74th minute, but Shankey Smith fired home at the other end almost immediately after Shean Roarty was denied. 

Gaoth Dobhair went with all their might to salvage things, but Naomh Conaill held on.

After a cagey opening, Naomh Conaill got a dream opening score in the form of a seventh minute goal. Johnny McBride was pulled up for over carrying the ball across his own square and referee Anthony Finn awarded a penalty. Daniel Gildea stepped up to riffle low past Gaoth Dobhair ‘keeper Daniel Roarty.

Captain Sean O Baoill kick-started Gaoth Dobhair’s charge when nailing a superb two-pointer. 

Oran Doherty danced in for a fine Naomh Conaill point before McBride and Joseph Shankey Smith exchanged fisted scores. 

Another O’Baoill two-pointer, this one from a free, pushed Gaoth Dobhair - who overcame derby rivals Dungloe in the semi-final - ahead for the first time four minutes later.

While Brown reduced the Naomh Conaill arrears, the Davy Brennan Memorial Park residents were rocked when McFadden lashed to the net to open up a four-point lead.

Two minutes before half-time, 2012 All-Ireland winner Eamon McGee showed his experience to keep possession when, under stern pressure, he was able to prod off for Cronan McFadden. 

The wing-forward dropped the shoulder and scurried into position. McFadden unleashed a fierce effort that Jordan O’Donnell, the Naomh Conaill goalkeeper, was unable to stop.

Just before the break, Colm O Dochartaigh arched over a two-pointer to put Gaoth Dobhair five up (1-9 to 1-4) at the short whistle and the second half began just how the first ended, O Dochartaigh nailing a two-pointer.

Naomh Conaill were seven behind, but summonsed a strong response, spurred by a brace of two pointers by Tiarnan Ward in quick succession.

Danny Brown converted a free and added a point from play before Ward, from the left-hand side of the arc, bent over two near identical scores to bring Naomh Conaill to within a point, 1-11 to 1-10, with 20 minutes to play.

Daragh Gallagher was introduced and curled over to level the scores for the first time since the 16th minute and a close-range Brown free inched Naomh Conaill ever so slightly ahead.

An O Baoill free equalised for Gaoth Dobhair, who looked as if they might snatch the silverware when Fergal Delaney slotted over a 56th minute score.

Naomh Conaill were aggrieved - and some still voicing that displeasure - when Naomh Conaill struck gold again. A free out was awarded, harshly it seemed, against Brown, but Naomh Conaill swiftly won the turnover. Gallagher’s initial effort careered down off an upright, but McDevitt picked up the pieces to fire to the net.

Eamon McGee, Colm O Dochartaigh and Cian McBride posted three-in-a-row, but Thomas McDevitt forced extra time with the final kick of normal time and Naomh Conaill had just enough to get over the line.

Read next: Carndonagh banish ghosts to defeat St Mary’s, Convoy in Junior B final

Scorers for Naomh Conaill: Danny Brown 0-7 (2f); Tiarnan Ward 0-5 (1f, 2 tp); Joseph Shankey Smith 1-1; Daniel Gildea (pen), Shane McDevitt 1-0 each; Daragh Gallagher 0-2; Oran Doherty, Thomas McDevitt 0-1 each.

Scorers for Gaoth Dobhair: Sean O Baoill 0-6 (1 2 ptf, 1 2pt, 2f); Colm O Dochartaigh 0-5 (2 tp); Cronan McFadden, Gavin McBride 1-0 each; Johnny McBride, Cian McBride 0-2 each; Fergal Delaney, Eamon McGee, Oisin Diver 0-1 each.

Naomh Conaill: Jordan O’Donnell; Stephen Molloy, Kevin Gavigan, Peter McGlynn; Oran Doherty, Shean Roarty, Jack McGlynn; Mark Campbell, Jamie McHugh; Shane McDevitt, Daniel Gildea, Joseph Shankey Smith; Tiarnan Ward, Danny Brown, Daniel Breslin. Subs: Aaron Thompson for McGlynn (7), Daragh Gallagher for Shankey Smith (41), Thomas McDevitt for P.McGlynn (47), Robbie McDonnell for Breslin (54), Breslin for Roarty (half-time, extra-time), Shankey Smith for McHugh (72), McGlynn for S.McDevitt (78).

Gaoth Dobhair: Daniel Roarty; Johnny O’Donnell, Aaron McGee, Dallan O Baoill; Liam Breathnach, Fergal Delaney, Alan O Dochartaigh; Danny Curran, Frank Gallagher; Cronan McFadden, Sean O Baoill, Colm O Dochartaigh; Johnny McBride, Eamon McGee, Sean Gallagher. Subs: Sean Doherty for F.Gallagher (40), Cian McBride for Breathnach (46), Tiarnan Mitchell for A.McGee (46), Oisin Diver for A.O Dochartaigh (51), Gavin McBride for J.Bride (54), Daniel McLaughlin for S.Gallagher (64), Breathnach for O Baoill (half-time, extra-time), Aodhan McGarvey for Curran (72).

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille).