Shane Tinney hits ten points as Glenswilly minors strike late to beat Gaoth Dobhair

Shane Tinney hit ten points as Glenswilly came from behind to win at the death against Gaoth Dobhair in the Under-18 All-County Division 1 Cup semi-final at the Donegal GAA Centre.

The Glenswilly marksman got them in an early lead, but from the tenth minute on, they wouldn’t lead again until added time.

Gaoth Dobhair’s threats came from all over the pitch with eight different scorers, and they led by four coming towards half time, but a late charge from the Páirc Naomh Columba men left it 0-7 apiece at the break.

It was point for point after this until the Magheragallon side went three clear with less than ten to play, but they didn’t score again after that.

And two frees from Tinney, either side of a stunning two pointer in added time that put them one up, means they will face defending champions Four Masters in the final next Bank Holiday Monday.

Tinney hit an early free for Glenswilly, but once Gaoth Dobhair got their first through Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde on ten minutes, they rattled off three more quick scores. 

Joey Ó Colla was first to split the posts out on the left before Tadhg Ó Baoill cut in from the right, and Alan Ó Dochartaigh hit the final score of the quick flurry. 

Jonah Cannon played a neat 1-2 with Paul Mullen to get a first Glenswilly score from play, but Colm Ó Dochartaigh responded with a good score at the other end. 

Tinney kicked another free, but Ó Baoill and a wind assisted effort from John Paul Ó Gallchóir, which hit the inside of the post, put the Magheragallon men four up. 

But Glenswilly had a purple patch coming to half time, Pauric Devine’s strong run and point was quickly followed by a Tinney effort from near 50 metres that was touched over for one point. 

Patrick Ward had a shot at goal blocked down by Cathal ‘Rua’ Ó Gallchóir, but Tinney converted the ‘45, and as Cillian Bonner pointed in the second minute of added time, the sides were level at 0-7 apiece at the interval. 

John Paul Ó Gallchóir pointed from a free after the restart, and Colm Ó Dochartaigh almost struck for a goal as he punched on a Jordi Ó Gribín pass goalwards, but it hit the crossbar. 

Tinney converted a free, but Ó Baoill responded with an effort from close range, while he was almost in for a goal but couldn’t hold the pass from Ó Gallchóir. 

Another Tinney free levelled the game, but Cathal Mac Aoidh’s point had the men from the West ahead once again. 

Matthew Enright levelled things, but Ó Gribín, Ó Colla and Colm Ó Dochartaigh hit three points from good moves as Gaoth Dobhair looked to be in the ascendancy. 

But that would be their last score of the game on the 53rd minute, with Patrick Ward and a Tinney free making it a one point game with two to play.

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Gaoth Dobhair had two frees go wide in added time, and it was Tinney who stepped up with a superb point from outside the arc on the left to put his side one up. 

Tinney added another free, his tenth score of the game, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, and while he kicked one wide shortly after, the full time whistle soon went to set up a final with Four Masters. 

Glenswilly scorers: Shane Tinney 0-10,6f,1tp,1’45; Jonah Cannon, Pauric Devine, Cillian Bonner and Patrick Ward 0-1 each; Matthew Enright 0-1f.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Tadhg Ó Baoill 0-3; John Paul Ó Gallchóir 0-2,1f; Joey Ó Colla and Colm Ó Dochartaigh 0-2 each; Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde 0-1f; Alan Ó Dochartaigh, Cathal Mac Aoidh and Jordi Ó Gribín 0-1 each.

Glenswilly: Conor McGrenra; Darragh Cullen, Jamie McFadden, Noah Casburn; Paul Mullen, Liam McGinley, Matthew McGinley; Pauric Devine, Patrick Ward; Mark Collum, Jonah Cannon, Jack Duddy; Matthew Enright, Shane Tinney, Cillian Bonner.

Subs: Zach Gallagher for Mullen (42), Caolan Scott for Duddy (57)

Gaoth Dobhair: Frank Mac Grianna; Dallan Ó Baoill, Cathal Ó Gallchóir, Fionn Ó Cnaimhsí; Jamie Ó Gallchóir, Cathal Mac Aoidh, Alan Ó Dochartaigh; Jordi Ó Gribín, Padraig Pearse Ó Domhnaill; John Paul Ó Gallchóir, Joey Ó Colla, Colm Ó Dochartaigh; Tadhg Ó Baoill, Michael Mac Aoidh, Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde. 

Subs: Aaron Ó Colla for Ó Domhnaill (36)

Referee: Sean McDaid (Urris)