St Michael’s clinch quarter-final place with win against Gaoth Dobhair

St Michael’s clinched their place in the last eight of the championship with a hard fought but deserved win over Gaoth Dobhair in Magheragallon.

It was all square at half-time at the end of a forgettable opening half of football as the sides trooped to the dressing rooms with the score at 0-2 each.

St Michael’s would have been the happier as they trodded off for the half-way break as they had played into a stiff breeze blowing in off the Atlantic and against the Magheragallon incline.

They had  worked hard and were driven on by Michael Langan, Colin McFadden, Ciaran Kelly, Stephen Doak, Martin McElhinney and the O’Reilly brothers.

They competed for every scrap of possession and really knocked the locals off their stride and demonstrated the greater hunger and a great desire to win. 

Gaoth Dobhair, on the other hand, looked laboured and had the distinct look of a team unsure what they wanted from the tie.

After two wins from two outings including a narrow win over St Eunan’s in round three, it looked as if it had dawned on them no matter how they played, a preliminary quarter-final was the best they could hope for.

Donal Mac Giolla Bhride, on 11 minutes, opened the scoring with a well taken point to get the locals up and running.

Ethan Harkin, who was tightly marked by Paddy McGinley, had been wide from a close-in mark and a 20 metre free, before Mac Giolla Bhride broke the deadlock. 

Shortly after Martin McElhinney found Michael Langan for a mark in front of the Gaoth Dobhair post and the county man made no mistake after 15 minutes. 

Neasan Mac Golla Bhride attacked up the left wing, cut inside to fist over from close range to restore the locals lead. 

But shortly after Langan stepped into the breach to clear the crossbar from a 45 metre free. 

The game did  heat up on a number of occasions in the closing ten minutes of the half and Martin McElhinnney ended up in the sin bin just before half-time for a trip on Micheal Roarty.   

Gaoth Dobhair showed a little more urgency at the start of the second half and they were one point in front when Eamonn Collum opened their second half account three minutes into the new half.

But the lead was shortlived as in an instant Edward O’Reilly from a close in free tied up the game at 0-3 each. 

Shortly after Daniel McLaughlin, with his first possession after coming on, kicked a massive point for a 0-4 to 0-3 lead for the men from the Bridge. 

But it was all square again when Adam McKeever landed a fine effort into the wind from just inside the 45 and way out his right hand side. 

With the elements and the momentum with St Michael’s Andrew Kelly and Daniel McLaughlin closed out the game with two fine points.

Gaoth Dobhair did press late on and had a ball cleared off the line. Seaghan O Fearaigh’s late point was all the locals could muster.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Donal Mac Giolla Bhride, Neasan Mac Giolla Bhride, Adam McKeever, Eamonn Collum, Seaghan O Fearraigh 0-1 each. 

St Michael’s scorers: Michael Langan 0-2,1m;  Daniel McLaughlin 0-2; Edward O’Reilly (f), Andrew Kelly 0-1 each. 

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; Aodhan Breathnach, Gary McFadden, Danny Curran; James O’Baoill, Fiachra Coyle, Neasan Mac Giolla Bhride; Donal Mac Giolla Bhride, Micheal Roarty; Fionnan Coyle, Eamonn Collum, Adam McGeever; Eoin De Burca, Dáire Ó Baoill, Ethan Harkin.

Subs: Stephen Donna McFadden for E De Burca (44); Cathal Gillespie for  E Harkin (49); Cian McEntee for J O’Baoill (53); Seaghan O Fearraigh for F Coyle (58). 

St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Jamie Hunter, Liam Paul Ferry, Paddy McGinley; Stephen Doak, Ciaran Kelly, Andrew Kelly; Michael Cannon, Colin McFadden; Paul Johnson, Martin McElhinney, Oisin Langan; Edward O’Reilly, Michael Langan, Carlos O’Reilly.

Subs: Daniel McLaughlin for P Johnson (40); Antoin McFadden for C Kelly (50).

Referee: Ryan Walsh (Bundoran)