Dungloe get the better of St Michael's at the Bridge on Bank Holiday Monday

Dungloe produced a strong finish to come from behind and overcome St Michael’s in their own back yard, at the Bridge, Dunfanaghy, on Bank Holiday Monday.

It was a first brace of league points for Dungloe following last Sunday’s opening 0-15 to 1-12 draw with Kilcar in Rosses Park.

Dungloe, who led 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time, found themselves a point down at the three-quarter mark after Daniel McLaughlin had edged the locals ahead 0-11 to 0-10.

But in a flash, the men from Rosses Park were back in front thanks to a two-point score from Shaun McGee, his first touch after being sprung from the bench. 

The veteran full-forward quickly added another point before Oisin Bonner struck for the game’s only goal, giving Dungloe a 1-13 to 0-11 lead with under ten minutes of normal time remaining.

For the goal, Bonner finished first-time to the net after the ball broke in front of the St Michael’s goal. Daire Gallagher then stretched the Dungloe lead out to six points.

While St Michael’s battled to the finish, outscoring the visitors 0-4 to 0-2 thanks to the trusty left boot of McLaughlin, who converted four frees, Karl Magee and Luke Clerkin scored the late Dungloe points.

Dungloe played into the breeze and raced into an early lead. Clerkin twice and Darren Curran hit points for a 0-3 to 0-0 lead five minutes into the game. 

Carlos O’Reilly finally got the locals off the mark in the 11th minute and added three more without reply, two frees, for a 0-4 to 0-3 St Michael’s lead by the end of the first quarter.

Gallagher tied the game shortly after before Magee finished off a good move for the game’s opening two-point score, giving Dungloe a 0-6 to 0-4 lead. 

O’Reilly pulled a point back for St Michael’s, and Clerkin brought Dungloe’s first-half tally to 0-7 before O’Reilly landed his sixth point of the half. Dungloe led 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

Dylan Sweeney, McLaughlin, and Cianan McDaid traded points in the opening ten minutes of the second period, with Max Roarty and Clerkin also adding points as Dungloe led 0-10 to 0-9.

Carlos O’Reilly tied the game at 0-10 each by the end of the third quarter before the locals hit the front 0-11 to 0-10 in the early seconds of the final quarter. 

But, as Dungloe had shown all game, they had the ability to respond whenever St Michael’s threw at them.

This was a second defeat for St Michael’s, who lost their opening game last weekend away to Glenfin.

St Michael’s scorers: Carlos O’Reilly 0-7, 5f; Daniel McLaughlin 0-7, 6f; Max Roarty 0-1

Dungloe scorers: Luke Clerkin 0-5, 2f; Oisin Bonner 1-0, Karl Magee 0-3, 1tp; Shaun McGee 0-2, 1tp; Daire Gallagher 0-2, Darren Curran, Dylan Sweeney, Conor Greene and Cianan McDaid 0-1 each. 

St Michael’s: Oisin Cannon; Seamus Ferry, Ciaran Kelly, Stephen Doak; Fionn Chernick, Michael McGinley, Michael Cannon; Colin McFadden, Kyle McGarvey; Daniel McLaughlin, Carlos O’Reilly, Max Roarty; Ciaran McGinley, Martin McElhinney, John McFadden.Subs: Edward O’Reilly for C. McGinley (42), Andrew Kelly for Chernick (59)

Dungloe: Danny Rodgers; Jason McBride, Conor O’Donnell, Patrick O’Donnell; Luke Clerkin, Karl Magee, Chris O’Donnell; Darren Curran, Matthew Ward; Dylan Sweeney, Daire Gallagher, Cianan McDaid; Danny McCready, Conor Greene, Oisin Bonner.Subs: Shaun McGee for C. McDaid (44), Damian McGowan for D. McCready (49)

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gael Fhánada)