Gaoth Dobhair power their way to U-21A final with big win over Naomh Conaill

Gaoth Dobhair were comprehensive 13 point winners over Naomh Conaill at the Donegal GAA Centre on Sunday afternoon to seal their progression to the Under-21A final. 

Naomh Conaill 2-9 Gaoth Dobhair 4-16

The opening period was a close affair although the Magheragallon men showed their class after the break to record a fine victory. 

Naomh Conaill started the game the brightest and found the back of the net after just four minutes. The ball found its way to Tiernan Ward who ran through on goal before lifting the ball over Daithi Roberts into the net. 

Midfielder Finnbarr Roarty added a great point a minute later to increase their early lead. 

Gaoth Dobhair responded well to the early setback. Eoin De Burca got them off the mark with a seventh minute point before Cian McEntee found the back of the net. 

Stephen McFadden found the on-rushing McEntee who ran through and buried the ball home to level the scoring. 

On 12 minutes, Gaoth Dobhair found the green flag once again. A shot from Cian McBride was well stopped by Dylan McGlynn but it resulted in a goalmouth scramble that was hit home by Cian McEntee. 

The Davy Brennan Park residents responded with a point from goalscorer Tiernan Ward but it was soon cancelled out with Fionnan Coyle pointing for Gaoth Dobhair. 

The final four scores of the opening half were shared two apiece, with Mark McDevitt sticking over two fantastic frees for Naomh Conaill and Aidan Breatnach and Cian McEntee pointing for Gaoth Dobhair to leave the Magheragallon men two ahead at the interval. 

The Glenties outfit started the second stanza with intent and found the back of the net within a minute. Substitute Jack Boyle flicked a high ball into the path of Danny Brown who slotted it into the net to put them a point ahead. 

Gaoth Dobhair enjoyed a period of dominance from this point however, hitting 2-6 without reply. 

They hit two quickfire scores through Johnny McBride and Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride before they found the back of the net. 

Fionnan Coyle made a great run before finding Cian McBride and the wing-forward rifled the ball home. 

The Magheragallon side knocked over another three successive scores courtesy of Jamie Doherty, Aiden Breatnach and Eoin De Burca before goal number four arrived. 

A good team move concluded with wing-back Johnny O’Donnell sticking the ball into the corner of the net. This was quickly followed by another good score from Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride to leave the reigning champions well in control with 15 minutes to go, holding an 11 point cushion. 

Naomh Conaill didn’t roll over however, and hit back with two fine scores from corner-forward Shea Malone. 

Gaoth Dobhair countered this with three points of their owner although with scores from Adam McGeever, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride and Cathal De Burca. 

The contest’s next four scores were traded with Daniel Gildea slotting over two great points for Naomh Conaill and Eoin De Burca and Aiden Breatnach finding the target for the Magheragallon men. 

Cian McEntee kicked over the semi-final’s final score before Seamus McGonigle called an end to proceedings and sealed Gaoth Dobhair’s progression to a second successive Under-21 final. 

Naomh Conaill scorers: Tiernan Ward 1-1, Danny Brown 1-0, Daniel Gildea 0-3,0-1f, Mark McDevitt 0-2,0-2f, Shea Malone 0-2, Finnbarr Roarty 0-1, 

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Cian McEntee 2-2, Johnny O’Donnell 1-0, Cian McBride 1-0, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride 0-3, Aiden Breatnach 0-3, Eoin De Burca 0-3, Cathal De Burca 0-1, Adam McGeever 0-1, Johnny McBride 0-1, Jamie Doherty 0-1, Fionnan Coyle 0-1. 

Naomh Conaill: Dylan McGlynn; Conan Brannigan, Mark Campbell, Odhran McCallig; Joseph Shankey, Connor Roarty, Oran Doherty; Finnbarr Roarty, Neil Francis Boyle; Daniel Gildea, Mark McDevitt, Conor Gildea; Shea Malone, Tiernan Ward, Danny Brown. 

Subs: Jack Boyle for McDevitt (Half time), Jacky Chen for C Gildea (37), Aidan Gilroy for Doherty and Sean Doherty for Brown (Both 42), Adam Molloy for Shankey (52). 

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Sean Noel McFadden, Sean Gallagher, Aiden Breatnach; Daire Ferry, Adam McGeever, Johnny O’Donnell; Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride, Stephen McFadden; Cian McEntee, Fionnan Coyle, Cian McBride; Johnny McBride, Eoin De Burca, Jamie Doherty. 

Subs: Cathal De Burca for C McBride (45), Eamonn McBride for Ferry (50), Lee McBride for O’Donnell (54). 

Referee: Seamus McGonigle (Aodh Ruadh).