Pettigo hold on to take Senior 'C' title in close encounter with MacCumhaill's

Pettigo are Donegal 'C' champions after their narrow victory over MacCumhaill's at Crossroads.

Pettigo 1-5 MacCumhaill's 0-7

Veteran Kevin Kane, Kieran McGee and the impressive John Carrigan were the toast of the winners as they accounted for all of their scores. It was a sweet win after losing the Division 4 league final earlier in the year, their only defeat during the season.

The win bridges a five year gap back to when they last had a cup in the Border town, the Junior B championship in 2018.
MacCumhaill's had much of the early possession and had a great opening point from Brian Patton from a free on three minutes.

Cathal Cannon added a second two minutes later but eventually Pettigo got into their stride. Johnny McManus started at full-back but was moved to his usual half-back role and he made a great surge forward. He found Kevin Kane in support and he blasted to the roof of the net.

It could have got much better on 19 minutes when Kieran McGee found himself in a great position in front of goal. He could have palmed to the net but caught it and then fisted over.

MacCumhaill's response was good and they won a penalty on 22 minutes when Brian Lafferty was fouled. But from the spot Chris Gallen pulled his effort well wide of the post for a big let-off.

The Twin Towns side did get going after a couple of wides and added three quick points from Brian Lafferty (with two) and Chris Gallen to be one up, 0-5 to 1-1 after 25 minutes. Pettigo did have a couple of opportunities from frees but MacCumhaill's took the one point lead to the dressing room.

Pettigo had a whirlwind start to the second half with a point after 15 seconds from Kevin Kane and another from John Carrigan a minute later to take the lead again.

MacCumhaill's were wide with a number of chances before John Carrigan looped over but Darren O'Leary cancelled that score. But again Carrigan responded with his third to keep Pettigo's two point advantage.

Ciaran Barry picked up a black card for a foul on Brian Lafferty but Brian Patton was wide from the resultant free.
Pettigo had a couple of chances but deep in added time Darren O'Leary cut the lead to the minimum from a free and a minute later he had the chance to get a replay but was just off target.

Pettigo scores: Kevin Kane 1-1; John Carrigan 0-3; Kieran McGee 0-1
MacCumhaill's scorers: Brian Patton 0-2,1f; Brian Lafferty 0-2; Darren O'Leary 0-2,2f; Chris Gallen 0-1

Pettigo: Adam McBarron; Darren Lynch, Johnny McManus, Enda Baird; Eoghan Cross, Ciaran Barry, Reece McGrath; Kieran McGee, Shaun Robinson; Oliver McCaughey, Kevin Kane, Sean Maher; John Carrigan, David Robinson, Aidy Britton.
Subs: Jack Britton for Baird (27); Eoghan McGoldrick for McCaughey (45); John Honney for Maher (50); Conor Honney for A Britton (60+4).

MacCumhaill's: Mark Cannon; Gavin Doherty, Brendan Heeney, Conor Murphy, Darren McGowan, Joe Dunnion, Gary Wilson; Adrian Gillespie, Stephen Summerville; Paul McCauley, Christopher Gallen, Brian Patton; Darragh Boyle, Brian Lafferty, Cathal Cannon.
Subs: Evan Long for McCauley (ht); Darren O'Leary for Gallen (40); Ciaran Barron for McGowan (43); Pat McNulty for Gillespie (51)

Referee: Dermot McColgan (Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin)