Letterkenny Gaels staying in IFC at the expense of Naomh Brid

Letterkenny Gaels defeated Naomh Brid by five points at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy on Sunday afternoon to retain their IFC status. 

Letterkenny Gaels 1-11 Naomh Brid 0-9

Naomh Brid were impressive in the first-half and led by three at the break but only managed to score one point in the second period and the Letterkenny men capitalised to seal the important win. 

Naomh Brid started this contest strongly with Eoin Rushe firing over a great point after 23 seconds. In the fourth minute, their lead was doubled as Liam Duffy fired over the bar. 

Letterkenny Gaels got off the mark a minute late courtesy of a free from Cormac Cannon. The Ballintra men continued their impressive start with three consecutive points. 

Eoin Rushe began this with a 13th minute free before Gearoid Gallagher and Callum Gallagher both struck over fine points to leave them four ahead after 15 minutes. 

Letterkenny responded with a score from Cormac Cannon before Naomh Brid added a further two points, firstly from Gary McCafferty and then Billy Harron soon after. 

The Letterkenny side replied once again with two good scores from the boot of Cormac Cannon to close the deficit to two points. 

In the 30th minute, Callum Gallagher struck over a superb 45’ for Naomh Brid before Cormac Cannon slotted over a free with the last kick of the half to leave Letterkenny Gaels trailing by three points at the interval. 

Letterkenny Gaels came out after the half-time break and started the second stanza impressively, scoring 1-4 without reply. 

Paul Melaugh’s men fired over three points in the opening ten minutes of the second half, all from the lively Cormac Cannon, to level the game. 

Soon afterwards, Letterkenny Gaels hit the front for the first time with wing-back Diarmuid O’Cathail kicking over a great point. 

In the 47th minute, the maroon and white men got the game’s only goal. A good run from Brian Diver saw him fist the ball across goal and Cormac Cannon was on hand to palm it home to extend their lead to four. 

Naomh Brid replied with their first score of the second half in the 48th minute with Liam Duffy striking over a fine point. 

This would be the end of Naomh Brid’s scoring however, as Letterkenny managed their advantage well and added two further points. 

Cormac Cannon kicked over a 56th minute free to see his personal tally increase to 1-9 before Conor Walker fired over shortly before Anthony McCallig’s full time whistle to mark a great afternoon for the Letterkenny side and see them retain their intermediate status for 2024. 

Letterkenny Gaels scorers: Cormac Cannon 1-9, 0-6f; Diarmuid O’Cathail 0-1; Conor Walker 0-1. 

Naomh Brid scorers: Callum Gallagher 0-2, 0-1 45’; Eoin Rushe 0-2,0-1f; Liam Duffy 0-2; Gary McCafferty 0-1; Gearoid Gallagher 0-1; Billy Harron 0-1.

Letterkenny Gaels: Ryan Graham; Ray Quinn, Niall Diver, Conor Browne; Liam McAlary, Conor Walker, Diarmuid O’Cathail; Ronan Frain, Paddy Doherty; Brian Diver, Darren Hunter, Matthew Winters; Cormac Cannon, Conor McBrearty, Neil O’Baoil. 

Subs: Kevin Langan for O’Baoil (45).

Naomh Brid: Pauric McDaid; Michael Gallagher, Gary McCafferty, TJ Gallagher; Liam Duffy, Eoin McGarrigle, Billy Harron; Callum Gallagher, Thomas Gallagher; Darren Russell, Eoin Rushe, Callum McGrory; Declan McCafferty, Gearoid Gallagher, Paul Diver. 

Subs: Caolan McGrory for Diver (50). 

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)