Depleted Setanta still too good for Carndonagh in the Senior Hurling Championship

A somewhat understrength Setanta still had too much power for a game but outgunned Carndonagh in a well contested affair at Foden. 

Carndonagh 0-14 Setanta 5-12 

But Setanta’s clinically finished goals were the main difference between the two sides and four of them came in the opening half and that gave them a pretty unbreakable platform. 

Gerard Gilmore is proving to be an ace marksman for the Finn Valley men in the absence of Declan Coulter and Oisin Marley. 

The lively corner forward notched 2-7, with an improved Ruairi Campbell and Sean Ward also finding the net. 

For a battling Carn side, county keeper Luke White was in fine form, hitting 0-12 with eight from frees but Setanta had a commanding lead at the break on a score of 4-3 to 0-7. 

The visitors opened their account through midfielder Campbell and White replied from a free for the hosts. Setanta added another point from Gilmore before they hit Carn with a two- goal blitz in almost as many minutes. 

Campbell grabbed the first three-pointer after six minutes and Gilmore found the net again to put clear water between the sides after just seven minutes played. 

That deadly double strike put Setanta into a 2-2 to 0-1 lead before Ryan Davenport landed a point for the home side. 

White hit another from play but Carn were struck another blow with a Sean Ward goal for the visitors which was the crucial score as it put nine points between the sides. 

The rampant Campbell got another point from play which was replied to by the inevitable White from a free. 

Michael Noonan added another point as Campbell got his second goal in the 20th minute leaving the home side with a huge battle. To their credit, Carn hit back with two points at the break. 

White opened the scoring with two pointed frees on the resumption. Setanta then had a pointed free from Gilmore and a point from play from Colm Melaugh by the 40th minute. 

White landed two frees while Gilmore also replied from a placed ball and Ward added another from play. 

The prolific White hit another point from play but Gilmore got his second goal in the 50th minute. Bernard Lafferty pointed from play and Gilmore had a brace from play and a free. 

White the pointed from two more frees and Gilmore (free) and (65) completed the scoring. 

Setanta showed their strength in depth but will be hoping to have Danny Cullen, Stephen McBride, Mark Callaghan, Oisin Marley, Michael Donaghue, Josh McGee Cronolly, Justin McBride and Niall Cleary all fit to start for the visit of Burt next week. 

Carn played some good hurling, but those Setanta goals were real killers. 

Carndonagh scorers: Luke White 0-12,8f; Ryan Davenport and Michael Noone 0-1 each.

Setanta scorers: Gerard Gilmore 2-7,6f; Ruairi Campbell 2-2; Sean Ward 1-1; Bernard Lafferty and Colm Melaugh 0-1,each.

Carndonagh: Stephen Burns; Ronan Browne, Padraig Doherty, Sean McCreanor; Eoghan Kelly, James Monagle, Ryan Davenport; Danny Monagle, Conor Fagan; Michael McCarron, Michael Noone, Luke White; Cathal Doherty, Jack McLaughlin, Darragh McCormack.  

Setanta: Kevin Campbell; Tiarnan McConnell, Ruairi McLaughlin, Denim Rowan; Ryan Coyle, Bernard Lafferty, Dean Harvey; Conor McGettigan, Ryan Callaghan; Pauric Moss, Sean Ward, Conor Gallen; Colm Melaugh, Gerard Gilmore, Ruairi Campbell. 

Subs: Niall Cleary for Conor Gallen (40).

Referee: Alan Nash (Na Magha)