Daithi Gildea on form as Glenswilly U-21s progress past Gaoth Dobhair

Mark Bonner, Donal Gallagher, Padraig Devine, Jamie McCauley, Eoghan Scott, Daithi Gildea and Shane Tinney hit the high notes as the locals came from two points behind at half-time to run out comfortable winners.

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Full-forward Gildea scored a goal and three points, Tinney kicked six points and Bonner hit four in what was an all-round good team performance on a perfect day for football.

Padraig McBride and Adam McGeever scored the goals for Gaoth Dobhair – both in the first half – while Johnny McBride, one of Gaoth Dobhair’s better forwards, kicked five points for the men in green and white.

On a day there wasn’t even the hint of a breeze in Pairc Naomh Columba, Gaoth Dobhair, who started without their top scorer in the group stages, had the better of the opening 20 minutes.

And they led 2-2 to 0-3 after Adam McGeever rattled the back of the Glenswilly net after a clever lay-back from John Paul Gallagher.

That was 19 minutes into the game and ten minutes after gamekeeper turned poacher, Padraig McBride pounced on a breaking ball in the Glenswilly goalmouth for his side’s opening score. McBride is the Gaoth Dobhair senior goalkeeper.

Mark Bonner (2) – one of ten senior players in the Glenswilly lineup – Shane Tinney and Shane Tinney (1) were the Glenswilly point scorers.

Glenswilly, once they crowded midfield to break the early dominance of Johnny McBride and Adam McGeever in the middle of the park, enjoyed a good closing ten minutes to the opening half.

Shane Tinney, Daithi Gildea and Mark Bonner rattled off four points to a Johnny McBride score and were just two points adrift at the halfway mark. Gaoth Dobhair led 2-3 to 0-7 at the changeover.

The locals began the second half in style and thanks to a Gildea point from play and two Tinney frees in quick succession saw the locals hit the front as early as four minutes into the new half. One of Tinney’s frees was a brilliant score from the 20-metre mark but way out on the right-hand side.

Johnny McBride levelled the game with Gaoth Dobhair’s first point of the second period in the early seconds of the final quarter.

But Glenswilly, who were dominating around the middle of the field both in the air and on breaking balls, kicked on again.

And with minor ace Tinney stepping up to land two more frees to restore Glenswilly’s two-point advantage once more.

Johnny McBride made it a one-point game again, substitute Paddy Ward fisted a point with his first touch after being introduced for a 0-13 to 2-5 lead with just over ten minutes remaining.

And it was game, set and match shortly after when Gildea rattled the Gaoth Dobhair net for a five-point advantage. 

And while McBride, who carried the fight to the end, hit two points for a three-point game, man-of-the-match Mark Bonner brought down the curtain on the scoring for a 1-17 to 2-7 thoroughly deserved win and a fourth U21 A semi-final in a row for Glenswilly.

Glenswilly scorers: Daithi Gildea 1-3, Mark Bonner 0-4, Shane Tinney 0-6, 4f, Eoghan Scott 0-2, 1 ‘45, Jamie McCauley, Paddy Ward 0-1 each.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Johnny McBride 0-5,1 tp, 2f, Adam McGeever, Padraig McBride 1-0 each, Colm Doherty 0-2.

Glenswilly: Keelan Curran; Liam McGinley, Jamie McCauley, Dylan McAteer; Donal Gallagher, Mikey Toner, Pauric Devine; Mark Bonner, Mandy Kelly; Reid Kelly, Eoghan Scott, Aiden Friel; Shane Tinney, Daithi Gildea, Oisin McGrenra.

Subs: Matthew Enright for O. McGrenra (38); Paddy Ward for M. Kelly (47).

Gaoth Dobhair: Michael McBride; Dallan Boyle, Cathal De Burca, Dallan Ó Baoill; Liam Breathnach, Jordi Gribben, Alan Doherty; Adam McGeever, Johnny McBride; Colm Doherty, Cathal McGee, Padraig McBride; Joey Coll, Aodhan MacGabhann, John Paul Gallagher.

Subs: Cronan McFadden for A. MacGabhann (46); Dillon Clift for M. McBride (54); Aodhan McGarvey for J. Coll (58); Dillon McFadden for A. McGeever (61).

Referee: Daniel Carlin (Naomh Padraig, Lifford)