McHugh wins it for Na Rossa with last minute brace against Naomh Conaill

Na Rossa were a point down with 65 minutes on the clock but two points from Aidan McHugh secured a dramatic win for Na Rossa in the Junior A top of the table play-off.

Na Rossa 0-10   Naomh Conaill 1-6

The winner off McHugh’s left boot was a classic and he had tied up the game seconds earlier after John McDyre was fouled.

Naomh Conaill had their chances, especially a late goal chance, and will wonder how they lost the game. The sides finished level at the top of Group A which necessitated the play-off. Na Rossa now go straight to the semi-final while Naomh Conaill will play Moville in the quarter-final. And yes, they could meet again.

After a very quiet opening Naomh Conaill deservedly took the lead on  five minutes through a Leo Dunphy free. The Glenties men had most of the early possession. It took veteran Johnny  Bonner to come forward to level matters with his left on nine minutes.

Oran Doherty pushed Naomh Conaill back in  front as they still did most of the pressing but there was a big turning point midway through the opening half when Aidan McHugh hit three great points in two minutes from the 17th to 19th minutes. One effort was better than the other.

Na Rossa were finding their feet and they almost had a goal in the 22nd minute when Adam McHugh played a one-two with Adrian Sweeney but Paudie Brennan was equal to  McHugh’s effort, pulling off a great save.

Sweeney almost produced another goal chance moments later but then Naomh Conaill struck for their goal with a high ball into the area broken between Nathan Byrne and Johnny Bonner. Leo Dunphy was alive and rounded his man to fire to the corner of the Na Rossa net.

Sweeney pulled the strings once again to find Aidan McHugh in full flight and there were strong claims for a penalty as he was impeded going through.

Na Rossa were dealt a blow just on the stroke of half-time as they lost full-back, Johnny Bonner, to injury.

Half-time: Na Rossa 0-4, Naomh Conaill 1-2.

Leo Dunphy pushed Na Rossa two clear within three minutes of restart. Christian Bonner was pressed into action and he made a difference with Aidan McHugh and Oisin Caulfield drawing Na Rossa back on terms by the 40th minute.

Na Rossa had a goal chance when Matthew Smith got on the end of a dangerous ball across the goal but his effort went just wide of the posts.

Shane McDevitt pointed Naomh Conaill ahead again on 45 minutes and Dara Gallagher, from a free, made it 1-5 to 0-6 after 50 minutes.

Shane McDevitt made it a three point game and Naomh Conaill should have closed out the game when Shaun Roarty came forward to set up Leo Dunphy but he blazed wide.

Na Rossa hit back with two quick John McDyre points to have just a point in it again as the game entered added time.

The real drama came then with McDyre  winning a free on 65 minutes for McHugh to level and when they won the kick-out, it was worked to McHugh to hit a fantastic winner from fully 40m.

Na Rossa scorers: Aidan McHugh 0-6, 3f; John McDyre 0-2; Johnny Bonner, Oisin Caulfield 0-1 each.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Leo Dunphy 1-2,1f; Shane McDevitt 0-2; Oran Doherty, Dara Gallagher (f) 0-1 each.

Na Rossa: Aidan McCahill; Denis O’Donnell, Johnny Bonner, Daniel M Melly; Sean McMonagle, Brian Breslin, Marc Bonner; Oisin Caulfield, John McDyre; Ryan Hennessy, Adam McHugh, Matthew Smith; Odhran Molloy Adrian Sweeney, Aidan McHugh.

Subs: Shane McGeehin for J Bonner (30+2); John Paul McCready for A Sweeney (ht); Christian Bonner for O Molloy (35); Johnny  Bonner for D O’Donnell (49); John Paul Breslin for Hennessy (56)

Naomh Conaill: Paudie Brennan; Oran McCallig, Mark Campbell, Stephen Molloy; Connor Roarty, Shaun Roarty, Oran Doherty; Neil F Boyle, Jamie McHugh; Shane McDevitt, Caolan McMonagle, Joe Shankey Smith; Leo Dunphy, Nathan Bonner, Leon Thompson.

Subs: Dara Gallagher for C McMonagle (40); Mark Burke for L Thompson (44);  Joe Kennedy for J McHugh (50); Conor Gildea for O Doherty (60+4)

Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs)