Michael Langan steps up against Milford to help keep St Michael’s in the SFC 

Michael Langan put his recent injury nightmare behind him on Sunday coming off the bench against Milford to kick four points and, in the process, help keep St Michael’s in the SFC. 

St Michael’s 0-9 Milford 1-5

The player suffered a dreadful injury during Donegal’s Ulster SFC loss to Down in Newry back in April - a setback where the hamstring came off the bone. 

But just 20 minutes into their relegation semi-final encounter with Milford, St Michael’s called on their talisman. 

And when they needed him most, he produced the goods with four points after the restart, a contribution that went a long way in making sure Michael’s remain in the top flight of Donegal championship football. 

Despite the dreadful conditions, St Michael’s had confidently exited the blocks with the opening two scores of Sunday’s encounter as Aodh O’Donnell and Colin McFadden both landed inside the first five minutes of action. 

It took Milford twice as long to get going but, on ten minutes, they were also up and running thanks to a Cathal McGettigan free. Carlos O'Reilly kicked a third Michael’s point approaching the quarter hour mark to once again put two in it. 

Successive efforts up the other side from Milford through Caolan Bolton and Kyle Black left it deadlocked at 0-3 each, eight minutes out from the midpoint. 

But with Kyle McGarvey lobbing over a fourth Michael’s effort, it was they that just shaded matters heading from the dressing rooms at the midpoint. 

Less than two minutes into the new stanza, a smart link up between Kyle Black and Darragh Black - resulted in the former smashing to the back of the net from close range.  

Lagan then made his presence felt for the first time following his first-half introduction when he levelled over a pair of quickfire frees to square matters up on 36 minutes, 0-6 to 1-3. 

The same player added two more, this time from play, to push his side as many clear nearing the fourth and final quarter. But Cathal McGettigan still managed to make it a one-point game with a 47th minute free.

However, a second yellow card to full-back Lorcan Friel, for an off-the-ball incident brought to Ryan Walsh’s attention by his umpire, resulted in Milford going down to 14 men for the last ten minutes.

O’Reilly lobbed over again bang on the hour as Michael’s doubled their advantage headed into the red. However, a Shane Black free up the other side again left the bare minimum in it. 

And there was to be late drama when Milford, desperate for an equaliser, pushed ‘keeper Shea McBride Friel all the way up top in the dying seconds.

And when he was superbly picked out with the last play by Darragh Black, it looked like we were in for a drawn encounter.  

But a rushed snap over the shoulder, when a little more composure was probably needed, resulted in the effort going the wrong side of the post.

The loss for Milford means they must now face St Naul’s in the relegation decider to see who ultimately drops down to Intermediate ranks. 

St Michael’s scorers: Michael Langan 0-4,2f; Carlos O’Reilly 0-2,1f; Aodh O’Donnell 0-1; Colin McFadden 0-1; Kyle McGarvey 0-1. 

Milford scorers: Darragh Black 1-0; Shane Black 0-2,1f; Cathal McGettigan 0-2,1f; Caolan Bolton 0-1. 

St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; James Hunter, Liam Pol Ferry, Stephen Doak; Aodh O’Donnell, Michael McGinley, Martin Breslin; Kyle McGarvey, Colin McFadden; Antoin McFadden, Carlos O’Reilly, Paul Johnston; Conan Brennan, Martin McElhinney, Andrew Kelly. 

Subs: Michael Langan for Brennan (22), Oisin Langan for A Kelly (60). 

Milford: Shea McBride Friel; Peter Curran, Lorcan Friel, Shaun Coffey; Ronan Docherty, Finn Coll, TJ Evesson; Rory O’Donnell, James Doyle; Caolan Bolton, Shane Black, Kyle Black; Cathal McGettigan, Marty Doyle, Darragh Black. 

Subs: Kane Barrett for Bolton and Brandon Toye for Coffey (both 44)

Referee: Ryan Walsh (Realt na Mara).