St Eunan's and Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin can't be split in Junior A

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin came from behind to snatch a dramatic draw with St Eunan’s in a closely contested Junior A Championship clash in O’Donnell Park. 

St Eunan’s 0-9 Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin 0-9 

Cometh the hour, cometh the man and corner back Evan Craig was Naomh Padraig’s unlikely saviour when he knocked over the equalising point in the closing seconds. 

Naomh Padraig, who lost goalkeeper Oran McCauley to injury in the warmup before the game, were reduced to 14 players as early as the fourth minute. 

Wing forward Jonny Tinney received his marching orders from referee Jimmy White after a clash with St Eunan’s centre half back, Sean Ryan. 

Despite the numerical disadvantage Naomh Padraig were the better side in the opening half-hour and deservedly led by four points 0-5 to 0-1 at half-time.

Brian McGeehin and Paul McGovern, St Eunan’s joint managers, made a number of changes at half-time with the introduction of Conall Dunne and Lorcan Harvey.

James Kelly, a senior championship winner with St Eunan’s in 2021, as well as Patrick Tobin and Donal Higgins were all sprung from the bench in the second half. 

With former county man Dunne and Patrick Tobin landing points, a much improved St Eunan’s led by two points with the clock ticking on the hour mark. 

But there was a final kick in Naomh Padraig and Kevin Lynch landed a point to cut the St Eunan’s lead to one before Evan Craig stole forward to steal the show with his late equaliser.  

St Eunan’s scorers: Paddy McGowan 0-3,3f, Lee McMonagle 0-2, 1f, 1m, Conall Dunne 0-2, Conor McEniff, Patrick Tobin 0-1, each. 

Naomh Padraig scorers: Kevin Lynch 0-4, Dermot Keaveny 0-2, Michael McCarron, Oisin McIntyre, Evan Craig 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s: Chris O’Donnell; Sean Halvey, Anthony Gallagher, Sean Freeburn; Darragh Morrison, Sean Ryan,  Cormac Finn; Brandon Jordan, Ronan McGeehin; Evan McGrory, Conor McEniff, Leon Boyce; Paddy McGowan, Lee McMonagle, Jake Whelan. 

Subs: Conall Dunne and Lorcan Harvey for  E McGrory and L Boyce (h/t); James Kelly for B Jordan (43); Patrick Tobin for P McGowan (45). Donal Higgins for L Harvey (49). 

Naomh Padraig: Cormac Kelly, Evan Craig, Darragh McIntyre, Patrick McGroddy, Michael McCarron, Joe McCauley, Jason McCallion, Cathal McColgan, Cormac McColgan, Oisin McIntyre, Kevin Doherty, Jonny Toye, Lee Barr, Kevin Lynch, Dermot Keaveny.

Subs used: Drew McKinney, Eunan Keaveny, 

Referee; Jimmy White (Killybegs).