Naomh Conaill U-21s defeat Buncrana at the Scarvey to make last four 

Naomh Conaill advanced to the semi-final of the U21 championship when they had four points to spare over Buncrana at the Scarvey on Sunday afternoon. 

Trailing by a point at half time, Naomh Conaill got on top in the second half when Max Campbell, Danny Brown and Finnbarr Roarty came to the fore, and full forward Shay Malone converted a penalty ten minutes from the end to put them 2-5 to 1-3 ahead.

Buncrana, led by sub Aaron Cleary, full back Sean Doherty and Kevin Jordan, tried to respond, but the Glenties defence held them at bay and they advance to the last four.

Sunday’s outcome was the reverse of group stage encounter between the sides at the same venue last month when Buncrana won a high scoring encounter by 4-11 to 1-12.

This was a much more defensive and tactical game. Naomh Conaill brought a stronger 15 for the quarter-final, with Finnbarr Roarty, Shay Malone and Peter McGlynn all starting, while Buncrana were missing the influential Michael Bernard McLaughlin and midfielder Aaron Cleary was only fit for 20 minutes in the second half.

Buncrana dominated that opening 20 minutes by hemming the visitors into their own half, but struggled to translate that possession into scores. Kevin Jordan fired over an early free from distance, but it was scant reward for the dominance they’d enjoyed. 

Naomh Conaill hit the game’s opening goal in the 13th minute and it came against the run of play. Mark McDevitt lobbed a pass in behind the Buncrana full back line for Tiernan Ward to come onto and he slammed the ball past keeper Ruairi Scott. 

Buncrana kept their composure and earned a penalty at the other end when Sean Daly was fouled in the parallelogram after fielding a long pass in from Oisin Crawford. 

Glenties keeper Dylan McGlynn dived low to his left and got his hands to Conor Graham’s penalty kick, but it was hit with such power he couldn’t keep it out and Buncrana were back in the lead.

Corner forward Billy Duffy then intercepted a short kickout McGlynn, which might have led to a goal, but his one-two pass with Daly didn’t quite come off and in the end Duffy did well to fist the ball over the bar for a 1-2 to 1-0 lead.

Having been under the cosh, Glenties started to find their feet in the ten minutes before the break with midfielder Max Campbell sidestepping a tackle to fire a point over in the 24th minute, and Danny Brown seeing a goal attempt from a rebound saved by Ruairi Scott after a Tiernan Ward shot had struck the upright.

The home side led by 1-2 to 1-1 at the break, but the tables would turn in the second half.

Danny Brown clipped over a point after Glenties won the throw-in as they came fast out of the traps for the second half. But like Buncrana in the first, some wayward shooting prevented them from turning good quality possession into scores.

Brown converted a 36th minute free, and Tiernan Ward fired over from play after being picked out by a superb crossfield pass from Max Campbell as Naomh Conaill stretched 1-4 to 1-2 ahead.

Buncrana had been hanging on somewhat and were much improved following the introduction of Aaron Cleary – the tall midfielder won his side’s kickout with his first contribution and fired over a 43rd minute point to narrow the gap.

Brown responded with a free for Naomh Conaill, but the game’s decisive moment came on 47 minutes.

Billy Duffy had a goal chance thwarted by Dylan McGlynn at one end, and the Naomh Conaill keeper sustained an injury and was subsequently replaced by Aodhan Brown. Glenties broke downfield with Finnbarr Roarty driving at the heart of the Buncrana defence and laid off to Mark McDevitt who was hauled down by Elliot Friel inside the big square. Referee Pat Barrett awarded a penalty, and Shay Malone converted with a thumping kick to the bottom right corner for a 2-5 to 1-3 lead.

The home side were rocking, and only some last ditch defending prevented Glenties inflicting more damage.

Buncrana did manage to steady themselves, with Kevin Jordan from a free and Aaron Cleary from a mark bringing them back to within a goal. Dylan Mulholland had a chance to narrow the gap further still with five remaining, but his 40 metre free kick curled just wide.

From the kickout, Jack McGlynn won a breaking ball at midfield and fed Campbell who in turn found Brown in space and the corner forward hit his fourth point of the day, and Campbell himself rounded off the scoring with a late point.

There was a skirmish deep in injury time involving players, subs and mentors from both sides, but order was restored and, with no great harm done, referee Barrett issued yellow cards to Kevin Jordan, Finnbarr Roarty and Max Campbell before sounding the full time whistle soon after.

Buncrana scorers: Conor Graham 1-0, 1P, Aaron Cleary 0-2,1m; Billy Duffy 0-1; Kevin Jordan 0-2, 2f.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Danny Brown 0-4, 2f; Tiernan Ward 1-1; Max Campbell 0-2; Shay Malone 1-0, 1P. 

Buncrana: Ruairi Scott; Jamie Friel, Sean Doherty, Conor Graham; Andrew Davison, Oisin Crawford, Elliot Friel; Darragh Corry, Kevin Jordan; Liam Jordan, Kevin O’Rourke, Sean Daly; Billy Duffy, Dylan Mulholland, Dáire McColgan. 

Subs: Aaron Cleary for K O’Rourke (37 mins); Stephen McGonagle for S Daly (54 mins).

Naomh Conaill: Dylan McGlynn; Conan Brannigan, Thomas McDevitt, Fergus Campbell; Jack McGlynn, Robbie McDonald, Peter McGlynn; Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell; Odhran Doherty, Mark McDevitt, Tiernan Ward; Danny Brown, Shay Malone, Conor Gildea. 

Sub: Aodhan Brown for D McGlynn (48 mins).

Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford)