St Michael's come from eight down to shock Kilcar in Glenties

St Michael's pulled off the shock of the season, coming from eight points down with 22 minutes to go to reach the last four of the Donegal senior championship.

It was an unbelievable result that didn't look likely at any point up to a penalty save from Mark Anthony McGinley from Patrick McBrearty in the 40th minute. McGinley went full length to save and the game was completely turned on its head.

Add in the fact that they were without their star man Michael Langan and lost corner-back Jamie Hunter to a leg injury in the first quarter.

Daniel McLaughlin, who had kept St Michael's in the game up to that point, fired over more points and suddenly he had scoring partners in Colin McFadden and Michael McGinley. Two goals in five minutes helped and then with the sides level in added time, Michael McGinley became another hero with an unlikely winner.

Kilcar, with the aid of the slight breeze, were quickly off the mark and looked really sharp. Matthew McClean had their opening point on 58 seconds and it was quickly followed by scores by Ciaran McGinley and Mark Sweeney. McClean made it 4-0 from a free on eight minutes.

There was a lull in play as St Michael's lost Jamie Hunter to a leg injury before Patrick McBrearty got on the scoreboard, pointing a free after Mark McHugh was fouled.

There was 17 minutes on the clock when Daniel McLaughlin opened the St Michael's account from a free. Patrick McBrearty and McLaughlin traded scores before Kilcar closed out the opening half with two more McBrearty points and one from Mark McHugh.
Half-time: Kilcar 0-9, St Michael's 0-2

Oran Doogan extended the Kilcar lead 37 seconds into the new half. Daniel McLaughlin replied from a free but Patrick McBrearty added Kilcar's 11th point. Daniel McLaughlin, almost singlehandedly, kept St Michael's in the contest with two more points to one from Ciaran McGinley.

But it looked curtains for them when Conor Doherty was upended for a penalty but Mark Anthony McGinley became their savour with a full length save.

The save was a big turning point as Kilcar lost their way and St Michael's started chipping away at the seven point lead. Daniel McGinley, Michael McGinley added points before Colin McFadden struck for their first goal on 48 minutes. And it was a classic strike after bursting through the middle to find the roof of the net.

Suddenly the margin was just two. Five minutes later Colin McFadden went for a point but his effort was half blocked and it fell to Carlos O'Reilly, who swivelled and fired to the corner of the net for the lead for St Michael's. It was an unbelievable turnaround.

Kilcar went in search of an equaliser and Patrick McBrearty did win a free and get them level with a minute of normal time left but in the third minute of three minutes of added time Michael McGinley popped over the winner for St Michael's.

Kilcar scorers: Patrick McBrearty 0-6,3f; Matthew McClean 0-2,1f; Ciaran McGinley 0-2; Mark McHugh, Mark Sweeney, Oran Doogan 0-1 each.

St Michael's scorers: Daniel McLaughlin 0-6,5f; Colin McFadden, Carlos O'Reilly 1-0 each; Michael McGinley 0-2.
Kilcar: Eoin O'Donnell; Barry McGinley, Pauric Carr, Ryan McShane; Jason Campbell, Mark McHugh, Ryan McHugh; Eoin McHugh, Ciaran McGinley; Matthew McClean, Eoin Cormack, Oran Doogan; Conor Doherty, Patrick McBrearty, Mark Sweeney.
Subs: Paddy McShane for J Campbell (32); Pauric McShane for Ryan McShane (35); Conor O'Donnell and Ryan O'Donnell for Cormack and M Sweeney (both 45); Brian O'Donnell for Pauric McShane (55)

St Michael's: Mark Anthony McGinley; Jamie Hunter, Liam Paul Ferry, Paddy McGinley; Andrew Kelly, Ciaran Kelly, Stephen Doak; Kyle McGarvey, Colin McFadden; Paul Johnston, Martin McElhinney, Oisin Langan; Edward O'Reilly, Michael Cannon, Carlos O'Reilly.
Subs: Michael McGinley for Hunter (12); Daniel McLaughlin for Johnston (14); Antoin McFadden and Max Roarty for Langan and A Kelly (both 40)

Referee: Enda McFeely (Convoy)