St Naul’s secure their place in Division 2 with big win over understrength Na Rossa

St Naul’s were goal hungry as they got the win that secures their place in Division 2 for another season. The defeat means Na Rossa will be relegated back to Division 3 after just one season.

The game as a contest was over after just 11 minutes when St Naul’s had three goals on the board. To be fair Na Rossa were decimated by injury, losing John McDyre after their game with Dungloe on Friday night and Odhran Molloy after 15 minutes of this tie. Molloy had hit two points prior to being forced off. 

Oisin Mogan was one of the St Naul’s stars, turning over ball and setting up the first goal, Thomas White finding Stephen Griffin to score after two minutes. Mogan, younger brother of county star Peadar, was certainly keeping up the family name.

Adrian Hanlon replied with a point for Na Rossa and Molloy added two more but then the home side went on a scoring spree to be 4-2 to 0-3 ahead by the 23rd minute. Thomas White and Mogan were involved in everything. White set up Johnathan O’Driscoll for the second goal before player manager Stephen Griffin finished the third.

Thomas White had St Naul’s first point of the contest and goalkeeper Joe Campbell decided to get in on the action, driving forward to get on the end of O’Driscoll’s pass to palm home a fourth goal while Declan Duignan got their second point.

Na Rossa had two points from Aidan McHugh and Adrian Hanlon but St Naul’s finished the half well with points from Duignan (2) and O’Driscoll to lead at half-time by 4-5 to 0-5.

St Naul’s continued to be relentless and 20 seconds into the new half Johnathan O’Driscoll was fouled and Declan Duignan came forward to fire home from the penalty spot.

Duignan was denied another goal by Aidan McCahill but Thomas White fisted over from the rebound, while John Relihan punished a poor kickout seconds later with the sixth goal.

From there to the final whistle it was just a matter of playing out time. Thomas White added three more points; Joe Campbell came outfield to fire over a ‘45’ and one from play and Barry Burke also got in on the scoring act.

Eugene Molloy had the sole Na Rossa second half point. There were some lovely moments from veteran Adrian Sweeney, a flick in the second half just going wide of the post.

St Naul’s have one game left, at home to Termon, but their attention now will turn to Glenswilly in the championship on the second weekend of August.

St Naul’s scorers: Stephen Griffin 2-0;  Declan Duignan 1-3, 1-0pen; Thomas White 0-5,1f; Joe Campbell 1-2,1’45’; Johnathan O’Driscoll 1-1; John Relihan 1-0; Barry Burke 0-1.

Na Rossa scorers: Adrian Hanlon, Odhran Molloy 0-2 each; Aidan McHugh, Eugene Molloy 0-1.

St Naul’s: Joe Campbell; John Rose, Barry Griffin, John Relihan; Niall Prendiville, Oisin Mogan, Daniel Gallagher; Michael Coughlan, Shane Conneely; Martin  Breslin, Thomas White, Kian McCabe; Declan Duignan, Stephen Griffin, Johnathan O’Driscoll.

Subs: Darragh Griffin for S Griffin (23); Barry Burke and Kevin Rose for D Gallagher and Conneely (36); Cathal Charlton for Relihan (37)

Na Rossa: Aidan McCahill; Eamon Bonner, Eugene Molloy, Jason Breslin; Gerard Breslin, Daniel M Melly, Jason Hanlon; Aidan McHugh, Matthew Smith; Ryan Hennessy, Adrian Hanlon, Jordan Gillespie; Christian Bonner, Adrian Sweeney, Odhran Molloy.

Subs: Keelan Devenney for O Bonner (inj 15); Paddy Boyle for Gillespie (40)

Referee: Kevin McGinley (Naomh Columba)