Chill Chartha through to Comortas sinsir final after enthralling semi-final

Chill Chartha are through to the Comortas Peil na Gaeltachta final after an enthralling semi-final against hosts Cill na Martra after extra-time.

The sides were close all through but an Eoin Mac Aoidh goal in extra-time was the difference.

Cill na Martra at two points in the opening seven minutes from D O Conaill and S O Foireidh before Maitiu Mac Giolla Aon replied from a free on nine minutes.

Mac Giolla Aon hit a second from play and then a good run from Odhran O Dughain won a free for Mac Giolla Aon to push Kilcar ahead 0-3 to 0-2 on 16 minutes.

Eoin Mac Aoidh had an effort for a goal saved but Chill Chartha won a free in the follow up and Mac Giolla Aon had his fourth point.

Jason Mac Carthaigh cut the lead for the home side but Stiofan Mac Briartaigh hit a good point on the run for Chill Chartha. Mikey O Duinnin left it 0-5 to 0-4 by the 27th minute in a contest that was very close.

Maitiu Mac Giolla Aon won and landed his fifth score as the game entered added time and Ciaran Mac Fhionnghaile made the break for Stiofan Mac Briartaigh to put three between the sides at the break.

Half-time: Chill Chartha 0-7, Cill na Martra 0-4.

Dan O Conaill opened Cill na Martra’s second half account and Sean O Foireidh cut the Chill Chartha lead to the minimum with just four minutes of the second half played. The home side should have been level but a free was short and Chill Chartha went forward for Eoin Mac Aoidh to point at the other end.

Dan O Conaill cut through to reduce the leeway once more on 40 minutes and the sides were level two minutes later.

Stiofain Mac Briartaigh restored the Chill Chartha lead and Marc Mac Aoidh put them 0-10 to 0-8 ahead on 48 minutes. Seaghan O Duinnin hit back almost immediately and Sean O Foireadh had a goal chance but fired over to leave the sides level with nine minutes left. The home side’s most impressive player Dan O Conaill then struck to put Cill na Martra ahead and Shane O Duinnin doubled the lead.

Ciaran Mac Fhionnghaile had a goal chance saved while Dan O Conaill had the chance to kill the game but fired wide from close range. T O Corcora put Cill na Martra three ahead with two minutes left.

Maitiu Mac Giolla Aon fired over a free and Stiofan Mac Briartaigh hit a wonder point from outside the ‘45’ to cut the lead to the minimum with the game entering added time. Eoin Mac Aoidh won a free with a minute of three allocated expired and Maitiu Mac Giolla Aon sent the game to extra-time.

Ciaran O Duinnin pushed Cill na Martra ahead in added time and Chill Chartha spurned a goal chance when Gearoid O Ludhog was almost in before the lead was doubled. Maitiu Mac Giolla Aon was just short with a 45m free but Brian O Domhnaill, back in the action, cut the lead with a fisted point but Mac Giolla Aon was wide with a 42m free at the end of the first period of added time.

Another free was just wide for Chill Chartha at the start of the second period but they were back in  front when Eoin Mac Aoidh played a one-two with Marc and he found the corner of the net. Stiofan Mac Briartaigh had a great chance to extend the lead but left his effort short.

Jason Mac Carthaigh cut the lead again from a free with four minutes left and ‘keeper Marc  O Deasuna came forward to land a 45m free to level things again.

There was another twist as an effort for a point from Eoin Mac Aoidh dropped short and Padraic Mac Seain picked up the rebound to fire home a second goal for Chill Chartha with just over a minute of normal time left.

The Cill na Martra ‘keeper pointed a ‘45’ but Chill Chartha added a final point from Rian Mac Seain. They had to survive another late scare as ‘keeper Eoin O Domhnaill made a great save and they held on to reach the Comortas final where they will play Naomh Eanna, Leitir Mór tomorrow.

Chill Chartha scorers: Maitiu Mac Giolla Aon 0-7,5f; Stiofan Mac Briartaigh 0-4; Eoin Mac Aoidh (1-1); Padraic Mac Seain 1-0; Marc Mac Aoidh, Rian Mac Seain, Brian O Domhnaill 0-1 each

Chill Chartha: E O Domhnaill; B O Domhnaill, P Mac Giolla Chearra, R Mac Seain; C O Dubhgain, M Mac Aoidh, O O Dubhgain; C Mac Fhionnghaile, E Mac Aoidh; E Caomanach, C O Dochartaigh, M Mac Giolla Aon; P Mac Seain, S Mac Briartaigh, R O Domhnaill.

Subs: Barra Mac Fhionnghaile le B O Domhnaill (43); Padraic Mac Seain le P Mac Seain (48); Gearoid O Ludhog for R O Domhnaill (55); Conor O Domhnaill