Niall O’Donnell rescues draw for St Eunan’s in league opener against Four Masters

St Eunan's fought back from a five-point deficit in the final stages to secure a share of the spoils against Four Masters on this All-County League Division 1 opener at Tir Conaill Park on Saturday evening.

A late free from Niall O'Donnell was the deciding moment, ensuring Kieran Donnelly’s first competitive game at the helm of the O’Donnell Park outfit ended with a point on the board. 

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St Eunan’s had found the net just five minutes in - the goal was a well-worked team effort, started by Caolan Ward and funnelled through Pauric Boyle, who provided the assist for O'Donnell to finish clinically past the goalkeeper.

Four Masters responded quickly to the early setback. Points from Conor Meehan and Tiernan McBride kept the Donegal Town side in touch before a second St Eunan’s goal through Phillip Doherty extended the visitors' advantage.

But with the likes of Conor Meehan, Conor Reid and Patrick McGonagle all getting scores for Barry Dunnion’s outfit, the hosts were deservingly level at the break, 0-7 to 2-1. 

The Donegal Town emerged in a similar fashion for the second-half and held a commanding five-point lead as the clock ticked down to the final five minutes thanks to the likes of Oisin Doherty, Reid, Richard O’Rourke and Meehan on the scoreboard. 

However, St Eunan's simply refused to buckle. They reeled off five unanswered points in a frantic closing period, culminating in Niall O’Donnell’s pressure free to level the game at the death. 

Four Masters scorers: Conor Meehan 0-4, 3f; Oisin Doherty 0-3, 1tp, 1f; Conor Reid 0-3; Patrick McGonagle, Richard O'Rourke, Tiernan McBride and David Monaghan 0-1 each.

St Eunan's scorers: Niall O'Donnell 1-4, 4f; Conor O'Donnell Snr 0-2, 1tp; Philip Doherty 1-0; James Kelly and Dylan Doogan 0-1 each.

Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Caolan Sweeney, Aidan McHugh, Ross O'Keeney; Caolan Loughney, Richard O'Rourke, Patrick McGonagle; Conor Reid, Tiernan McBride; Emmett Doogan, David Monaghan, Oisin Doherty; Conor Meehan, Patrick Reid, Jake Quinn.

Subs: Thomas Lenehan for Quinn (ht), Cian Gavigan for Loughney (49).

St Eunan's: Ronan McGeehin; Josh Hay, Eamonn Doherty, Mark Galvin; Peter Devine, Caolan Ward, Cormac Finn; Conor O'Donnell Snr, Noel O'Donnell; Noah Barrett, James Kelly, Dylan Doogan; Philip Doherty, Niall O'Donnell, Pauric Boyle.

Subs: Oisin Scanlon for Finn (45), Darragh Mulgrew for Devine (53), Jordan O'Dowd and Evan Daly for Philip Doherty and Hay (59).

Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara).