Daithi Gildea's nine points give Glenswilly dream U-21A start against St Eunan's

Glenswilly opened their Donegal U-21A Championship with a narrow win over local rivals St. Eunan’s with Daithi Gildea kicking nine points.

Glenswilly 1-12 St Eunan’s 2-8

A point separated the sides at the end of a good competitive contest with last year’s U-21B winners coming out on top.

Gildea showed nerves of steel to score a late winner from an awkward enough angle to clinch the win for Adrian Glackin’s charges.

Gildea had already kicked eight points and was well on his way to the man-of-the-match accolade when he stepped up to that late free. David Boyle from St Eunan’s marksman had two late chances for an equaliser but they were a good bit further out.

Glenswilly were the better balanced side and they led by five points, 1-8 to 1-3 at half-time with Oisin McGrenra scoring the home side’s goal and Noel O’Donnell doing likewise for the Letterkenny side.

A David Horgan goal for St Eunans followed by two converted Boyle points tied up the game to set up a frantic finish. And in time added, Gildea delivered a good opening day win for Glenswilly.

Glenswilly scorers: Daithi Gildea 0-9, 6f, 1m; Oisin McGrenra 1-0, Reid Kelly, Kealan Dunleavy, Mark Bonner 0-1 each.
St Eunan's: Noel O’Donnell, David Horgan 1-0, each, David Boyle 0-3,3f, Ciaran Moore 0-2, Eoin Dowling, Kieran Tobiin, Leon Boyce 0-1 each.

Glenswilly: Keelan Curran; Donal Gallagher, Jake Kelly, Mikey Toner; Mark Bonner, Sean Collum, Reid Kelly; Jack Gallagher, Kealan Dunleavy; Eoghan Scott, Darragh Enright, Gerard Shields, Oisin McGrenra; Emmet O’Boyle, Daithi Gildea. Subs: Gary Kelly for E O Boyle (45), Dylan McAteer for G Shields (58).
St Eunan’s: Fintan Doherty; Gavin McCarron, Nathan Plumb, Sean Freeburn; Noel O’Donnell, Josh Hay, David Horgan; Ciaran Moore, Eoin Dowling; Donnacha Devenney, Noah Barrett, Lorcan O Donnell; Lorcan Harvey, David Boyle, Leon Boyce. Subs: Kieran Tobin and Brian Drumm for D Devenny and L O’Donnell ( half-time), Eoghan Doherty for L Boyce (50), L Boyce for B Drumm (56).
Referee: Pat Barrett ( Milford).