Glenswilly overcome early scare to prevail against a tough Cloughaneely team

Despite securing two championship wins in-a-row, Glenswilly were brought right to the wire by a renewed Cloughaneely team but Gary McDaid’s side just managed to see the game out on home soil, securing a two-point win on Sunday afternoon.  

This was a completely different Cloughaneely side that were hammered by 19 points to Naomh Conaill just eight days previously with two goals in the opening half by Shaun Maguire and Darren McGeever no doubt putting doubts into the minds of many Glenswilly supporters.  

And while both sides just managed 0-4 apiece in the second half, Glenswilly seemed to have more legs as they held out for the victory and no doubt took valuable lessons from the game.  

The home side got off the mark with Kealan Dunleavy, who dominated around midfield early doors kicking over from the edge of the Cloughaneely box to get the ball rolling, while Sean Collum would follow this up with a replica shot moments later.   

Dan Doohan’s side eventually got to grips with the game with McGeever firing into the back of the Glenswilly goal after he charged past three defenders when Seán Geaney fed him through off the shoulder to hit the top corner of the net.  

Glenswilly would keep the scorebaord ticking with Shane McDevitt firing over from a Mark, while Michael Murphy would nail his first of three points from a ‘45’.  

But while the home side looked more comfortable and dangerous in possession their one lapse of concentration allowed Cloughaneely to find their second goal when Ciarán Coll dropped a high ball into the Glen box, the resulting effort saw Shaun Maguire get a touch, but a lack of communication between the Glenswilly defense and their goalkeeper resulted in the ball rolling into the net.  

It looked like Cloughaneely would gain a great burst of energy from this but instead, Daithi Gildea would kick over three excellent scores in-a-row, while Gary McFadden would fire over off his left to end the half with Glenswilly leading 0-10 to 2-2 at the break.  

There was very few talking points following the resumption, with both teams replicating each other on the scoreboard.   

Murphy would nail over the first two scores from deadball kicks, while Ciaran Scanlon and Shaun McClafferty would follow suit moments later.  

Maguire nearly found his side’s third goal on the 45 minute after Blake McGarvey broke the line and fed the corner-forward through, but Kealan McFadden was on hand to keep his side in front.  

Jack Gallagher was cruising from the backline as he glided up the field with ease, setting up some solid attacks, while also raising a white flag himself.  

Despite late scores from Cloughaneely’s Maguire and Ciaran McGeady, while also keeping Glenswilly scoreless for 20 minutes, it never looked like the home side was going to be stunned as they held possession in the dying moments of the match to secure a 0-14 to 2-6 victory, while also playing the last three minutes of the game with 14 men after Dunleavey went off with an injury and all Glenswilly substitutes already used.  

Scorers – Glenswilly: Michael Murphy 2fs, 1 ‘45’, and Daithí Gildea 0-3 each; Shane McDevitt 1M, and Sean Collum 0-2 each; Gary McFadden, Jack Gallagher, Cormac Callaghan and Kealan Dunleavy 0-1 each. Cloughaneely: Shaun Maguire 1-3, 1f; Darren McGeever 1-0; Ciaran Scanlon 1M, Shaun McClafferty 1 ‘45’, and Ciaran McGeady 0-1 each.   

Glenswilly: Kealan McFadden; Ryan Diver, Ruairí Crawford, Sean Collum; Jamie McCauley, Jack Gallagher, Aiden Friel; Kealan Dunleavy, Shaun Wogan; Daithí Gildea, Gary McFadden, Shane McDevitt; Mark Bonner, Michael Murphy, Eoghan Scott. Subs: Jake Kelly for McCauley (HT); Donal Gallagher for Crawford (HT); Shane McDaid for Diver (HT); Gary Kelly for Gildea (46 mins); Cormac Callaghan for Bonner (46 mins)  

Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty; Remy Moran, Sean Curran, Cian McFadden; Ciaran McGeady, Michael Fitzgerald, Cormac Coyle; Darren McGeever, Ethan Friel; Conor Coyle, Seán Geaney, Ciarán Coll; Darren Ferry, Ciaran Scanlon, Shaun Maguire. Subs: Cathal McGeever for Darren McGeever (44 mins); Blake McGarvey for Coyle (44 mins)  

Referee: Robbie O Donnell.