St Eunan's enjoy a comfortable opening Donegal SFC win over Kilcar

St Eunan’s eased their way into the Donegal SFC with Niall O’Donnell having an eventful day against Kilcar.

O’Donnell scored two goals, a point and even missed a penalty as Barry Meehan’s team defeated the depleted Towney-based by a margin of nine points.

A 13th-minute goal from Niall O’Donnell put the home side into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead, claiming a Conor O’Donnell Jnr pass on the edge of the square, before working that bit of space before rolling home.

Beforehand, Conor O’Donnell had scored two points - a crisp 45 and then a fine strike from distance - and Brian MacIntyre on the mark, with Patrick McBrearty’s free Kilcar’s only score in the first quarter.

Kilcar didn’t manage a point from play until the 28th minute, with Evan Kavanagh scoring and St Eunan’s went in at half-time with a 1-7 to 0-2 lead, with MacIntyre, Tobin and Niall O’Donnell making up their interval total.

With Ryan McHugh honeymooning, Kilcar were further weakened with the unavailability and injury of Andrew and Matthew McClean, Jason Campbell, Ciaran McGinley and Conor Doherty. St Eunan’s lined out without Ciaran Moore and Shane O’Donnell starting on the bench before a late cameo.

Four times since 2012, Kilcar had started their championship at O’Donnell Park and won two and drew two. At the break though, manager Michael Hegarty knew they had a mountain to climb.

It might’ve got worse for Kilcar had goalkeeper Eoin O'Donnell not saved a penalty from Niall O’Donnell on 37 minutes, after Eoin McHugh brought down Darragh Mulgrew.

St Eunan’s maintained their arm’s length advantage, with scores from Niall and Conor O’Donnell, as well as Eoin McGeehin’s first score, with McBrearty scoring twice and Brian O’Donnell once in the third quarter.

With 11 to play, Niall O’Donnell dummied Pauric Carr under the shadow of the O’Donnell Park and skipped inside before clipping into the net for a 2-10 to 0-5 lead.

Lee McMonagle - the hero of the 2012 Donegal SFC final over Naomh Conaill - came off the bench to add two late points, with Kilcar’s Conor O’Donnell, Eoin McHugh and McBrearty, with time almost up, rattled the crossbar with a free-kick.

Kilcar welcome St Naul’s next, with St Eunan’s making the trip to the holders of the Dr Maguire, Naomh Conaill.

St Eunan’s scorers: Niall O’Donnell 2-1, 1f; Conor O’Donnell Jnr 0-3, 1f, 45; Brian MacIntyre and Lee McMonagle 0-2; Conor Morrison, Kieran Tobin, Eoin McGeehin,
Kilcar scorers: Patrick McBrearty 0-4, 2f; Eoin McHugh 0-2, Evan Kavanagh, Brian O’Donnell, and Conor O’Donnell 0-1.

St Eunan’s: Shaun Patton; Anthony Gallagher, Conor Morrison, Brian MacIntyre; Kieran Tobin, Conor O’Donnell Snr, Darragh Mulgrew; Caolan Ward, James Kelly; Conor O Donnell Jnr, Kevin Kealy, Oran Winston’ Pauric Boyle, Niall O’Donnell, Eoin McGeehin. Subs: Lee McMonagle for P Boyle (50), Eamonn Doherty for MacIntyre (54); Shane O’Donnell for C O’Donnell Jnr (55); Conor Parke for Morrison (56)
Kilcar: Eoin O Donnell; Paddy McShane, Pauric Carr, Ryan McShane; Brian O’Donnell, Mark McHugh, Oran Doogan; Eoin McHugh, Evan Kavanagh; Pauric McShane, Patrick McBrearty, Ryan O’Donnell; Kenny Doogan, Stephen McBrearty, Conor O Donnell. Subs: Eoin Cormack for P McShane (46), Mark Sweeney for R O’Donnell (52).
Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada).