Setanta defeat MacCumhaills and now have sights on Donegal SHC final

Setanta geared themselves up for the final of the Donegal SHC with an easy victory over neighbours Sean MacCumhaills in Ballybofey. 

The Cross men were always in command but will now have to wait until August 31 for the county final, with Burt and St Eunan’s battling it out on Friday night to see who joins them. 

Ruairi Campbell and Gerry Gilmore did the bulk of the scoring for the reigning champions, with 1-4 and 0-6 respectively, while Conor McGettigan also grabbed a goal. Both goals came late for Setanta, who led by seven points at the break, while Lee Henderson carried the fight for MacCumhaills with six points of his own.

Indeed, it was Campbell and Gilmore who opened the scoring for Setanta before Henderson replied with a point from a free for the home team. 

But Setanta had a firm grip on matters with Campbell, Dean Harvey, and Gilmore firing over to make it 0-6 to 0-1 after 12 minutes. 

MacCumhaills had points from Fintan Griffin, Jamie De Ward and Henderson as they cut the lead to 0-7 to 0-4 after 15 minutes. 

Setanta hit back with points from Niall Cleary, Oisin Marley, Colm Melaugh, with Gavin Browne (0-2) responding for MacCumhaills. 

Gilmore landed a ‘65’ to keep his side in front, but MacCumhaills replied with another Browne point, but straight away Cleary followed up by raising a white flag for Setanta. 

Declan Coulter, Campbell, and Ryan Coyle pointed for Setanta and MacCumhaills replied through De Ward to leave Setanta leading by 0-15 to 0-8 at the break. 

Henderson, twice, was again on target for MacCumhaills which Coulter responded to with a point of his own. 

Gilmore and Campbell swapped points with Henderson and Griffin replying in kind. 

Coulter got a point to leave Setanta leading by 0-19 to 0-12 midway through the second half. 

Fionn Farren found the posts for the MacCumhaills men and Campbell struck for a goal as McGettigan, Gilmore, Harvey, and Marley all pointed. 

Henderson got MacCumhaills final point as Ryan Coyle found the target for Setanta as a white flag was raised. 

McGettigan hit the second goal for Setanta to seal an easy 18-point win. 

Setanta scorers: Ruairi Campbell 1-4; Gerard Gilmore 0-6, 4fs; Conor McGettigan 1-1; Declan Coulter 0-3; Fionn Farren, Ryan Coyle, Niall Cleary, Dean Harvey, and Oisin Marley 0-2 each; Colm Melaugh 0-1. 

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Lee Henderson 0-6, 6fs; Gavin Browne 0-3; Jamie de Ward and Fintan Griffin 0-2 each. 

Setanta: Kevin Campbell; Fionn Farren, Steven McBride, Conor McGettigan; Ryan Coyle, Bernard Lafferty, Niall Cleary; Declan Coulter, Dean Harvey; Colm Melaugh, Oisin Marley, Josh McGee Cronolly; Danny Cullen, Gerard Gilmore, Ruairi Campbell. Subs used: Ruairi McLaughlin. 

Sean MacCumhaill’s: Dylan Laverty; Conor Murphy, Kyle Tourish, Eoghan Wright; Conor Griffin, John Anthony Chambers, Sean Brady/Devenney; Gavin Browne, Jamie De Ward; Chad McSorley, Fintan Griffin, Joel Bradley Walsh; Lee Henderson, P J Browne, Dean Hannigan. Subs used: Patrick Bradley, Gavin Dunne, Darren McGowan, Shane McMenamin, and Riain McBrearty. 

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters)