Na Dúnaibh pull away in second half to defeat Naomh Columba

A goal from Oisin Boyce early in the second half put Na Dunaibh on their way to victory against Naomh Columba in Downings on Saturday evening.

The win goes a long way to making the Rosguill men safe  in Division 1 for 2025. However, it looks as if Naomh Columba will be involved in a three-way battle at the bottom of the table. The men from Glen have two games left, home to Glenfin and away to St Michael’s and all three are in need of points to secure their status.

On Saturday evening Johnny McGroddy was on form from placed balls for Na Dunaibh, hitting six from frees and one from play. He accounted for four of their five in the opening half as they led 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

Then a ‘45’ from Ronan Gallagher was finished to the Naomh Columba net by Oisin Boyce to send the home side on their way to victory. McGroddy hit another three frees while Paddy McElwee also chipped in with a couple of points.

Ná Dunaibh scorers: Johnny McGroddy 0-7,6f; Keelan McGroddy, Paddy McElwee 0-2 each; Ronan Gallagher, Paidin Shields 0-1 each.

Naomh Columba scorers: Eric Carr 0-2; Shane Callaghan, Lanty Molloy, Sean Hardy, Paul O’Hare 0-1 each.

Na Dunaibh: Aaron McClafferty; Paidin Shields, Ben McNutt, Hugh Davis; Padraig McGinty, Kevin Doherty, Conor Boyce; Shane Boyce, Oisin Boyce; Kyle McFadden, Ronan Pasoma, Ethan Cullen; Johnny McGroddy, Keelan McGroddy, Paddy McElwee.

Subs: Ronan Gallagher and Alan Pasoma for K McFadden, S Boyce (ht); Shane Coll for O  Boyce; Dillon McGlone for C Boyce; Tiarnan McBride for A Pasoma.

Naomh Columba: Shane O’Gara; Stephen Callaghan, Barry Carr, Eric Carr; Darragh Cunningham, Paul O’Hare, Pauric Hegarty; Christopher Byrne, Declan McGuire; Shane Callaghan, Lanty Molloy, Ryan McNern; Michael Callaghan, Padraig Byrne, Ronan O’Hare.

Subs: Philip Doherty for L  Molloy (ht); Sean Hardy for M Callaghan; Adrian Breslin for B Carr; Ronan Gillespie for R O’Hare.

Referee: Stephen Doherty (Red Hughs)