Termon hold off Bundoran in tight tussle at the Burn Road

This was a huge victory for a youthful Termon side as they fended off the challenge of Bundoran at a sunny Burn Road. 

Termon 2-11 Bundoran 0-11 

Almost two years ago Realt na Mara relegated Termon to the IFC but on this occasion, it was the hosts that came out on top.  

Two goals in either half, one from Daire McDaid and one from Ryan McFadden, were the key scores for the winners who led by 2-8 to 0-3, eight minutes into the second period. 

But the expected Bundoran revival saw Jamie Brennan hit 0-7 in that half although the withdrawal of his previous tight marker Jamie Grant may also have been a factor. 

However, the home side did not panic and late points from McDaid and substitute James McSharry sealed the deal for the winners. 

The youthful home side settled swiftly with Cian McMenamin arrowing over a fine opening point after three minutes with the wind at their backs. 

It was very defensive in the opening ten minutes, but Termon were the more enterprising side and the athletic Grant hit two points on the spin to put them into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after 12 minutes. 

Marksman McDaid and Ricky Gallagher made it 0-5 to 0-0 before Cian McEniff finally got Bundoran off the mark with a fine point after 18 minutes. 

He repeated the dose a minute later and Kyle McNulty added another to leave just two points between the sides. 

But Bundoran had two narrow shaves in the 24th and 25th minutes when Termon’s Bobby McGettigan smashed a rocket off the crossbar. 

A minute later McGettigan set up McDaid who found the net but referee James Connors rightly ruled that it was a square ball. 

But McDaid was not to be denied in the 26th minute when he finished a McGettigan flick to the net. 

A following point from Jack Alcorn made it 1-6 to 0-3 for the victors at the break. 

Bundoran threw on Adam McGlone and Tommy Govorov to boost their challenge with the aid of the breeze. 

Instead, it was Termon who effectively sealed this affair with a stunning 1-2 in a four-minute spell.   

McDaid landed a morale-boosting 45 into the breeze in the 32nd minute and he added another long range a minute later. 

But then we had the crucial score of the game as Ryan McFadden speared through the Bundoran defence and struck a beauty to the net to put his side into a 2-8 to 0-3 lead in the 37th minute. 

Grant went off with a minor ankle injury and Jamie Brennan exploded into the game even more, hitting 0-7 in the second half. 

Bundoran applied considerable pressure, but Termon’s defence held firm and denied the Seasiders the goal they so badly needed. 

And late points from McDaid and substitute McSharry garnished a fine display from Termon. 

Termon scorers: Daire McDaid 1-4,3f; Ryan McFadden 1-0; Jamie Grant 0-2; Jack Alcorn 0-1; Ricky Gallagher 0-1; Bobby McGettigan 0-1; Cian McMenamin 0-1; James McSharry 0-1.

Bundoran scorers; Jamie Brennan 0-7,4f; Cian McEniff 0-2; Adam McGlone 0-1; Kyle McNulty 0-1.

Termon: Darragh Russell; Cormac Gallagher, Conor Cassidy, Nathan McElwaine; Ricky Gallagher, Jamie Grant, Caolan Gallagher; Jack Alcorn, Ryan McFadden; Oisin Reid, Bobby McGettigan, Cian McMenamin; Anthony Grant, Daire McDaid, Stephen McElwaine. 

Subs: Enda McCormick for Anthony Grant (42), James McSharry, for Jamie Grant (47)  

Bundoran: Conor Carty; Matt Tierney, Oisin Walsh, Rya Blanc; Matthew Duffy, Shane McGowan, Peter McGonigle; Ciaran McCaughey, Paul Brennan; Anton Govorov, Cian McEniff, Kyle McNulty; Darragh Hoey, Jamie Brennan, Ryan Barrett. 

Subs; Adam McGlone for Anton Govorov and Timmy Govorov for Matthew Tierney (h-time) Diarmuid Spratt for Kyle McNulty (44). 

Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s)