Killybegs grab first championship win with a strong victory over St Naul's

It may have taken three games, but Killybegs has finally gotten off the mark in the Donegal senior championship with the Fishermen landing two precious points on Saturday afternoon following their three-point win over St Naul's in Mountcharles.

With both teams sitting in the relegation zone coming into this encounter, victory would ease the tension for one of these two sides as we go into the final round of fixtures next weekend.

But despite an early goal from St Naul's that started their game strongly, the home side will be kicking themselves that they never got up to their full potential, with Killybegs controlling the match throughout, while equally the away side will be annoyed that they never put the game to bed in the second half when they were cruising.

It was a dream start for Naul's when county player Peadar Mogan floated in a long ball into the Killybegs box, only for Josh Coyler to punch away, but the resulting effort finished with John Relihan to take possession and nail into the back of the net as the green flag was raised on the fourth minute.

Killybegs eased into the game, showing real strength around midfield which anchored their attack as they hit four unanswered points with Odhran McGuinness, Hugh McFadden, and Evan Broderick all putting their names on the scoresheet.

In a real nip-and-tuck opening half, both sides continued to cancel each other out on the scoresheet with Joe Campbell levelling matters before Ryan Cunningham fired over from distance while McFadden raised another white flag from a '45' to keep the away side in front by two points on the 20th minute.

Mogan and Campbell would show real strength in the closing stages of the half with both men driving forward to fire over for a point apiece, but Killybegs remained in a calm position with McFadden once again showing his power and skill around the middle as he knocked over his third point of the half before Eoin Mulligan had the final say with his first score of the match to leave things 1-3 to 0-8 at the break.

Despite Killybegs only being two in front, it never looked like they were going to relinquish their lead. Cunningham started the scoring in the second minute of the half before Gavin Mulreany hit back with a long-range free. 

But Broderick, alongside McFadden, was on fire, with the Killybegs midfielder nailing two more points over to put them four ahead as the game approached the final quarter.

Mogan remained on hot pursuit of salvaging a result for his side with another point, but Killybegs remained in control and will no doubt be wondering how they couldn't kill the game off despite McFadden hitting his final point before Cunningham raised the final white flag of the afternoon to grant his side a three-point win. 

Scorers - St Naul's: John Relihan 1-0; Peadar Mogan 0-3, 2fs; Joe Campbell 0-2; Gavin Mulreany 1f, and John Rose 0-1 each. Killybegs: Hugh McFadden 0-5, 1f, 1 '45'; Ryan Cunningham 1f, and Evan Broderick 0-3 each; Eoin Mulligan and Odhran McGuinness 0-1 each.

St Naul's: Gavin Mulreany; John Rose, Barry Griffin, Niall Prendiville; John Relihan, Peadar Mogan, Oisin Mogan; Ian Campbell, Shane Conneely; Des McGroarty, Michael Coughlan, Martin Breslin; Jonathan O’Driscoll, Stephen Griffin, Joe Campbell. Subs: Daniel Gallagher for Des McGroarty (25 mins), Barry Burke and Danny McDyre for O’Driscoll and Conneely (54 mins), Declan Duignan for Breslin (60), Shane Conneely for Barry Griffin (62 mins). 

Killybegs: Josh Coyler; Eoin McGing, Cillian Gildea, Ryan Carr; Christopher Mulligan, Seamus Óg Byrne, Eoin Mulligan; Evan Broderick, Rory Coyler; Mark Finnerty, Paul Cunningham, Odhran McGuinness; Ryan Cunningham, Hugh McFadden, Jack McSharry. Subs: Charlie Breslin for Cunningham (50 mins).

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Fanad Gaels)