Buncrana impressively put Gaoth Dobhair to the sword  in Magheragallon

Buncrana turned on the style with a power-packed performance to put Gaoth Dobhair to the sword in Magheragallon on Saturday evening. 

John Campbell hit eight points in this Division 1 encounter, all in the first half, and three of them two-pointers in the seven-point win in what Buncrana’s first game at the famous west Donegal ground since 1997. 

Dylan Mulholland, who was in devastating form up front, posted 0-6 for the Gary Duffy-managed Inishowen side. 

Peter McLaughlin, Sean Doherty and Sean Parker were the other Buncrana men to hit the target.

Eoin De Burca top-scored for a youthful Gaoth Dobhair who only  had a sprinkling of experienced players on board. 

De Burca scored a goal and also posted one point. Ethan Harkin, Eamon Collum, Niall Friel, Aodhan Bhreathnach and Johnny Mac Giolla Bhride were the other Gaoth Dobhair scorers. 

Playing with a stiff breeze in the first thanks to brilliant individual performances from Campbell and  Mulholland, Buncrana led by five points 0-15 to 1-7 at half-time. 

Except for a brief period in closing minutes of the first quarter when they briefly led after De Burca raced through to score a well taken individual goal and points from Eamon Collum and Harkin. 

But Buncrana’s ability to hit two-pointers saw them move six points clear, 0-13 to 1-4, by the 20-minute mark. And thanks to a fourth Buhcrana  two-pointer led 0-15 to 1-7 at half-time.  

Gaoth Dobhair opened the second half on the front foot and Eamon Collum and Niall Friel landed two points in the opening eight minutes of the new half to cut the Buncrana lead to three points. 

But despite playing with a stiff breeze the locals failed to score again as their shooting deserted them as their nine second half wides are testimony to. They he also had four strikes that dropped short.

With Gaoth Dobhair fluffing their lines, Buncrana closed out the game with points in the last quarter from the outstanding Sean Doherty, Mulholland and Parker. 

Gaoth Dobhair scores: Eoghan De Burca 1-1, Ethan Harkin 0-3, Eamon Column 0-2, Niall Friel, Aodhan Breathnach, Johnny Mac Giolla Bhride 0-1 each. 

Buncrana scorers: John Campbell 0-8, 3 2pt; Dylan Mulholland 0-6, 1 2pt; Peter McLaughlin 0-2, 1 2pt, Sean Parker 0-2; Sean Doherty 0-1.   

Gaoth Dobhair: Odhran Mac Niallais; Johnny O’Donnell, Gary McFadden, Tiarnan Mistel; Ethan Harkin, Niall Friel, Aodhan Breathnach; Eamon MacGiolla Bhride; Fiachra Coyle; Liam Bhreathnach, Eoin De Burca,  Johnny Mac Giolla Bhríde; Cronan McFadden, Eamon Collum, Fionnan Coyle.

Subs: Donal MacGiollla Bhride for E MacGhiolla Bhride, Jodie Cribbern for J O Donnell (34); Jamie Doherty for J MacGilla Bhride (48). 

Buncrana: Sean Parker; Cathal McNutt, Sean Doherty, Elliot Friel; Andrew Davidson, JP McKenna, Mick Gallagher; Michael Bernard McLaughlin, Peter McLaughlin; Aaron Cleary, John Campbell, Oisin O'Flaherty; Billy Duffy, Ryan Bradley, Dylan Mulholland.

Subs: Oisin Crawford for A Cleary (h/t); Darragh Corry for O O’Flaherty (53); Kevin Treacy for D Mulhollan (58).

Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill)