Naomh Muire advance to the last four of the Donegal IFC with win over Milford

Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses caused something of an upset with victory over Milford on Saturday evening in the Donegal Intermediate Championship quarter-final clash in Falcarragh.  

In a game spoiled by heavy wind and rain for the bulk of the 60-plus minutes, four points separated the sides at the final whistle, but Naomh Muire were the better side overall and deserving of their win on the day.

They played with the elements in their backs in the opening half hour and after displaying a greater hunger, they had built up a good healthy lead in the first half.

Thanks to points from Shaun Burns, Darragh Doherty, Jack O’Donnell, Darragh White, Fintan Doherty, Eoin Martin, and a Harry Harden goal resulted in the Naomh Muire men registering 1-6 to 0-1 on the scoreboard. 

Dylan Dorrian, one of Milford's better performers on the day, kicked the Sky Blues' only point of the half, 13 minutes into the game. 

But Naomh Muire was never fazed and dominated the game in the first half, with Harden’s goal on 23 minutes widening the gap when his long-range strike deceived Milford's defenders and 'keeper Shea McBride to end up in the back of the net. 

The goal came minutes after Eoin Martin was denied a penalty shout after he seemed to be fouled close to the large rectangle.

The goal which opened up a 1-4 to 0-1 lead was one of two big moments of the half. The other was a point-blank save from Declan Ward, in the Naomh Muire nets, who was quick off his line to pull off a big save to deny Kane Barrett who was one-on-one with the 'keeper.  

Martin from a free extended the Naomh Muire lead out to nine points on the resumption.

With Kyle Black and Dylan Dorrian taking the game to Naomh Muire, Milford nailed four unanswered points to reduce the Naomh Muire lead back to five by the middle of the second half. 

Martin added Naomh Muire’s second of the half before Kyle Black and Dorrian pointed to make it a four-point game with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

But with Padraig McCafferty and Ferdia Doherty leading a solid and packed Naomh Muire rearguard, that was as close as James McGinley’s men got. 

Shaun Burns, who worked his socks off, and Shane Black traded late points as Naomh Muire held on to advance to the last four of the IFC championship. 

Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses scorers: Harry Harden 1-0; Eoin Martin 0-3, 3f; Shaun Burns 0-2; Jack O’Donnell, Darragh Doherty, Darragh White, and Fintan Doherty 0-1 each. 
Milford scorers: Kyle Black 0-3, 2f; Dylan Dorrian 0-2, Finn Coll, Kane Barrett, and Shane Black 0-1 each. 

Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses: Declan Ward; Conor Cannon, Ferdia Doherty, Daniel Gallagher; Fintan Doherty, Padraig McCafferty, Tuathal Lunney; Adam O’Brien, Darragh Doherty; Jack O’Donnell, Darragh White, Shaun Burns; Harry Harden, Daniel Devlin, Eoin Martin. Subs: Paul Yank Boyle for Doherty; Patrick Gillespie for White; Daniel Ward for O’Donnell. 

Milford: Shea McBride Friel; Anthony Curran, Conor Coll, Ronan Docherty; Kyle Black, Peter Curran, Dylan Dorrian; Lorcan Friel, Conor McHugh; Shane Black, Rory O’Donnell, Eoin O’Donnell; Cathal McGettigan, Kane Barrett, Finn Coll. Subs: T J Evesson for A Curran; Christopher Barrett for E O’Donnell; Killian McBride for P Curran; Shaun Coffey for K Black.