Delight for Dungloe with dramatic Donegal SFC win over Glenswilly

Dungloe produced a fantastic performance to reach a first Donegal SFC semi-final since 2012 with a narrow win over Glenswilly.

With their first two scores were goals, Dungloe, with Daire Gallagher and Darren Curran on the mark, made Glenswilly chase for long spells.

Glenswilly got back on terms just before the three-quarter mark and with the things in the melting pot, late scores from Oisin Bonner and Ryan Connors meant victory for the team from Rosses Park. Glenswilly were so close to squaring it up at the bitter end and had they managed to come through Dungloe would've carried serious regret having had the bulk of the scoring chances.

Gallagher smashed home a third-minute goal for Dungloe, taking advantage of his side pinching a kick-out from Keelan McFadden, with Conor Greene playing the final pass.

That gave Dungloe a lead of 1-0 to 0-1, with Shane McDevitt having opened the scoring a minute beforehand. A fine start for Dungloe, although it could’ve been more with two wides and a free from Ryan Connors that dropped short.

The early pace was high and Daithí Gildea pulled back a point for Gary McDaid’s Glenswilly. However, on nine minutes, Dungloe manufactured a second goal when Gallagher and Aaron Neely were all involved in the build-up and Darren Curran ghosted in to slap home from close in for a 2-0 to 0-2 Dungloe advantage.

Curran added a point to his goal and Dungloe were five up, with Glenswilly steadying somewhat with points from the experienced pair of Gary McFadden and Michael Murphy, who was well-marshalled by Aaron Ward and dropped deeper and deeper, before Kealan Dunleavy made it three on the bounce.

Oisin Bonner of Dungloe and Glenswilly’s Murphy traded points late in the half, following which Dungloe led 2-2 to 0-6.

Glenswilly finished top of the initial group stage and were rewarded with last weekend off, while Dungloe, who won three from four, ended up in fifth place and had to battle their way past Downings in the last 12.

That contest took place at Páirc Naomh Fionnan and seven days on, the weather was much the more  favourable in Falcarragh.

A last eight spot was certainly commendable for the 2022 Donegal IFC winners - especially when you consider the four teams who preceded them all ended up in the relegation play-offs. Dessie Gallagher’s team were not wanting to rest on their laurels, though. It'll be all eyes on the last four now.

Glenswilly certainly knew they needed to up it in the second half and although they had plenty of the ball to begin with, they survived a considreable scare when Daire Gallagher raced onto a ball and rattled the crossbar.

Physically strong at the back and speedy up top, Dungloe played the first 10 minutes of the second half well and Oisin Bonner’s free put them three up. But another goal chance came and went for Dungloe, as Bonner - from Gallagher’s pass - went for the bottom corner when close in and McFadden in goal saved.

Glenswilly blew off the cobwebs with three on the bounce to level the contest, with Jamie McCauley hitting the first of those with a brilliant effort, before Donal Gallagher and a Murphy free. With 43 minutes played, it was all square - Dunlgoe 2-3 Glenswilly 0-9.

Dylan Sweeney, though, edged Dungloe back in front and Dunleavy’s score meant parity once more.

With 10 to play, it was there for and it was Dungloe who grasped the chance, with Conor Greene and then a free and one from play - a brilliant one on the turn - from Bonner putting them into a lead of 2-7 to 0-10. And when Ryan Connors scored a free from the PCC side, Dunglow were four in front with the finishline in sight.

Gildea’s point put just a goal in it and in the opening strands of injury time, Glenswilly almost got it. Goalkeeper McFadden wandered down the wing and his diagonal ball into the Dungloe square was met by his brother Gary, who saw it fly just wide of the yawning goal. You could hear the gulp in Burtonport.

By now, it was crazy and after Murphy scored a mark to bring it back to one and with sweeper-keeper Caolan Kelly taking over in goal from Keelan McFadden in a novel move, Glenswillly were pressing Dungloe were hanging on. Cormac Callaghan had a late chance to force extra-time but his effort fell just wide. With it went Glenswilly's hopes as Dungloe march on.

Dungloe scorers: Darren Curran 1-1; Oisin Bonner 0-4, 3f; Daire Gallagher 1-0; Dylan Sweeney and Conor Greene 0-1; Ryan Connors 0-1; 1f.
Glenswilly scorers: Michael Murphy 0-4, 3f, 1m; Kealan Dunleavy and Daithi Gildea 0-2; Gary McFadden 0-2, 1f; Shane McDevitt, Jamie McCauley and  Donal Gallagher 0-1

Dungloe: Danny Rodgers; Jason McBride, Aaron Ward, Mark Curran; Barry Curran, Conor O’Donnell, Karl Magee; Darren Curran, Ryan Connors; Dylan Sweeney, Daire Gallagher, Matthew Ward; Aaron Neely, Conor Greene, Oisín Bonner. Subs: Conor Diver for Neely (16), Shaun McGee for M Ward (56), Noel McBride for O Bonner (59)

Glenswilly: Keelan McFadden; Jake Kelly, Sean Collum, Jamie McCauley; Ryan Diver, Jack Gallagher, Donal Gallagher; Caolan Kelly, Mark Bonner; Shane McDevitt, Gary McFadden, Daithí Gildea; Kealan Dunleavy Michael Murphy, Gery Kelly. Subs: Oisin Crawford for Kelly (half-time), Cormac Callaghan for Diver (42), Aidan Friel for Kelly (54); Shane McDaid for McDevitt (60), Kelly for K McFadden (60+3)

Referee: Ryan Walsh (Bundoran).