Gaoth Dobhair come through crazy contest against Ardara to reach Donegal SFC semi

Gaoth Dobhair might’ve been the ones expected against Ardara in the Donegal SFC but the manner of their victory wasn’t one many could’ve anticipated. 

Gaoth Dobhair 5-14 Ardara 3-11

Páirc Naomh Fionnan in Falcarragh played host to a match that swung furiously in the opening half with Gaoth Dobhair eventually coming out on top in a high-scoring affair. An example of just how much it turned, was that Gaoth Dobahir went from eight up to six down to 10 up to win by nine in a match that had eight different goalscorers.

Daire Ó Baoill, Eamon McGee, Cian McEntee, Cathal de Burca and James Ó Baoill all found the net for the side managed by Ronan MacNiallais and Francie Friel, with Ethan Harkin’s seven points essential. Ardara contributed plenty to the hour and more, with Karl Joseph Molloy, Cailum Mally and Kevin Whyte scoring goals.

Damian Devaney’s side, with the wind, were 3-8 to 2-9 in front at half-time, although after the break, things were more conventional as Gaoth Dobhair made the last four for the sixth time in the last seven years. Not even four minutes had been played and Gaoth Dobhair were seven points in front, 2-1 to 0-0, with Ardara caught cold.

Following his travels and substitute run against Dungloe in the last 12, Daire Ó Baoill was starting for Gaoth Dobhair and on 55 seconds he had goaled following a pass from Gavin Bride.  

Then, after a point from Stephen Doyle McFadden, Eamon McGee bundled home a second goal with Charlie Bennett, the Ardara corner-back, trying with no luck to keep out the shot. 

Karl Joseph Molloy opened Ardara’s account on five minutes but by the eighth Gaoth Dobhair had pushed their lead out to eight, 2-3 to 0-1, with Ethan Harkin posting the first of his four first-half points.

Then, it began to change, with Ardara going for broke - which sounds unusual considering the contest was still in its first quarter - and managed to score three goals in six minutes. CJ Molloy’s involvement was central to all three.

Firstly, 11 minutes in, Paddy McGrath fed CJ Molloy from deep and his lay-off to Karl Joseph Molloy was excellently finished, off the underside of Daithí Roberts’ crossbar. When Cahlie Bennett pointed moments later it gave the Arda support some voice and on 14 minutes they had further reason to cheer. 

This time, Cailum Mally scored the goal after another  CJ Molloy assist, showing quick hands from Paddy McGrath’s long ball from the centre of the field. It meant the score was level at 2-3 to 2-3.

Ardara, by this stage pinching themselves, scored their third goal two minutes later as Whyte, who was having a brilliant first half, was the one to feed off CJ Molloy and score. Whyte’s tail was up and he kicked two of the game’s next four points, all of which came from the Pearse Park club. On 22 minutes, Ardara, somehow, were in front by six on a scoreline of 3-8 to 2-5. 

However, the last four points of the half were all Gaoth Dobhair with Gavin McBride, Harkin and McEntee taking their side back to just two down at the break, 2-9 to 3-8. Neil McGee, who wasn't fit to start, came on for the second half, alongside Kieran Gillespie, who was in for the first time this season.

It’s 10 years since Ardara last made the semi-finals, where they managed to defeat Gaoth Dobhair 0-10 to 0-5 in Letterkenny before giving Glenswilly a severe scare in the last four. The second half wasn’t the same, though, with a goal from McEntee, who ran completely unchallenged down the Ardara left before shooting past Gareth Concarr. It put Gaoth Dobhair one up and they wouldn’t be caught from there.

Harkin knocked over a crisp free from distance and with Ardara’s attacks becoming more infrequent, Gaoth Dobhair edged four in front. With two minutes left, it was 3-14 to 3-10 for Gaoth Dobhair and whatever sense of unpredictability remained was soon extinguished. 

With two minutes to play, Cathal de Burca hit the fourth Gaoth Dobhair goal and just to put the stamp on it, James Ó Baoill took on Harkin’s pass and banged home the fifth.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Daire Ó Baoill, Eamon McGee, Cian McEntee, Cathal de Burca James Ó Baoill 1-0; Ethan Harkin 0-7, 5f; Gavin McBride 0-4; Stephen Doyle McFadden, Cian McEntee, James Ó Baoill 0-1.
Ardara scorers: Kevin Whyte 1-4; Karl Joseph Molloy 1-4, 3f; Cailum Mally 1-1; Charlie Bennett 0-1; John Ross Molloy 0-1. 

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Aodán Bhreathnach, Kieran Gillespie, Gary McFadden; Niall Friel, Eamon McGee, Michéal Roarty; Daire Ó Baoill, Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde; Stephen Doyle McFadden, Odhrán Mac Niallais, James Ó Baoill; Ethan Harkin, Gavin McBride, Cian McEntee. Subs: Seaghan Ferry for McFadden (half-time), Neil McGee for Roarty (44), Cathal de Burca for McEntee (48), Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde for McBride (59), Feargal Delaney for Bhreathnach (60)

Ardara: Gareth Concarr; Charlie Bennett, Shane Whyte, Shane Mooney; Danny Walsh, Paddy McGrath, Joe Melly; John Ross Molloy, Conor Classon; Ronan Breslin, Paul Walsh, Cailum Mally; Karl Joseph Molloy, CJ Molloy, Kevin Whyte. Subs: Oisin O’Donnell for Bennett (half-time), Stefan Boyle for Breslin (55)
Referee: Stephen Doherty (Red Hughs)