Buncrana topple Naomh Conaill in U-21 A opener at the Scarvey 

Buncrana had eight points to spare over Naomh Conaill in the opening round of the U21A football championship at a bright and sunny Scarvey on Saturday afternoon.

Three first half goals – from Michael Bernard McLaughlin, Billy Duffy and Kevin Jordan – put them on the road to victory and they led by 3-4 to 0-5 at half time. 

Jordan, making his first appearance in Buncrana colours this year after playing with Finn Harps throughout the season, hit his second goal ten minutes after the break to put the home side into an unassailable 14 point lead.

Naomh Conaill, for whom Finbarr Roarty was a notable absentee, kept their heads and, perhaps mindful that scoring difference could come into play at the conclusion of the group stage, outscored their hosts by 1-6 to 0-3 in the final quarter with Oran Doherty palming their goal to the net five minutes from the end.

Still Buncrana, who won the U21B championship last year, were well worth their win and look well equipped to make a splash on their return to the A competition. 

Buncrana got off to a blistering start, hitting the net twice in the opening eight minutes as they exploited big gaps in the visitors’ defence.

They were leading by two points to one when Conor Graham sent a long pass into the corner where Billy Duffy set up Michael Bernard McLaughlin for Buncrana’s opening goal inside five minutes.

Duffy was alert moments later to win a dropping free on the endline and wriggled past his marker to get Buncrana’s second goal and when Dylan Mulholland fired over a point the home side had built a 2-3 to 0-1 lead with just eight minutes on the clock.

Naomh Conaill settled, with Max Campbell fielding well at centre field and Tiernan Ward and Daniel Gildea (2) hitting points, and Mark McDevitt cracking a goal effort off the woodwork.

Michael McLaughlin responded with a point for the home side who got their third goal in the 25th minute after a sweeping length of the field move instigated by full back Sean Doherty that went through the hands of Oisin Crawford and Michael Bernard and ended with Kevin Jordan sidestepping keeper Dylan McGlynn and hammering to the net.

Tiernan Ward tapped over a 13m free on the stroke of half time with Glenties 3-4 to 0-5 in arrears.

Buncrana’s attack was equally potent after the break. Billy Duffy pointed within a minute of the restart and two Mulholland points on either side of one from Michael Bernard kept the momentum with them, with Sean Doherty hitting a point in response for Naomh Conaill.

The home side put the game to bed ten minutes in when Daire McColgan set up Kevin Jordan for his second, and Buncrana’s fourth, goal of the day and a 4-8 to 0-6 lead.

Buncrana sat back after that and Naomh Conaill chipped away at the deficit.

Points from Jack McGlynn, Sean Doherty, Mark McDevitt and a superb long range outside of the boot effort from Max Campbell were all added to the Glenties column, and Danny Browne floated a pass across the square for Oran Doherty to palm to the net for a 55th minute goal.

Tiernan Ward added another free for Naomh Conaill to bring the deficit back to five points by the 58th minute, but Buncrana shook themselves and hit the last three points of the game – one from Oisin Crawford sandwiched between two from the impressive Michael Bernard McLaughlin.

Buncrana scorers: Oisin Crawford 0-1, Aaron Cleary 0-1, Michael Bernard McLaughlin 1-4, Dylan Mulholland 0-3, Kevin Jordan 2-0, Billy Duffy 1-2.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Oran Doherty 1-1, Jack McGlynn 0-1, Max Campbell 0-1, Daniel Gildea 0-2, Tiernan Ward 0-4, 3f, Mark McDevitt 0-1, Sean Doherty 0-2.

 Buncrana: Ruairi Scott; Elliott Friel, Sean Doherty, Conor Graham; Jamie Friel, Oisin Crawford, Liam Jordan; Aaron Cleary, Darragh Corry; Andrew Davison, Michael Bernard McLaughlin, Dylan Mulholland; Daire McColgan, Kevin Jordan, Billy Duffy.

Subs: Sean Doherty for J Friel (50 mins); Niall Breslin for A Cleary (55 mins). 

Naomh Conaill: Dylan McGlynn; Conan Brannigan, Jackie Chen, Conor Gildea; Oran Doherty, Jack McGlynn, Micheál Trimble; Max Campbell, Robbie McDonald; Daniel Gildea, Tiernan Ward, Mark McDevitt; Sean Doherty, Danny Brown, Thomas McDevitt.

Subs: Fergus Campbell for T McDevitt (16 mins); Daniel Breslin for M Trimble (half time); Daire McHugh for J Chen (46 mins).

Referee: Dermot McColgan (Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin)