Naomh Conaill snatch one-point victory against Gowna from an injury-time goal

With their prospects hanging by a thread at best, a Kevin McGettigan goal with virtually the last kick of the Ulster Club SFC quarter-final gave Naomh Conaill the most dramatic of wins in Cavan.
Gowna 1-10 Naomh Conaill 2-8

The Donegal SFC holders were four up at the break and looking good, before getting pegged back by Gowna and in the fourth of three minutes of injury time were two down, 1-10 to 1-8. It looked all but over.

From a free out on the right, Anthony Thompson played a give-and-go with Mark McDevitt and lobbed in a ball more in hope than expectation and amid the melee with over 25 players trying to grasp the ball, it was poked in at the back post by McGettigan for a match-winning goal.

Naomh Conaill, seconds later, were celebrating victory as the final whistle went, knowing they’d smashed and grabbed. Gowna were devastated.

At the end of a first half when the margins were thin, Brendan McDyer tried a high ball into Charlie McGuinness, which Gowna netminder Ronan Bannon telegraphed. However, the goalkeeper’s interception wasn’t enough to eradicate the danger, although it looked momentarily as though he might’ve gotten away with it. He wouldn’t.

The ball broke to Leo McLoone, whose quick-thinking and excellent execution saw him lob the stranded Bannon from just over 20 metres to put Martin Regan’s team four in front, 1-5 to 0-4. It was one of those where the ground fell silent as McLoone stood like a golfer waiting for a putt to drop.

In the second half, though, Gowna managed to get back on terms, with Conor Brady’s goal on 43 the score that brought parity at 1-5 each. Naomh Conaill could write a book about close-run things and although they have a history of coming through the bulk of them, they were caught in Ulster last year by Cargin of Belfast. 

At the start, Odhrán Doherty, who had levelled out an opening free from Gowna’s Oisin Pierson, provided a meaty diagonal ball towards the Gowna square on eight minutes. McGuinness won the aerial ball well and was unfortunate to see his shot come back off the butt of the post.

Naomh Conaill kicked three wides by the 12th minute and Gowna two, although Ryan Donohoe’s curler and then Odhrán Doherty’s outside-of-boot score were both of the highest order. It was 0-2 to 0-2 at the midpoint of the first half.

Conor Casey and Mark McKeever both gave Gowna, managed by Fintan Kelly, one-point advantages, only for two Naomh Conaill breakaways to end with scores from AJ Gallagher and then Eunan Doherty. That left it 0-4 to 0-4. However, a point from McDyer and then McLoone’s deftly finished goal meant that Naomh Conaill’s half-time tea was with that four-point margin at half-time.

Four years ago at this stage and same venue, it was more about four days. That was all Naomh Conaill had between their Wednesday night second-replay win over Gaoth Dobhair in Ballybofey and their 1-11 to 0-11 victory in Cavan over Castlerahan, who had lifted their local crown.

Gowna came into the quarter-final on form from their domestic title, where they trailed at one stage by four points early on to run in a 5-15 to 0-13 win over Kingscourt, the same afternoon Naomh Conaill were winning a seventh Dr Maguire in Donegal.

As they had beforehand, Naomh Conaill emerged from the tunnel to a huge roar from the travelling support. Those in blue and white weren’t so appreciative of referee Kevin Faloon, who brought in a free that Cian Madden stroked over for the first score of the second half.

Gowna’s U-21 contingent is in double figures and although that meant they were not of the same level of experience as Naomh Conaill, there was also the innocence of youth and fearlessness as they tried to find a way back.

By the 43rd minute there was only one point scored in the second half, before Gowna fashioned a goal that got them back on terms. Seanie Hartin got in around the back from Casey’s ball in and squaring, in came Conor Brady to slap home. Breffni awoke, with the score level at 1-5 to 1-5.

Twice Naomh Conaill went in front by one, through Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí and McLoone, but twice Gaowna came back on terms with Robbie Fitzpatrick and Tiarnan Madden scoring for 1-7 apiece.

With seven to play Conor Madden split the posts and Gowna were in front, only for the composure of John O’Malley to take it to 1-8 1-8 with four to play. However, when it was there to be won it looked as though it was Gowna, with Conor Brady and Cian Madden giving them a two-point lead in injury time. It just about looked to be enough. But McGettigan saved the day.

At the Naomh Conaill supporters greeted their team on the pitch afterwards, and the lights went out. They're just glad the lights on their Ulster campaign hadn't. Next up is a clash with Watty Grahams, the Derry and Ulster champions, in two weeks’ time.

Gowna scorers: Conor Brady 1-1; Cian Madden 0-2, 1f; Oisin Pierson, Conor Casey 0-1, 1f; Ryan Donohoe, Mark; McKeever, Robbie Fitzpatrick, Tiarnan Madden. Conor Madden 0-1.
Naomh Conail scorers: Leo McLoone 1-1; Kevin McGettigan 1-0; Odhrán Doherty 0-2; AJ Gallagher, Eunan Doherty, Brendan McDyer, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí 0-1 each; John O’Malley 0-1, 1f;

Gowna: Ronan Bannon; Fionan Brady, Eoghan Hartin, Seanie Hartin; Ryan Mcgahern, Conor Madden, Conor Brady; Tiarnan Madden, Ryan Donohoe; Mark McKeever, Ryan Brady, Robbie Fitzpatrick; Oisin Pierson, Cian Madden, Conor Casey. Subs: Daire Madden for Pierson (60+3)

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Jason Campbell, AJ Gallagher, Ultan Doherty; Kevin McGettigan, Anthony Thompson, Ethan O’Donnell; Leo McLoone, Ciaran Thompson; Brendan McDyer, Odhrán Doherty; Eunan Doherty; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Charlie McGuinness, John O’Malley. Subs: Eoin Waide for Campbell (50), Mark McDevitt for McDyer (55), Keelan McGill for E Doherty (60+1)

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh).