Buncrana get their season off the mark with dominant win over Dungloe

Buncrana had the better of this entertaining and high-scoring affair at The Scarvey on Friday night as they seen off visitors Dungloe.

For the winners, Caolan O’Neill and Kevin O’Rourke in particular, were prolific scorers in both halves and scored a total of 4-7 between them and caused the Dungloe defence some major headaches.

Ruairi Doherty was also a major figure for the winners who led by 3-6 to 1-4 at the break. And while Dungloe improved in the second half they never looked like overhauling an impressive Buncrana outfit.

O’Neill got Buncrana off the mark with pointed frees and two well-finished goals from O’Rourke pushed them into a 2- 5 to a 1-2 by the 14th minute with Liam Breathnach finding the net for Dungloe.

O’Rourke hit another goal before half time with Dungloe responding through pointed frees from Eoghan Mulligan.  But it was all Buncrana and the elusive O’Rourke netted again as Dungloe replied through Mulligan.

Dungloe were sharper in the second half and main man Mulligan landed some fine points. But O’Neill found the net again and Dylan Duffy, Doherty, O’Rourke and Peter Grant added points.

Oisin Diver and a late Evan McFadden penalty put a gloss on matters with three-pointers for Dungloe. But there was no doubting the home side’s superiority, and they were well worth their ten-point victory.      

Buncrana scorers: Kevin O’Rourke 3-2; Caolan O’Neill 1-5,4f; Ruairi Doherty 0-5; Dylan Duffy 0-3; Peter Grant 0-1.

Dungloe scorers: Oisin Diver 1-2; Evan McFadden 1-1,pen; Odhran Mulligan 0-4f; Liam Breathnach 1-0; Eoghan Walsh 0-1; Rob Ryan 0-1.

Buncrana: Tom Mitchell; Ruairi Scott, John Vaughan, Kieran Doherty; Cathal Og Wilson, Declan McCarron, Martin Shiels; Caolan O’Neill, Peter Grant; Tom Clare, Dylan Duffy, Ruairi Doherty; Kevin Vaughan, Ciaran McLaughlin, Kevin O’Rourke.

Dungloe: Philip Rodgers; Odhran Duffy, Cormac Hanlon, Tristan Boyle; Sean O’Donnell Browne, Robert Ryan, Nicholas Wehrley; Eamon McGarvey, Evan McFadden; Brendan Boyle, Eoghan Walsh, Odhran Mulligan; Liam Breathnach, Oisin Diver, Fintan O’Toole.

Referee: Aidan McAleer (Muff)