Gaoth Dobhair play it just right to post notable win at St Eunan's in Donegal SFC

Gaoth Dobhair knuckled down to produce a fine away win at St Eunan’s in the Donegal SFC.

The Gaeltacht side went in level at half-time and then did enough on the counter to take victory by the narrowest of margins, with Stephen Donna McFadden’s late point proving to be the winner.

They defended in numbers when they had to, won the turnovers and each time broke with speed - there was always a sniff of danger in their attacks.

A first-half goal from Eoin de Búrca gave Gaoth Dobhair the early impetus, letting Danny Curran’s pass beat him, which in turn opened up the space to steer past Shaun Patton.

That came on 12 minutes and moved the visitors into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead, with Lee McMonagle and Kieran Tobin scoring early for the hosts. Those came either side of a sublime free from Daire Ó Baoill, who scythed the ball with the outside of the right boot from in front of the main stand, drawing it in to split the posts.

After Eoin Downing for St Eunan’s and Gaoth Dobhair's Aidan Breathnach traded points to make it 0-3 to 1-2, three successive scores from Conor O’Donnell Jnr - two from play and a free - gave the locals a slender lead of 0-6 to 0-5 amid the showers.

Aaron Deeney scampered back to make sure a long-ranger from Ethan Harkin was pushed away - it appeared to be going wide but the St Eunan’s full-back wasn’t to know - with Patton caught out when out of his goal. Gaoth Dobhair goalkeeper Daithí Roberts pierced to 45 over the crossbar, which meant it was all square at half-time, 0-6 to 1-3.

The side managed by Ronan Mac Niallais had won at O’Donnell Park 1-12 to 1-6 in May, in weather conditions a million miles from the championship meeting.

St Eunan’s had opened their campaign impressively, with a 2-12 to 0-9 victory over Kilcar followed by a 1-13 to 0-10 success at Naomh Conaill, while Gaoth Dobhair got back on the bike defeating Glenfin 1-14 to 0-5 after an opening day 3-9 to 1-7 loss at Four Masters.

The Letterkenny side showed the strength of their panel with seven changes from Glenties, while Gaoth Dobhair had Ódhran McFadden Ferry warming up beforehand but not expected to be part of the playing staff this term and Eamonn Collum back at home following a year teaching in Dubai.

Gaoth Dobhair sat in at the start of the second half and looked dangerous when they did break and neither team scored for nine minutes before St Eunans corner-back Anthony Gallagher got in to pop over. Harkin, at the other end, only needed a momentary sight of the posts to score a fine equaliser.

Play was scrappy, although there was nothing scrappy about an Ó Baoill score on 48 minutes from Roberts’ kick-out, cutting inside to point at the River End. McMonagle made it 1-5 to 0-8 only for Harkin’s free to put the Magheragallon team one up with four left.

St Eunan’s were forcing shots and Gaoth Dobhair held their shape. Stephen Donna McFadden doubled their advantage in the last minute. And although Conor O’Donnell Snr halved that with a neat score, Gaoth Dobhair survived for a deserved win with Shane O’Donnell’s long-ranger flying wide at the end.

St Eunan’s scorers: Conor O’Donnell 0-3, 1f; Lee McMonagle 0-2; Eoin Dowling 0-1, 1f; Kieran Tobin, Anthony Gallagher and Conor O’Donnell Snr 0-1.
Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Eoin de Búrca 1-0; Daire Ó Baoill and Ethan Harkin 0-2, 1f; Aidan Breathnach and Stephen Donna McFadden 0-1 each; Daithí Roberts 0-1, 45;

St Eunan’s: Shaun Patton; Anthony Gallagher, Aaron Deeney, Conor Parke; Ciaran Moore, Conor O’Donnell Snr, Kieran Tobin; Eoin Dowling, Caolan Ward; Conor O’Donnell Jnr, Kevin Kealy, Shane O’Donnell; Pauric Boyle, Lee McMonagle, Eoin McGeehin. Subs: Eamonn Doherty and James Kelly for Gallagher and Dowling (44); Brian MacIntyre for Parke (52)

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Aidan Breathnach, Gary McFadden, Danny Curran; Kieran Gillespie, Fiachra Coyle, Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde; Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Micheal Roarty; Fionnan Coyle, Stephen Donna McFadden, Adam Mac Iomhair; Eoin de Búrca, Daire Ó Baoill, Ethan Harkin. Subs: Eamonn Collumn for Fionnan Coyle, (47), Cian McEntee for Roarty; James Ó Baoill for Gillespie (52), Cathal Gillespie for S McFadden (59)

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters).