Moville overcome St Eunan's to reach Donegal LGFA final

A goal from Niamh Hegarty helped Moville to victory over St Eunan’s and a first Donegal LGFA final in six years.

The Carrick Field side were in control for the most part at O’Donnell Park, leading 0-5 to 0-1 at half-time against a St Eunan’s team who will rue a succession of wides. They totted up seven in the first half and four more in part two, although credit for that would go to the Inishowen outfit’s stern defence in front of player-manager Sarah Faulkner.

Hegarty’s goal on 43 minutes was quality, winning the ball on the sideline in front of the stand and although there were complaints from the home crowd that the ball was out, she seemed to do everything just right. Keeping the ball in and on the run inside, her shot was true and clipped the underside of the crossbar and goalkeeper Aoibhin Randles to go in. That made the score 1-6 to 0-4 and Moville saw it home from there.

It was Claire Doherty who carried the fight for St Eunan’s, with five points in all. She opened the scoring in the first minute but that would be the only score her team would hit in the opening half. Moville steadied and were four in front at the break, with Hegarty putting over three frees and Kate McClenaghan with two.

St Eunan’s managed to improve in the second half, although Randles in goal had to make an early save from Clara Rose Boyle. Eventually, they began to chip away at the scoreboard, through Boyle, Sophie McFeely and Feena McManamon, although Niamh Skelly joined the party with two scores to ensure Moville always had a cushion. Late points from Eimear McLaughlin and McClenaghan booked the final tickets, where they will take on Termon.

Moville scorers: Niamh Hegarty 1-3, 3f; Kate McClenaghan 0-3; Niamh Skelly 0-2; Eimear McLaughlin 0-1.
St Eunan’s scorers: Claire Doherty 0-5, 4f; Feena McManamon and Sophie McFeely 0-1.

Moville: Sarah Faulkner; Shannon McDonald, Niamh Cavanagh, Katherine McLaughlin; Michelle Logue, Réaltín McElhinney, Erin Leech; Tara Hegarty, Niamh Skelly; Aoibhin McIvor, Niamh Hegarty, Clara Rose Boyle; Clodagh Skelly, Kate McClenaghan, Eimear McLaughlin. Subs: Shannon Leech for McDonald (48), Lauren Lindsay for E McLaughlin (60+3).

St Eunan’s: Aoibhin Randles: Katie McGovern, Laura Kealy, Sinead MacIntyre; Shauna McFadden, Sophie McFeely, Clodagh Sheerin; Catherine Boyle, Clodagh Brennan; Laoise Ryan, Naomi McMenamin, Shauna Higgins; Claire Doherty, Feena McManamon, Alisha Tobin. Subs: Aisling Nee for MacIntyre, Hannah Hopkins for McManamon, Kaneshia McKinney for McMenamin, Niamh Walsh for Tobin, Caitlin Fletcher for McGovern (54 mins).