Naomh Conaill get Division 1 League defence off to winning start in Bundoran

Naomh Conaill got their league campaign off to a winning start with a hard fought victory over a resilient home side on Saturday night. With both teams short a host of regulars it was still an entertaining game throughout .The weather played a central role with both teams struggling to cope with the swirling gusts that Storm Kathleen provided.

Bundoran, who opted to avail of the wind in the first half, opened their account on three minutes with a fine effort from corner-back Maitiu Tierney but it was almost immediately cancelled out by a Dermot Molloy free.

Two points from Timmy Govorov (one free) edged the home team in front on nine minutes.  Veteran Glenties forward John O’Malley  levelled matters  with two expertly taken frees  on the 11th and 21st minutes.

The visitors would hit the front two minutes later with a fine move and after several quick handpasses Tiarnan Ward set up Kealan McGill to palm the ball to the net.

Despite this setback the home side came back into it and two Adam McGlone frees reduced  the arrears to a single point.

Half-time Realt na Mara 0-5, Naomh Conaill 1-3

With the men in blue and white now playing with the elements most patrons expected them to dominate but it was the Seasiders who came out of the traps fastest and were rewarded after some very patient build up play when Ryan Blanc finished well to the Naomh Conaill net on 34 minutes for a two point lead. 

Despite the concession of an early second half goal the visitors replied with a fine effort from the very impressive No 11 Tiarnan Ward.

As the temperatures rose a scuffle broke out  on 38 mins but  the handbags were soon  put away and referee Seamus McGonigle restored order without any cards being brandished 

A further 10 minutes elapsed before Brendan McDyer levelled matters on 49 minutes. Then Naomh Conaill sensed victory and twi  further scores from Ward and Molloy pushed them two ahead with five minutes left on the clock .

But as was the nature of the game the home side fashioned an excellent move with Niall Carr setting up Anton Govorov to round Stephen McGrath to slide home to the net and put his team a point up on 56 mins. But as the game entered its final minutes McDyer cut in from the right and despite being upended in taking the shot he forced an equaliser on 58 mins.

The home side would probably have settled for a draw after their defeat to Malin the previous weekend but their hearts were broken as the game entered injury time when Tiarnan Ward fired home his third point of the half to give his team a one point  victory. 

Realt na Mara  scorers: Ryan  Blanc, Anton Govorov 1-0 each; Timmy Govorov 0-2,1f; Adam McGlone 0-2,2f; Maitiu Tierney 0-1.

Naomh Conaill scorers:  Kealan Magill 1-0; Tiarnan Ward 0-3; Dermot Molloy 0-2,1f; John O Malley  0-2,2f; Brendan McDyer 0-02 

Realt na Mara: Conor Carty; Maitiu Tierney, Matthew Duffy, Lee Smyth; Ryan McGloin, Oisin Walsh, Matthew Ward; Niall Carr, Ciaran McCaughey; Danny Conwell, Darragh Hoey, Anton Govorov; Ryan Blanc, Adam McGlone, Timmy Govorov.

Subs: Conor Jack McManus for C McCaughey (33); Oran Gallagher for M Ward (55)

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Jason Campbell, A J Gallagher, Stephen Molloy; Hughie Gallagher, Sean Roarty, Logan Quinn;  Anthony Thompson, Neil Francis Boyle; Kealan McGill,  Tiarnan Ward, Dermot Molloy; John O’Malley, Leo Dunphy, Brendan McDyer.

Subs: Cian Doherty for S Roarty (36); Shane Mc Devitt for L Dunphy (58); Ultan Doherty for S Molloy (58)

Referee: Seamus McGonigle Aodh Ruadh.