Dungloe bridge 60-year gap to get back to county final with win over St Michael's

Dungoe have ended a 60-year wait and are finally back in a Donegal SFC decider after a narrow semi-final win over St Michael’s in Ballybofey. 

In a tight contest, the Rosses men just about did enough to shade matters while St Michael’s will look back with regret on some wayward shooting, posting nine second-half wides alone.  

Dungloe had edged a cagey opening half as Ryan Connors’ injury time free sent them in 0-5 to 0-4 clear. 

St Michael’s had jumped two ahead early on as Michael Cannon and Daniel McLaughlin, from a free, registered inside the opening five minutes. 

Dungloe had almost got in for a goal right away when Conor Greene caused bother under a direct ball that broke kindly to Barry Curran. However, he looked to turn back onto his left and the opportunity was lost. 

Dungloe fired back and were back on level terms by the tenth minute thanks to Karl Magee and Connors (free). Another McLaughlin free was then matched down the other side by an Oisin Bonner mark. 

Then - between the 13th and 28th minutes - little to nothing occurred as both teams struggled to make inroads. 

That quarter of an hour baron spell was finally broken by McLaughlin as he notched his third free of the afternoon. 

But with Daire Gallagher and Connors both posting before the short whistle, it was Dessie Gallagher’s side that held the slight upper hand.

Connors picked up where he and Dungloe left off on the restart as he registered his third free. 

Dungloe almost got in for a goal right at the start of the second-half as well as they turned Michael’s over on the counter but with Oisin Bonner lurking inside, Antoin McFadden did well to cut out Daire Gallagher’s attempt to find him.

Another cheep concession of possession by St Michael’s allowed Barry Curran to widen the gap to three at 0-7 to 0-4. 

With the momentum and the wind now behind them, Dungloe kicked their fifth point on the trot as Dylan Sweeney brilliantly arched over from the far right. 

McLaughlin finally stemmed the tide for Cathal Sweeney and Raymond McLaughlin’s team as he lobbed over another free. 

Michael Cannon then looked to find the net for St Michael’s but with Conor O’Donnell getting in the way, the ball failed to hit the target. 

Approaching the final ten minutes Michael Langan landed a fine free from distance to take St Michael’s back to within two. 

On 55 minutes, direct running from Colin McFadden earned the chance for Langan to kick another free and the deficit was halved. Dungloe needed to intervene and an excellent Darren Curran effort restored their two-point advantage. 

Sweeney then almost got in again for a goal but Mark Anthony McGinley just got to Daire Gallagher’s attempted square first. 

There was late drama when McLaughlin smacked a post cutting in from the left. And while the same player again pulled it back to a single point, Dungloe would dig in and hold on to finally make it back to a Donegal SFC decider. 

Dungloe scorers: Karl Magee 0-1; Ryan Connors 0-3,3f; Oisin Bonner 0-1,1m; Daire Gallagher 0-1; Barry Curran 0-1; Dylan Sweeney 0-1; Darren Curran 0-1. 

St Michael’s scorers: Michael Cannon 0-1; Daniel McLaughlin 0-5,5f; Michael Langan 0-2,2f. 

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; Oran Aaron Neely, Conor Greene, Oisin Bonner. 

Subs: for Shaun McGee for Greene (30), Noel McBride for R Connors (55), Conor Diver for D Gallagher (60+3), Danny McGlynn for B Curran (60+5); Ryan Connors for K Magee (60+7)

St Michael’s: Mark McGinley; Oisin Langan, Liam Pól Ferry, Paddy McGinley; Anton McFadden, Ciaran Kelly, Kyle McGarvey; Michael Langan, Colin McFadden; Paul Johnston, Martin McElhinney, Daniel McLaughlin; Edward O’Reilly, Michael Cannon, Carlos O’Reilly. 

Subs: Michael McGinley for E O’Reilly (ht), Andrew Kelly for P McGinley (40); Edward O’Reilly for A McFadden (58), 

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gael Fhánada)