Harkin and Ó Baoill help Gaoth Dobhair catch fire against Glenfin

A purple patch of 1-5 in five second-half minutes put Gaoth Dobhair on their way to a first win in the Donegal SFC this year, with Glenfin still looking to get off the mark.

The side managed by Ronan MacNiallais were just a point to the good at half-time and then, with the wind, took a little time to get going.

However, when they did, driven on by Ethan Harkin - the scorer of seven points - and one of those goals where Daire Ó Baoill catches a ‘keeper off his line, they didn’t look back against a Glenfin team who scored all their points in the first half.

Both teams were looking for a victory to kick-start their campaign. Gaoth Dobhair had been beaten 3-9 to 1-7 at Four Masters, while Glenfin saw a five-point lead disintegrate as Dungloe ran out victors 1-11 to 1-7.

With the wind having an impact and with the increasingly grey skies gaining the trust of very few, there wasn’t much in it on the pitch to begin with.

After the quarter-hour, Glanfin trailed 0-4 to 0-2 despite having taken the lead twice with the breeze, through Shane Ward’s 45 and a Gerard Ward score. Ethan Harkin hit three for the home side - two from play and a free - with Steven McFadden also a scorer.

Luke McGlynn’s free and Odhran O’Connor scored to level it up at 0-4 apiece, five minutes before the break, only for McFadden to score a fine individual score, wrestling his way free to smash over. However, Jason Morrow was on the money to tie things up. Aodán Breathnach, though, concluded a fine Gaoth Dobhair move to enable his team to head for the break at 0-6 to 0-5 in front.

The gale kept up and the rain stayed away with neither team scoring in the opening 13 minutes, although when Harkin arced one over from just in from the sideline, some said the wait was worthwhile. And, as tends to happen, another score followed instantly and this time it opened Ó Baoill’s account and then Eoin de Burca put Gaoth Dobhair 0-9 to 0-5 up on 45.

It didn’t stop there, as Harkin popped over a free and then, on 47 minutes, Ó Baoill pinched a short kick-out from Kaine McGlynn and beat the Glenfin goalkeeper as he scrambled to get back. Not the trademark lob this time, like against Fermanagh in the Allianz League Division 2 and Derry in the Ulster SFC, but just a precise effort placed just inside of the near post.

Gaoth Dobhair were on fire and the scoreboard read 1-10 to 0-5 as time wore thin and Harkin completed his half-dozen, with Cathal Gillespie getting a white flag too. With Glenfin not scoring at all in the second half, Adam McGeever slapped over and Harkin’s stylish effort finished it off.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Ethan Harkin, 0-7, 3f; Dáire Ó Baoill 1-1; Steven McFadden 0-2; Aodán Breathnach, Eoin de Burca and Adam McGeever 0-1 each; Cathal Gillespie 0-1, 1m.
Glenfin scorers: Shaun Ward 0-1, 45; Luke McGlynn 0-1, 1f; Gerard Ward, Odhran O’Connor and Jason Morrow 0-1.

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithí Roberts; Aodán Breathnach, Gary McFadden, Danny Curran; Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde, Niall Friel, Kieran Gillespie; Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Fiachra Coyle; Fionnan Coyle; Steven Donna McFadden, Eoin de Burca; Michéal Roarty, Dáire Ó Baoill, Ethan Harkin. Subs: Adam McGeever for Friel (24), Cathal Gillespie for Fionnan Coyle (37), Cian McEntee for Roarty (52).
Glenfin: Kaine McGlynn; Martin O’Donnell, John Harkin, Ross Marley; Stephen Carr, Frank McGlynn, Mark McGinty; Shaun Ward, Jason Morrow; Daniel Marley, Aaron McGlynn, Jack Long; Odhran O’Connor, Luke McGlynn, Gerard Ward. Subs: Odhran McGlynn for McGinty (20); Stephen Ward for Morrow (59)
Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford)