Gaoth Dobhair ease past Naomh Conaill to reach U-21A semi-final

Gaoth Dobhair are safely through to the semi-finals of the U-21 A football championship after they easily overcame Naomh Conaill in O’Donnell Park. 

Gaoth Dobhair 3-16 Naomh Conaill 2-4

On a cold and crisp January afternoon, it was the Glenties lads that settled first through Leo Dunphy before the same player then stretched Naomh Conaill’s lead to two on ten minutes. 

The Magheragallon lads opened their account soon after through Eoin De Burca while Stiofan Mac Phaidín would then convert a free for Gaoth Dobhair to square matters. 

And with Cathal Mac Giolla Easpaig also clearing  the crossbar moments later, his side led  for the very first time in the contest, moving into the second quarter.

With a real foothold in matters now, things got even better for the leaders as Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde and Cathal De Burca both registered from play to open up a three point gap. 

And with the impressive De Burca again taking advantage of the space in front of him on the right hand side; the scoreboard read 0-6 to 0-2 ten minutes out from the break. 

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With Naomh Conaill looking to force the issue up the other end by flooding bodies forward, they were hit on the counter as Eoin De Burca, Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill and Stiofan Mac Phaidín all combined with the latter finding the net. 

And before the break, Eoin De Burca and Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill added further points to leave it 1-8 to 1-2, comfortably in Gaoth Dobhair’s favour. 

Gaoth Dobhair stormed out of the blocks in the second period with Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill goaling and Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde  and Cathal Mac Giolla Easpaig (free) landing overs.  

Neil Francis Boyle did stem the tide momentarily for Naomh Conaill with a three-pointer but that was instantly stroked out up the other end with Cathal De Burca adding a green flag to his previous pair of points. 

Going into the fourth and final quarter, Glenties did grab a second goal through replacement Oran McCallig. However, with the game completely deflated as a contest, both sets of players and indeed supporters were glad to hear Robbie O’Donnell’s final whistle in Letterkenny. 

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Eoin De Burca 0-3; Cathal Mac Giolla Easpaig 0-2,1f; Stiofan Mac Phaidín 1-2,1f; Cathal De Burca 1-2; Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill 1-2; Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde 0-2; Dáire Ó Fearraigh 0-1; Cian Mac Giolla Bhríde 0-1,1f; Adam Mac Iomhair 0-1.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Neil Francis Boyle 1-1; Oran McCallig 1-0; Leo Dunphy 0-2; Mark McDevitt 0-1,1f.

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithí Mac Roibeard; Adam Mac Iomhair, Sean Ó Gallchóir, Aodhan Breathnach; Cian Mac an tSaoi, Dáire Ó Fearraigh, Cathal De Burca; Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde, Stíofan Mac Phaidín; Cian Mac Giolla Bhríde, Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill, Cathal Mac Giolla Easpaig; Stiofan Mac Phaidín, Eoin De Burca, Jamie Ó Dochartaigh.

Subs: Liam MacPhaidín for Cathal De Burca (44), Aodhan Mac Gabhann for Stiofan Mac Phaidín and Ryan Ó Dochartaigh for Adam Mac Iomhair (both 57). 

Naomh Conaill: Jordan O’Donnell; Ronan Breslin, Mark Campbell, Aidan Gilroy; Joe Shankey-Smith, Conor Roarty, Oran Doherty; Adam Molloy, Neil Francis Boyle; Mark McDevitt, Daniel Gildea, Jack Boyle; Shay Malone, Leo Dunphy, Jack McGlynn.

Subs: Oran McCallig for Malone (40), Conor Gildea for D Gildea (50).

Referee: Robbie O’Donnell (Naomh Muire).