Carndonagh crowned Division 3 champions at St Mary’s, Convoy’s expense 

Carndonagh are Donegal All-County League Division 2 champions following Sunday’s decider win over St Mary’s, Convoy in Hibernian Park, Burt. 

Three points separated the sides at the finish with Cian Doherty, Ryan Kelly, Daniel McDaid, John O’Callaghan and Keith Norris posting the points for the champions in what was a highly entertaining and fast flowing game. 

Carn laid the foundation for the win in the first-half and led by a point, 0-5 to 0-4, as they took the game to an unbeaten St Mary’s despite playing into a stiff wind. .

Doherty and Kelly scored two points each and McDaid one for the north Inishowen men who were the better side playing a refreshing brand of attacking football. 

Kelly was superb in the middle of the field and his high fielding and work in the middle third was the launching pad for much of that same attacking play.

St Mary’s on the other hand were a little more cautious and relied instead on hitting Carndonagh on the break. 

And for the opening quarter, they matched the winners on the scoreboard. The sides were level three times in the opening 15 minutes.

The men from St Mary’s Park were a little guilty of over elaboration and fluffed a couple of goal chances which would, to be fair, have given the opening half a different complexion at the interval.

They also were confronted by a tight marking Carndonagh rearguard of Danny Monagle at fullback and Daniel McDaid and Eoghan Kelly either side of him.  

Two brilliant points from the towering Kelly to a fine Pauric Gordon effort meant Carndonagh took a slender lead to the dressing room at the changeover.

Carndonagh dominated the third quarter to lead 0-9 to 0-4 thanks to points from Doherty, John O’Callaghan and Norris.

Liam Toye uncharacteristically missed a number of close in frees before he finally got his eye in with under four minutes remaining for St Mary’s first score of the second period.

But with Kelly continuing to pull the strings, the big midfielder capped superb performance with his third point of the day to restore Carndonagh’s three-point advantage with the clock ticking on full-time. 

Carndonagh scorers: Cian Doherty 0-4.2,f; Ryan Kelly 0-3; Daniel McDaid ,John O’Callaghan, Keith Norris 0-1 each.

St Mary’s scorers: John Toye 0-3,2f, Liam Toye 0-2, John Doherty 0-1, Pauric Gordon 0-1. 

Carndonagh: Kyle Harkin; David McDaid, Danny Monagle, Eoghan Kelly; John O'Callaghan, Darragh Browne, Cian Burke; Will Quinn, Ryan Kelly; Liam Shiels, Cathal Doherty; Cian Doherty, Kyran Cantwell, Farghal Doherty, Mark Scott.

Subs: Keith Norris for Mark Scott (h/t); James Monagle, Mark Scott, Brendan McLaughlin for  Cantwell, Quinn and Doherty (all 53). 

St Mary’s,Convoy: Emmet Doherty; Niall Sweeney, Bryan McNamee, Conor Bonner; 

Conor Mulrain,John Doherty, Oran Patterson; Liam Toye, Pauric Gordon; Liam Prunty, Lawrence McMullan, Brendan Bonner; Ciaran Dolan, Corey Lee Bogan, John Toye.

Subs: Gavin Sweeney for B Bonner, Anthony Browne for Prunty (both h/t); Keelan Gillen for  C Bonner (46). 

Referee: Val Murray (Aodh Ruadh).