Huge Donegal contingent for North London Shamrocks in Connacht loss to Ballina

North London Shamrocks’ media interest in the Connacht Club SFC ended when they went down to Mayo champions Ballina Stephenites at the quarter-final stage.

There was a significant Donegal representation for the Exlies, with eight of their nine points - thanks to four points by St Mary’s Convoy’s Joe McGill, three from Ciaran Diver from Moville and Michael Carroll, Gaoth Dobhair, with one.

Carroll also saw his 13th minute penalty fly wide as the visitors led 0-9 to 0-4 at the break, wth Mayo seniors Evan Regan, Frank Irwin and Padraig O'Hora all scoring.

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As well as that trio, Michael Miller, formerly St Eunan’s, captained the side, with Nathan McElwaine (Termon), Liam Kelly (St Michael’s), Conor McGonagle (Gaeil Fhanada), Sean McMonagle (Na Rossa), Daniel Clarke and Oran Hilley (Naomh Colmcille), Ultan Boyle (Naomh Muire) all started, with Patrick Dolan (St Mary’s Convoy) and Johnny Sweeney (Ardara) coming off the bench. Michael Lynch (Naomh Colmcille); Nathan McElwain (Termon); Liam O’Mara (Glenfin); Owen Skelly (Dungloe) and Odhran Blaney (Gaeil Fhanada) were also part of the panel.

Peter Witherow (St Michael’s) is the Shamrocks’ manager, with Brian Connaghan (Killybegs); Shaun Shields (Milford); Keith Egan (Robert Emmetts); Ciaran Greene (St Eunan’s); Michael Boyle (Termon) all on the backroom team.

The Londoners had replied with McGill to the fore. He kicked two points while Diver sent a goal chance inches over the bar and raised another white flag just before the break.

Thomas Linehan was added from at half time and he helped the home side close the gap to four after 40 minutes but Ballina were never really in trouble and that was as tight as things got. Stephenites kept working hard with Brendan Collins, Sam Callinan, O'Hora, David Tighe and Mikey Murray to the fore and Niall Heffernan's men were well worth their six-point winning margin at the final whistle.

North London Shamrocks’ scorers: Joe McGill 0-4, 2f; Ciaran Diver 0-3; Michael Carroll and Thomas Lenihan 0-1.
Ballina Stephenites scorers: Evan Regan 0-5, 3f, 1m; Luke Doherty 0-3; Frank Irwin 0-2, 2f; Padraig O’Hora, Mikey Murray, Brendan Collins, Niall Feeney and Ciaran Tracey 0-1.

North London Shamrocks: Graham Brody; Nathan McElwaine, Liam Kelly, Eoin Flanagan; Sean McMonagle, Conor McGonigle, Ciaran Diver; Joe McGill, Ultan Boyle; Daniel Clarke, Oran Hilley, Michael Miller; Ruairi Rafferty, Conor McKelvey, Michael Carroll. Subs: Thomas Lenihan, Johnny Sweeney, Enda McHugh, Patrick Dolan, James Hynes.
Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke; Liam Golden, Padraig O’Hora, David Tighe; Ciaran Boland, Sam Callinan, Luke Jordan; Mikey Murray, Frank Irwin; Luke Doherty, Conor McStaty, Niall Feeney; Evan Regan, Luke Feeney, Brendan Collins. Subs: Dylan Thornton, Ciaran Treacy, David O'Mahony, Rory Morrin, James Doherty.