Gaeil Fhánada earn draw with Na Rossa after great comeback

With eight minutes to go Na Rossa led by six points, but a spirited Fanad fightback earned a last gasp draw in this Division 2 encounter

Conditions were tricky in Madavagh for this match on Saturday evening. Rain had largely cleared but the previous rain left the surface slippy. Former county star Adrian Sweeney was in fine form throughout. He registered three of Na Rossa's first four points,  one coming via a well fielded ball to claim a mark deep in Fanad territory. 

Odhran Molloy and Adrian Hanlon from long range pointed well from play. Liam McGrenaghan had Fanad’s first point and before half-time he bagged two more to leave four between them at the break, Na Rossa 0-7, Fanad 0-3. 

The second half began with McGrenaghan drilling a long ball in which found Paul Coyle to close the gap to three.

Two well taken Na Rossa scores were to soon follow from Adrian Sweeney from 30 metres out via a free, and Adrian Hanlon evading numerous Fanad tackles to point from the 20m line from play to leave the score 0-9 to 0-6 ten minutes into the second half. Shaun Kerr and McGrenaghan were the Fanad scorers.

Paddy Carr had another for Fanad before Na Rossa seemed to have a strong grasp on the two points when a swift team move brilliantly worked resulted in Adrian Hanlon scoring a goal from close range to leave it Na Rossa 1-9, Fanad 0-7. 

Adam Bonner and Sean Kerr traded points and a Adrian Sweeney free left six between them with five  minutes plus injury time left. 

But big Michael Sweeney cut the deficit fielding a high ball, turning and finding the Na Rossa net and he quickly added a point before Alan McAteer left just one between them with two minutes of normal time left.

Sean Carr had a goal chance before Mark McAteer hit the equaliser after good work by Mark McConigley. Fanad had a couple of chances to win it but left for home very happy with a share.

Na Rossa scorers: Adrian Sweeney 0-6; Adrian Hanlon 1-2; Aidan McHugh 0-2; Odhran Molloy 0-1.

Fanad Gaels scorers: Michael Sweeney 1-1; Liam McGrenaghan 0-4; Mark McAteer, Alan McAteer, Sean Kerr, Paddy Carr, Shaun Kerr, Paul Coyle 0-1 each.

Na Rossa: Aidan McCahill; Mark  Bonner, Johnny Bonner, Brian O’Donnell; Conor Bonner, Daniel M Melly, Jason Hanlon; Eugene Molloy, John McDyre; Eamon Bonner, Keelin Devenney, Aidan McHugh; Adrian Hanlon, Adrian Sweeney, Odhran Molloy.

Subs: Patrick Melly for Eamon Bonner; Pauric O'Donnell for Keelin Devenney 

Gaeil Fhánada: Mark McConigley; Shaun Kerr, Paddy Heraghty, Callum McAteer; Michael McDevitt, James Gallagher,  Brandon McClafferty; Odhran Shiels, Paddy Carr; Paul Coyle, Liam McGrenaghan, Mark  McAteer; Darren McElwaine, James Kerr, Alan McAteer. 

Subs: Oisin McFadden for McDevitt (25); Michael Sweeney for James Kerr (40); Shaun Carr for Paul Coyle (43).