Narrow Comórtas win for St Naul’s over Downings

St Naul’s just edged out their visitors in this well-contested affair in the Gerard Gallagher Memorial Park, Mountcharles on St Patrick’s Day. 

St Naul’s 0-12:1-8 Downings

The game started brightly with a free after two minutes by Ian Campbell, which was cancelled out by Callum Cullen of Downings. 

Another free by Campbell and a point from play by Martin Breslin then put the hosts two up but this was again reduced to the minimum by another point from Cullen. 

Jonathon O’Driscoll put two between the sides once more with a neat effort but back came Downings through midfielders Ronan Pasoma and Shane Boyce, which levelled the scores at 0-4 apiece. 

A Stephen Griffin free followed by a Conor Boyce effort left it at 0-5 each with five minutes to go to half-time before Kevin Doherty played a one two to slot the ball past Gavin Mulreany for a well taken goal. 

But a Declan Duignan point left two points in it at the break as Downings led by 1-5 to 0-6.  

St Naul’s started the second period with a flourish and hit four points on the bounce through Thomas White, Kyle Campbell, Griffin (free) and Michael Coughlan and that flurry pushed Naul’s up by two points. 

Lorcan Connor, a  first half sub, showed his quality as he hit two points for Downings to level it up on a score of Downings 1-7 St Naul’s 0-10. 

That set up a frenetic finish and a free from home ‘keeper Gavin Mulreany was followed by excellent point out on the wing by Griffin to put St. Naul’s two clear. 

But the final point from Connor left the bare minimum in it near the end 0-12 to 1-8.  Barry Griffin’s black card with six minutes to go meant Naul’s played out the remainder down to 14 men. 

However, they held on to progress to the next round. 

St Naul’s scorers: Stephen Griffin 0-4,3f; Ian Campbell 0-2,2f; Martin Breslin 0-1; Jonathan O’Driscoll 0-1; Kyle Campbell 0-1; Gavin Mulreaney 0-1,1f; Thomas White 0-1; Michael Coughlan 0-1. 

Downings scorers: Kevin Doherty 1-0; Lorcan Connor 0-3,1f; Callum Cullen 0-2; Shane Boyce 0-1; Ronan Pasoma 0-1; Conor Boyce 0-1 

St Naul’s: Gavin Mulreaney; Niall Prendeville, Barry Burke, Brian Griffin; Martin Breslin, Kyle Campbell, Oisin Mogan; Barry Griffin, Ian Campbell; Jonathan O’Driscoll, Thomas White, Michael Coughlan; Joe Campbell, Stephen Griffin, Declan Duignan. 

Downings: Aaron McClafferty; Dean McBride, Ross Cullen, Max Davis; Fiachra McClafferty, Kevin Doherty, Shane Coll; Ronan Pasoma, Shane Boyce; Paul McGroddy, Martin McBride, Conor Boyce; Alan Pasoma, Callum Cullen, Ultan McGroddy; Sub Lorcan Connor for Ronan Pasoma. 

Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill).