Glenswilly stave off Glenfin fightback to post victory in Division 1 return

Gary McDaid’s return to Glenswilly as manager was marked by a home victory in Division 1 of the All-County Football League over neighbours Glenfin.

McDaid, who took his local club to Donegal SFC titles alongside John McGinley in 2011, two years later on his own and then in 2016 with Michael Canning in charge, saw his team make an explosive start to lead by eight points at one stage on their return to Division 1.

Glenswilly lost goalkeeper Keelan McFadden to injury in just eight minutes, with Oisin McGrenra taking over between the posts. A strong second quarter was probably what decided it in Glenswilly’s way. The score was level at 0-2 to 0-2 on 15 minutes before points from Martin O’Donnell and then Odhran McGlynn pushed Glenfin, managed by Frank Ward, into a two-point lead.

However, on 20 minutes, Glenswilly fashioned a goal for Shane McDevitt and although Odhran O’Connor would level it at 1-2 to 0-5, Glenswilly would see out the first half impressively. Kealn Dunleavy would add another goal and McDevitt would finish the half with 1-2 and Jack Gallagher chipped in a couple from centre-back.

At the break, it was 2-4 to 0-5 for Glenswilly and three more at the start of the second half would make it 2-7 to 0-5. Glenfin, staring down the barrel, managed to get going with Odhran O’Connor hitting two, Daniel Marley one and then a goal on 47 minutes, from Jason Morrow. That brought Glenfin back to just two down, 2-7 to 1-8, although would’ve rued a missed penalty from O’Connor, who put it over the crossbar in that streak.

Glenswilly, though, steadied themselves and scored two of the last three to win out by a goal in the end.

Glenswilly scorers: Shane McDevitt 1-3; Kealan Dunleavy 1-1; Jack Gallagher 0-2; Eoghan Scott, Caolan Kelly and Seann Collum 0-1.
Glenfin scorers: Odhran O’Connor 0-4, Jason Morrow 1-1, Daniel Marley 0-2, Martin O’Donnell and Odhran McGlynn 0-1

Glenswilly: Kealan McFadden; Jake Kelly, Jamie McCauley, Oisin McDaid; Ruairí Crawford, Jack Gallagher, Shane McDaid; Kealan Dunleavy, Caolan Kelly; Sean Collum, Christopher McMonagle, Shaun Wogan; Oisin McGrenra, Eoghan Scott, Shane McDevitt. Subs: Aiden Friel for McFadden (8); Dylan McAteer for Shane McDaid (45); Eoin Devine for Christopher McMonagle (52).
Glenfin: Kaine McGlynn; Martin O’Donnell, John Harkin, Jack Long; Odhran McGlynn, Frank McGlynn, Gary Herron; Stephen Ward, Ross Marley; Mark McGinty Jnr, Aaron McGlynn, Jason Morrow; Daniel McGlynn, Odhran O’Connor, Ciaran Brady
Subs: Daniel Marley for A McGlynn (43), Jason Marley and Daire Quigley for Herron and for D McGlynn (45); Shane McGinty for F McGlynn (50)
Referee:  Enda McFeely  (St Mary's, Convoy)