Cill Chartha see off Comórtas Peile hosts Cloich Cheann Fhaola to make final

Cill Chartha are through to another Donegal Comórtas Peil Na Gaeltachta senior final following Sunday afternoon’s one-point semi-final win over Cloich Cheann Fhaola in St Finian’s Park.  

The men from the south west led by three points at half-time, 0-7 to 0-4, courtesy of points from Mark Sweeney, Eoin McHugh, Matthew McClean and Oran Doogan. 

John Fitzgerald, Conor Coyle, Ciaran Coll and Shaun McClafferty kicked the Cloughaneely points.

Cill Chartha extended the half-time advantage in the opening seconds of the new period when Ryan O’Donnell finished off a good move with the game’s opening goal.

That was three minutes into the new half and helped open up a six-point advantage for the Towney men at 1-7 to 0-4.

But with Darren McGeever, Ciaran Coll and Conor Coyle all stepping up, Cloughaneely refused to buckle. And with Fitzgerald, Coyle and Coll landing big scorers, the locals kept in touch.

And when five minutes from time, Ethan Friel outjumped Ciaran McGinley to get a flick on a Darren McGeever long delivery to find the back of the Chill Charta net, the hosts suddenly hit the front at 1-12  to 1-11. 

That goal set up a frantic finish as Eoin McHugh tied up the contest with a well-worked point bang on the hour mark. And less than a minute later, into added time, McHugh was brought down inside the large rectangle for a cast iron penalty.

With instruction from the sideline, Matthew McClean tapped over from the spot for the winning point to seal his side’s place in Monday's final. 

Cloughaneely scorers: John Fitzgerald 0-5,3ft; Ethan Friel 1-0; Conor Coyle 0-3; Ciaran Coll 0-3; Seán McClafferty 0-2,1f. 

Cill Chartha scorers: Ryan O'Donnell 1-0; Matthew McClean 0-5, 0-1 pen; Oran Doogan 0-2; Mark Sweeney 0-2; Eoin McHugh 0-2; Brian O’Donnell 0-2.

Cloughaneely; Sean McClafferty; Seamus Doogan, Ciaran Scanlon, Cian McFadden; Patrick Coyle, Michael Fitzgerald, Lorcan McGee; Darren McGeever, Ethan Friel; Conor Coyle, Sean Geaney, Ciaran Coll; Shaun Curran, John Fitzgerald, Darren Ferry. 

Subs: Cathal McGeever for S Curran (48). 

Cill Chartha: Kevin Campbell; Barry McGinley, Pauric Carr, Ryan McShane; Brian O’Donnell, Mark McHugh, Oran Doogan; Ciaran McGinley, Eoin McHugh; Stephen McBrearty, Mark Sweeney, Matthew McClean; Ryan O’Donnell, Gerard Molloy, Ben Rafferty.

Subs: Conor Doherty for Rafferty (40); Conor O’Donnell and Pauric McShane for S McBrearty and M Sweeney (both 53); Eoin McCormac for C McGinley (60+2). 

Referee: Pat Barrett (Baile Na Galloglach).