St Michael’s off and running in Donegal SFC with home win over Killybegs

St Michael’s got their Donegal SFC underway with a four-point win over Killybegs at the Bridge.

St Michael’s played against a stiff wind and led 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time. Carlos O’Reilly scored the goal, Michael Langan kicked three points - one from play, one from a free and one from a 45 - Michael McGinley posted two points and Eddie O’Reilly one for the locals.

Killybegs Jack McSharry was sent off late in the game for an off-the-ball incident. Rory Colyer scored the Killybegs first half goal, Odhran McGuinness two and Ryan Cunningham one were the points scorers.

Colyer’s goal came on six minutes after he was put through by Odhran McGuinness got the visitors off to a dream start. St Michael’s response was almost instant when O’Reilly lobbed Josh Colyer from 20 metres to tie up the game. There may have been a stroke of good fortune about the goal as it fell into the top right corner of Colyer's net, over the keeper's head.

And with the locals playing on the front foot they dominated the remainder of the half with Michael Langan, Carlos and Eddie O’Reilly and McGinley all posted points.

Odhran McGuinness, who was Killybegs' best forward, and Colyer kicked the points to keep the Fisherman in touch at the break.

Colin McFadden, who took over from Langan in the middle of the field in the second half, kicked the first point of the second half for a 1-7 to 1-3 lead.

But a McGuinness point followed by a Paul Cunningham goal shortly after tied up the game at 1-7 to 2-4. Cunningham got the slightest touch to flick the ball out of Mark Anthony McGinley’s hand under his own crossbar.

But three quick St Michael’s points in the middle of the second half - two from the excellent McFadden - and one from Eddie O’Reilly restored St Michael’s three-point advantage and the locals closed out the game with late points from substitutes Andrew Kelly and Daniel McLaughlin.

St Michael's scorers: Carlos O’Reilly 1-0, Michael Langan 0-3,1f,45; Michael McGinley 0-3, Eddie O’Reilly and Colin McFadden 0-2 each, Andrew Kelly and Daniel McLaughlin 0-1 each.
Killybegs scorers: Rory Colyer and Paul Cunningham 1-0 each, Odhran McGuinness 0-3, Ryan Cunningham and Hugh McFadden 0-1 each.

St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Jamie Hunter, Liam Paul Ferry, Patrick McGinley; Stephen Doak, Antoin McFadden, Oisin Langan; Kyle McGarvey, Colin McFadden; Paul Johnston, Martin McElhinney, Michael McGinley; Eddie O’Reilly, Michael Langan, Carlos O’ Reilly. Sub: Daniel McLaughlin for Johnston (h/t); Andrew Kelly for Doak (36); Michael Cannon for O Langan (54); Oisin Langan for P McGinley (61).

Killybegs: Josh Colyer; Eoin McGing, Cillian Gildea, Ryan Carr; Charlie Breslin, Seamus Og Byrne, Jon Ban Gallagher; Hugh McFadden, Evan Broderick; Rory Colyer, Jack McSharry, Odhran McGuinness; Ryan Cunningham, Paul Cunningham, Michael Callaghan.
Subs: Christopher Mulligan for P Cunningham (40); Mark Finnerty for McGing (55); Timmy Gorrell for Breslin (58)

Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy).