Gaoth Dobhair hold on against MacCumhaills to register another league win

On a day that Storm Kathleen turned this game into something of a lottery, Gaoth Dobhair prevailed at Magheragallon against a battling Sean MacCumhaills. 

At the final whistle, a 26th-minute Cathal Gillespie goal separated the sides as the locals chalked up their second Division 1 win of the season.

Gillespie drove to the back of Eoin Gallen’s net after being sent clear by full forward Eoin De Burca. The goal was Gaoth Dobhair's only score of the half but it was still enough to send them in one up at the interval.

The hosts led 1-0 to 0-2 at the halfway mark with Kevin McCormack and substitute Marty O’Reilly scoring as MacCumhaills struggled with the strong diagonal wind. 

O’Reilly pointed shortly after replacing the injured Andrew McCloskey who was forced out of the game through injury.

The Finnsiders started the second half on the front foot and they were presented with a great opportunity to hit the front when Chad McSorley was brought down inside the large rectangle for a penalty.

That was two minutes into the new half but Joel Bradley Walsh drove the conversion up and over the bar for a point. 

It was a big let-off for Gaoth Dobhair and they responded with points from Ethan Harkin and Ciaran Gillespie to go two up again inside 35 minutes.

But MacCumhaills refused to buckle and O’Reilly, who had a fine game after his introduction, cut the lead back to one again by the end of the third quarter. 

However, Harkin judged the wind to perfection to land three long-range strikes, one from a free while MacCumhaills also registered through McCormack.

The Twin Towns men pressed late on and had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Mark Brown.   

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Ethan Harkin 0-4,2f; Cathal Gillespie 1-0; Ciaran Gillespie 0-1. 

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Kevin McCormac and Marty O’Reilly 0-2 each; Joel Bradley Walsh 0-1. 

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Eamonn Mac Giolla Bhride, Danny Curran, Ferghal Delaney; Cathal de Burca, Niall Friel, Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde; Ciaran Gillespie, Sean Doherty; Stephen Donna McFadden, Cian MacEntee, Fionnan Mac Giolla Chomhaill; Ethan Harkin, Eoin de Burca, Cathal Gillespie.

Subs; Seaghan Ferry for Mac Giolla Chomhaill (38); Fiachra Mac Giolla Chomhaill for N Mcc Giolla Bhríde (44); Jamie Doherty for  S D McFadden (56). 

Sean MacCumhaills: Eoin Gallen; Cian Mulligan, Conor Griffin, Andrew McCloskey; Jack Duffy, Aaron Gillooley, Adam Lynch; Chad McSorley, Joel Bradley Walsh; Fionan Griffin, Jamie Keegan, Sean Breen; Kevin McCormack, Aaron Lynch, Rory Mulligan.

Subs; Marty O’Reilly for A McCloskey (23,inj); Andrew Murray for A Kelly (58). 

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters).