Glenswilly down Naomh Conaill to lift U-18 title

Glenswilly were crowned Under-18 county champions with a fine five-point victory over Naomh Conaill at a wet and windy Convoy on Friday night. 

Glenswilly: 1-6 Naomh Conaill: 0-4

The first half was a low-scoring affair with both sides having to deal with the horrific weather conditions. The opening period was evenly poised, however, Glenswilly were more clinical with their chances. 

The Glen men got the game’s opening three scores, all coming from the boot of corner forward Daithi Gildea. 

The first of these came from a fifth-minute free before he added another placed ball on the 10-minute mark. The Glenswilly sharpshooter added his third with a fine score after 14 minutes to mark a great opening quarter for Glenswilly. 

Naomh Conaill came into the contest in the second quarter but were unable to add scores from the opportunities which they created. 

The Glenties side finally got themselves off the mark with a superb score from Shea Malone after 29 minutes to leave two points between the sides at the break. 

Glenswilly came out after the interval and started the second stanza brightly. Paddy Ward launched a long ball into Oisin McGrenra who shot for goal but his attempt was blazed over for a point. 

Naomh Conaill replied well though, with two consecutive scores. The first of was added with a strike from midfielder Tiarnan Ward before the same man kicked over a fantastic score from distance five minutes later to leave just a point separating the sides. 

The Glen men replied immediately however, as Reid Kelly slotted over a fine point from out on the left sideline to increase his side's cushion to two. 

In the 50th minute, Michael Murphy’s side's lead was stretched to three as substitute Matthew Enright slotted over the bar. This was soon canceled out however as a minute later Shea Malone kicked over a fine point for the Glenties men. 

In the minutes that followed Naomh Conaill had a number of glorious opportunities to close the gap but they failed to capitalise on each occasion. This spell included a fantastic goal chance where Oran Doherty squared the ball to Max Campbell but the wing-back was unable to hit his palmed effort into the back of the net. 

In the closing stages of the contest, Glenswilly were awarded a spot kick. Oisin McGrenra was fouled when attempting to shoot at goal and Marc Brown awarded the spot kick. 

Reid Kelly stepped up to take the corresponding penalty and slotted it into the bottom corner to stretch the lead to five points. Marc Brown soon blew the full time whistle to mark a fine night for the Glenswilly faithful. 

Naomh Conaill scorers: Shea Malone 0-2, Tiarnan Ward 0-2. 

Glenswilly scorers Reid Kelly 1-1,1-0 pen, Daithi Ward 0-3,0-2f, Matthew Enright 0-1, Oisin McGrenra 0-1.

Naomh Conaill: Dylan McGlynn; Conan Brannigan, Jacky Chen, Feargus Campbell; Peter McGlynn, Oran Doherty, Max Campbell; Finnbarr Roarty, Tiarnan Ward; Conor Gildea, Mark McDevitt, Thomas McDevitt; Cian Kelly, Shea Malone, Danny Brown.

Subs: Conor Farrell for Kelly (Half time), Jamie McMonagle-Quinn for Thomas McDevitt (49), 

Glenswilly: John Quinn; Oran Cannon, Jamie McCauley, Mickey Toner; Dylan McAteer, Donal Gallagher, Aidan Friel; Darragh Enright, Paddy Ward; Reid Kelly, Eoghan Scott, Pauric Devine; Oisin McGrenra, Shane Walsh, Daithi Gildea. 

Subs: Matthew Enright for Walsh (Half time), Liam McGinley for Friel (60), Shane Tunney for McGrenra (62).

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters)