Gaeil Fhanáda take derby spoils against Milford 

Gaeil Fhanada have the local bragging rights and two more precious league points following their win over Milford, in Miah Shiels Park, Portsalon. 

Gaeil Fhanada 1-13 Milford 0-11 

Seamie Friel scored a goal and two points and Liam McGrenaghan posted four points while Michael Sweeney, James Carr and Alan McAteer also raised white flags for the locals.

Cathal McGettigan and Marty Doyle ended up joint top scorers for the Sky Blues with four points each. Full forward Shane Black scored the rest for the visitors. 

After a low scoring first quarter hour, Gaeil Fhanada  took a giant step towards the league points with a golden five minute period. In that time  they hit a goal and four points without reply to come from 0-2 to 0-3 down to go 1-6 to 0-3 up.

And but for a top drawer save from Eoin McGettigan between the Milford posts they could have scored another goal during this spell. But the keeper was brave to deny the towering Sweeney from close range. 

Friel then got on the end of a good move for the Gaeil Fhanada goal 21 minutes into the game while McGrenaghan, Sweeney and Carr posted the points for Gerard Patrick Shiels' charges. 

Shiels has boosted his backroom team in recent weeks by bringing on board the experienced St Nauls coach and former manager Brian McCabe. 

Milford, thanks to the industry around midfield of Lorcan Friel, and two points each from the impressive James Doyle and busy full forward Darragh Black remained in contention at the break as Gaeil Fhanada led 1-6 to 0-7 at the changeover.

The early stages of the second half were pretty even with McGrenaghan and Alan McAteer and Black and Cathal McGettigan traded points.

But Gaeil Fhanada, who had a greater shape to them, sensed blood and that the game was there to be won. 

And they kicked on in the final quarter with points from Friel, McGrenagan, Carr and Sweeney while Milford’s final overs were secured by Cathal McGettigan and Darragh Black. 

This is a fourth win for Gaeil Fhanada and moves them on to eight points and step further away from the drop zone. 

Gaeil Fhanada scorers; Seamie Friel 1-2,1f; Liam McGrenaghan 0-4, 2’45s; Michael Sweeney 0-3; James Carr 0-3; Alan McAteer 0-1.

Milford scorers: Cathal McGettigan 0-4, 2f; Marty Doyle 0-4; Darragh Black 0-3.   

Gaeil Fhánada: Mark McConigley; Calum McAteer, Paddy Heraghty, James Carr;  Liam McGrenaghan, Odhran Shields, Breanan McClafferty; Michael Sweeney, Paddy Carr; Sean Carr, Seamie Friel, Eoghan Logue; James Carr, Alan McAteer,  Oisin Shiels.

Subs; Conor Heraghty for S Carr; Eoghan McGonagle for A McAteer; Fergal Friel for M Sweeney; Eoghan Carr for E Logue; Eoghan Logue for O Shields.

Milford; Eoin McGettigan; Anthony Curran, Peter Curran, Cathar O’Brien; Shaun Coffey, James Doyle, Finn Coll; Caolan Bolton, Lorcan Friel; Marty Doyle, Cathal McGettigan, Paul Ryan; Matthew McLaughlin, Darragh Black, Tony McNamee. 

Subs used: Shane Black, Liam McGranaghan.  

Referee; James Connor (St Eunans).