Gaoth Dobhair stay top of Division 1 after narrow St Michael’s win 

Gaoth Dobhair remain in pole position at the top of the All-County League Division 1 following Sunday’s win over St Michael’s in Magheragallon. 

As the scoreline suggests this was a close encounter and the locals were thanking their lucky stars to escape with the points after being pushed all the way by an injury ravaged St Michael’s. 

The Ronan MacNiallais-managed Gaoth Dobhair were also relieved to see an Andrew Kelly strike late in the first-half crash off one goal post, rebound across the goalline and subsequently bounce off the opposite upright before being cleared.

St Michael’s were leading by a point at the time and a goal there would have taken the men from the Bridge to the dressing room holding a four-point lead.

In a tight game, that was a big let-off for Gaoth Dobhair and, in the end, they just about held on for the win. 

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Ethan Harkin 0-2, Cathal Gillespie 0-2, Michéal Roarty,  Adam McGeever, Eoin De Burca, Cathal Gillespie 0-1 each. 

St Michael’s scorers: Kyle McGarvey 0-2, Edward O’Reilly, Carlos O’Reilly, Kieran Kelly, Martin McElhinney, Oisin Langan 0-1 each. 

Gaoth Dobhair: Gavin Sweeney; Aodan Breathnach, Kieran Gillespie, Shaun Rua Gallagher; Adam McGeever, Niall Friel, Michéal Roarty; Danny Curran, Donal Mc Bride; Cathal De Burca, Shaun Doherty, Eoin De Burca; Ethan Harkin, Cathal Gillespie, Mark McFadden. 

Subs: Cian McEntee for C De Burca (38), James Ó Baoill for M McFadden (45), Feargal Delaney for S Rua Gallagher (52), Daithi Roberts for G Sweeney (53).

St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Paddy McGinley, Liam Paul Ferry, Stephen Doak; Kieran Kelly, Michael McGinley, Martin Breslin, Kyle McGarvey, Antoin McFadden; Paul Johnson, Carlos O’Reilly, Andrew  Kelly; Edward O’Reilly, Martin McElhinney, Oisin Langan.