McGettigan drives Naomh Conaill past Aodh Ruadh into Division 1 final

Naomh Conaill are back on top of the All-County Football League Division 1 following Saturday’s five-point win over Aodh Ruadh at Davy Brennan Memorial Park.

Naomh Conaill 1-9 Aodh Ruadh 0-7

Martin Regan’s side edged ahead of St Eunan’s ahead of their clash in Letterkenny next weekend, although Rory Kavanagh’s team have a game in hand.

Either way, it looks like the last two Donegal SFC winners could well be facing one another in the Division 1 decider following the regulation season. Naomh Conaill’s success over Aodh Ruadh means their place is already assured.

Kevin McGettigan, with a goal and two points, top-scored for Naomh Conaill who had Ciaran Thompson back for his first game in the league following Donegal’s exit from the championship.

Peter Boyle, the Aodh Ruadh goalkeeper, was his side's leading marksman. He ended the game with a personal tally of three points, which came from two frees and a 45.

This was a very cagey and tactical game in the first half with Aodh Ruadh mirroring Naomh Conaill in defending in big numbers and counter-attacking at pace.

It worked well for the team managed by John McNulty, playing with the aid of the strong diagonal wind and the sides were level at half-time at 0-4 each.

Brendan McDyer and Boyle traded the opening game’s opening two points and with David Dolan spearheading the attack and Eamon McGrath driving out of defence the Ernesiders were 0-3 to 0-2 up by the 10-minute mark. Dolan and Eoghan Kelly - either side of a John O’Malley point for Naomh Conaill - scored the Aodh Ruadh points.

O’Malley levelled the game for the third time at the end of the first quarter and from there to the half-time whistle with defences on top. Naomh Conaill restricted Aodh Ruadh to a single point from corner-forward Matt Gillespie. It was all square for the fourth time at half-time thanks to a late point on the stroke of the half-hour mark from Seamus Corcoran.

The second half was a slow-burner. John O’Malley on 35 minutes and McGettigan on 49 minutes edged the locals into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead. But Boyle into the wind with a superb placed ball from 40 metres pulled one back for Aodh Ruadh.

With Thompson and Leo McLoone gaining a foothold in the middle of the field Naomh Conaill began to spray the ball around to good effect and really stretched the Aodh Ruadh defence.

McGettigan got on the end of a good move for the game’s only goal on 45 minutes which meant Naomh Conaill were four up and in the driving seat. Boyle, again with another well-struck long-ranger, reduced the margin back to three. But Naomh Conaill had the bit between the teeth and Thompson’s long-range free and McGettigan point opened up a five-point advantage.

The game fizzled in the closing minutes. Aodh Ruadh’s Diarmaid McInerney, from a free, and Naomh Conaill’s Dermot Molloy raised late white flags.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Kevin McGettigan 1-2; John O’Malley 0-3,2f; Brendan McDyer, Seamus Corcoran, Dermot Molloy 0-1 each, Ciaran Thompson 0-1, 1f each.
Aodh Ruadh scorers: Peter Boyle 0–3, 2f, 45; Eoghan Kelly, David Dolan and Matt Gillespie 0-1 each; Diarmaid McInerney 0-1, 1f.
Naomh Conaill: Paudie Brennan; Logan Quinn, AJ Gallagher, Jason Campbell; Ultan Doherty, Kevin McGettigan, Ethan O’Donnell; Ciaran Thompson, Leo McLoone; Eunan Doherty, Seamus Corcoran, Mark McDevitt; Brendan McDyer, Neil Frances Boyle, John O’Malley. Subs: Dermot Molloy, Marty Boyle, Sean Roarty.
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Mark McGlynn, Eamon McGrath, Eoghan Kelly; Gary Carty, Colm Kelly, Kyle Murray; Shane McGrath, Cian Dolan; Dairmaid McInerney, Shane Delaunty, Jack Gallagher, Philip Patton David Dolan, Matt Gillespie.
Subs; Darren Drummond, Michael McKenna, Nathan Boyle, Donagh McIntyre.