Gaoth Dobhair come from behind to pip Termon in action-packed U-21A final

Gaoth Dobhair came out on top in a dramatic U-21A Championship final against their old adversaries from Termon and not for the first time between the two, it was a matter of inches.

Gaoth Dobhair 3-7 Termon 2-8 (after extra-time)

It’s a seventh title for the Magheragallon club following a contest that lasted two-and-a-quarter hours with two penalties awarded in injury time at the end of normal time.

However, in extra-time, despite going two down, it was Gaoth Dobhair who maintained their focus, thanks to Eoin de Búrca punching home a goal seven minutes from time and Cathal Gillespie finishing it off with a free.

Although only one point was scored in the entire second half - an equalising free from Steven Doyle McFadden to make it 1-4 to 1-4 - there was no end of drama in injury time.

With possession paramount, Conor Cassidy’s free was intercepted by Aodhan Breathnach, who quickly fed Darragh Ferry and he was fouled by Cassidy. Referee Kevin McGinley signalled penalty with Steven McFadden - moments after four minutes of injury time had been signalled - shooting past Thomas Cannon.

At no stage had there been three between them so the lead was massive. Almost but not quite, unassailable. Termon, with only seconds left, were basically kitchen-sinking it and Caoaln Gallagher launched into the square and with bodies everywhere, the goal yawned in front of Kevin McGettigan, only for it to be held up on the line. The Gaoth Dobhair square looked like a collapsed scrum at Twickenham.

Eventually, after a break of almost two minutes where goalkeeper Daithi Roberts got treated, Gaoth Dobhair’s Cian McEntee was penalised for lying on the ball and in the seventh minute of injury time Ryan McFadden slammed home the penalty, 2-4 apiece, at full-time.

Stephen Black and Ryan McFadden’s free in extra-time gave Termon a two-point lead, although Steven McFadden and Jamie Doherty got Gaoth Dobhair on terms at 2-6 to 2-6 by the interval in extra-time.

Ryan McFadden used the wind at his back to open the second period with an excellent free to eke Termon ahead once more but it was Gaoth Dobhair who finished the strongest.

Conditions, way before that in early afternoon, were changeable between bad and worse, with a mainly blue rainbowed sky on display in the first half about 10 minutes prior to a hail shower under a carpet of grey. It was as hard to predict as the match.

A well-judged Aaron Reid point gave Termon a fourth minute lead, although both teams had difficulty in finding their rhythm. Gaoth Dobhair, however, forged their way in front, with Fionnan Coyle a 12th minute goalscorer, keeping his composure to tuck home from close range after Termon failed to deal with a dropping ball in from Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde.

That put Christopher McFadden’s side into a 1-0 to 0-1 lead, with Jamie Grant running from deep to score on the run. It was a fine effort from the man who was playing in his sixth match in 10 days - three U-21A championship outings for Termon, having also lined out for Donegal against both Down and Monaghan, as well as for DCU on Tuesday in the Sigerson Cup against ATU Donegal.

Eoin de Búrca, though, soon restored Gaoth Dobhair’s two-point cushion, only for Termon to get level at 0-4 to 1-1 on 18 minutes, with Ryan McFadden’s free preceding Mark Gallagher’s point.

Although Termon appeared to be gaining some sort of ascendency, Gaoth Dobhair saw them and raised them to take the fight on the front foot. Coyle found a pocket of space to tuck over the lead score and then Steven McFadden made it 1-3 to 0-4.

At the other end, Stephen (Donna) McFadden made a brave block to deny Ryan McFadden, who had a glimpse of goal before Reid followed-up to shoot wide. Termon’s Caolan Gallagher made a perfect tackle in front of his goal with de Búrca having made inroads.

A goal did come though, on 28 minutes, and as in the 1-5 to 0-6 semi-final win Termon enjoyed over St Eunan’s, it was Bobby McGettigan who scored. Whereas seven days’ previously he used his significant frame to slap one in, this time it was all ground.

Cian McMenamin’s ball into the square was awkward and McGettigan challenged Roberts and the ball stuck in the square with the Termon forward getting enough contact with the boot to see it edge just over the line. It meant Termon were 1-4 to 1-3 in front at half-time as the heavens opened again.

It was as far back as November 5 when the two sides shared a 0-5 to 0-5 draw at the Burn Road. Throughout the years, Termon and Gaoth Dobhair have dominated this age group, with never much between the teams.

It was no different in Letterkenny, with Termon having the bulk of possession early in the second half, although Gaoth Dobhair had the best chance when a ball fell towards Steven McFadden, who shot at goal but was narrowly off target.

That was nine minutes into part two and although the effort levels from those involved could not be questioned, it made for scant scoring opportunities. There were 44 minutes on the clock by the time the first point of part two was popped over, which came from Steve McFadden’s free, which tied it up at 1-4 apiece.

It was all men on deck and it was played on the edge, with that nervous excitement coming from a huge crowd, all well-wrapped, in the region of 1,500. Termon twice played their way into chances to score in the latter stages, although over-played when very well-placed when even a point would be huge. Jamie Grant did go for a point with three and half to play, only to see it strike the upright and back out. By then, you thought it was nearly over, when in reality it was far from it, as injury-time and extra-time took on a life of its own.

Termon scorers: Ryan McFadden 1-3, 1-0 pen, 3f; Bobby McGettigan 1-0; Aaron Reid, Jamie Grant, Mark Gallagher 0-1; Gary McGettigan 0-1, 1m.
Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Steven (Doyle) McFadden 1-3, 1-0 pen, 2f; Fionnan Coyle and Eoin de Búrca 1-1; Jamie Doherty 0-1; Cathal Gillespie 0-1, 1f.

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Sean Noel McFadden, Sean Gallagher, Aodhan Breathnach; Cian McEntee, Darragh Ferry, Cathal de Búrca; Stephen (Donna) McFadden, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde; Cian McBride, Fionnan Coyle, Jamie Doherty; Steven (Doyle) McFadden, Eoin de Búrca, Cathal Gillespie. Subs: Fiachra Coyle for McBride (38), Adam Mac Íomhair for Steven McFadden (60+6), Steven McFadden for C de Búrca (extra-time), Johnny Óg O’Donnell for Steven McFadden(80+1), Pauric Mac an Gheimhridh for Gillespie (80+2)
Termon: Thomas Cannon; Conor Cassidy, Cormac Cassidy, Caolan Gallagher; Cian McMenamin, Kevin McGettigan, Evan Coleman; Jack Alcorn, Ryan McFadden; Steve McDaid, Bobby McGettigan, Aaron Reid; Jamie Grant, Gary McGettigan, Mark Gallagher. Subs: Stephen Black for McDaid (42), Conor Black for Reid (49), Oisin Harkin for Gallagher (56).

Referee: Kevin McGinley (Naomh Columba).