Setanta take St Eunan’s scalp at the Cross  

The jinking genius of Gerry Gilmore and the impressive free-taking of Oisin Marley were the main differences between these two well-matched sides in this thrilling absorbing encounter at the Cross. 

Setanta 1-19 St Eunan’s 0-16 

Neither team was at full strength with Declan Coulter and Mark Callaghan absent for Setanta while Eunan’s were minus the services of Conor O’Grady and Paul O’Donnell. 

But the score-line slightly flatters the winners as it was neck and neck until Gilmore pounced for the only goal of the game five minutes from time. 

His opportunistic flick, after Sean Ward blocked Eunan’s keeper Cian Hennessy’s attempted clearance, put Setanta into a 1-15 to 0-14 lead after they trailed by 0-14 to 0-13, seven minutes from time. 

On balance they deserved their victory but hit eight wides and they also had a physical edge and a stronger bench. 

But Eunan’s played some clever hurling in the first half shooting against the slight slope and Sean McVeigh, Sean Halvey, Kevin Halvey and Cormac Finn stretched the home defence. 

But Setanta were able to throw on players of the calibre of Michael Donoghue and Marc Devine in the final minutes and it showed. 

St Eunan’s had settled well, and Matt Ahern and Finn put them two points up which was cancelled by Danny Cullen, who had a very good first half and Sean Ward. But it was Eunan’s who looked sharper and Finn and McVeigh eased them into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead. 

Exchanges were at championship pitch and Setanta’s Barney Lafferty had a tremendous battle with the tenacious Sean Halvey of Eunan’s as the superbly balanced Gilmore levelled matters with two fine points by the 15th minute. 

A Marley free gave Setanta the lead for the first time which was negated by a superb long range effort from McVeigh. Marley and Lafferty, after a great catch, made it 0-7 to 0-5 for the winners at the break. 

The pace never flagged in the second half as Marley and Russell Forde swapped points. Finn and Marley also exchanged points as Setanta led by 0-9 to 0-7 and Marley left a goal in it as Eunan’s discipline faltered. 

It was exciting end to end stuff as McVeigh and Gilmore exchanged scores.  Ahead by 0-11 to 0-8, it looked like Setanta would push on but their pacey opponents found another gear and Brian McIntyre and Forde left just a point in it. 

But the inevitable Marley was proving deadly accurate from frees as Setanta led by 0-13 to 0-11 before Ryan Hilferty weighed in with a great point for the visitors ten minutes from time. 

Somewhat against the run of play Eunan’s edged into the lead from Forde and sub, Eoin Scanlon, who came on for Gavin Forde. 

But Gilmore levelled matters as the finishing line beckoned as mercurial Marc Devin replaced Josh McGee/Cronolly for Setanta and made an impression as Marley edged them in front from yet another placed ball. 

But Gilmore’s goal effectively killed off this great contest with Marley, Ward and Devine completing the scoring. Matt Ahern had the final say for Eunan’s to finish an absorbing affair.

Setanta scorers: Oisin Marley 0-9,8f; Gerry Gilmore 1-4; Sean Ward 0-2; Danny Cullen 0-2; Barney Lafferty 0-1; Marc Devine 0-1.

St Eunan’s scorers: Sean McVeigh 0-6,4f; Russell Forde 0-2; Cormac Finn 0-2; Matt Ahern 0-2; Gavin Forde 0-1; Eoin Scanlon (0-1); Brian McIntyre 0-1; Ryan Hilferty 0-1; 

Setanta: Mark Kane; Tiarnan McConnell, Stephen McBride, Justin McBride; Dean Harvey, Danny Cullen, Niall Cleary; Conor McGettigan, Ruairi Campbell; Barney Lafferty, Oisin Marley, Conor Gallen; Josh McGee/Cronolly, Sean Ward, Gerry Gilmore.

Subs: Michael Donoghue for Tiarnan McConnell (43), Tiarnan McConnell for Niall Cleary (50), Ryan Coyle for Conor Gallen (54), Marc Devine for Josh McGee/Cronolly (56). 

St Eunan’s: Cian Hennessy, Chris Murray, Conor McVeigh, Lorcan Heavey; Brian McIntyre, Sean McVeigh, Conor Neely; Fergal Delaney, Sean Halvey; Matt Ahern, Cormac Finn, Ryan Hilferty; Russell Forde, Kevin Kealy, Gavin Forde.

Subs Eoin Scanlon for Gavin Forde (48). 

Referee: Trevor Moloney (Buncrana).