Setanta lay down marker in Donegal SHC with win at St Eunan's

Setanta put down a firm marker and showed they will be the team to beat in the Donegal SHC after a most impressive victory over reigning county champions St Eunan’s at a wet O’Donnell Park. 

St Eunan’s 1-12
Setanta 3-15 

Two killer goals in the 23rd and 26th minutes from Davin Flynn and Gerry Gilmore were the key scores in what some might regard as a “dress rehearsal” for the big one down the line, although Burt might have something to say about that.

And, Setanta did it minus three of their top performers as Declan Coulter (injured), Bernard Lafferty (honeymoon) and Michael Donaghue (holidays) were all unavailable. 

Given these notable absentees, you would expect St Eunan’s to make some capital. And they did for the first 18 minutes easing into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. 

But once Setanta found the net, this game was always only going one way.  After a cagey opening, Davin Flynn landed a 65 for Setanta after two minutes. St Eunan’s roared back with Daire O’Maoileidigh striking a long- range point which was quickly added to by his midfielder partner Brian McIntyre in the seventh minute. 

It was all St Eunan’s at this stage and Russell Forde landed a further point to make it 0-4 to 0-1 by the 16th minute. 

But that was as good as it got for the home side as Setanta found their feet with Gerry Gilmore speeding in from the wing and arrowing over a few fine points.  Setanta were getting on top around the middle and Dean Harvey added another point to level matters at 0-4 each. 

Kevin Kealy put Eunan’s back in front but that was the last time they led as Setanta hit back with two killer goals that effectively decided this encounter. 

It was the predatory instinct of Flynn that resulted in a cracking goal as he gathered the ball at an acute angle about 13 metres out and rifled the sliotar to the net. 

Suddenly Setanta put daylight between the sides and that was followed by another cracking goal three minutes later. On this occasion St Eunan’s were just not able to cope with the searing pace of Gilmore who torqued down the left wing before smashing home a great goal. 

Those were the killer scores as Setanta led by  2-5 to 0-5 at the break. St Eunan’s brought on Conor Parke and Conor O’Grady to boost their efforts. Points from Peter Kelly and the impressive Daire O’Maoileidigh made the score Setanta 2-7 St Eunan’s 0-8. 

But Setanta were always able to hit back with points when they needed to.  St Eunan’s relied for the bulk of their scores on O'Maoileidigh and put on dual star Conor O’Donnell.

But they never looked like making any real inroads in a slick Setanta side who finished strongly with some well struck points from Josh Cronolly McGee, Davin Flynn and Ruairi Campbell. 

Cronolly McGee sealed this affair in fine style when he ghosted in behind the Eunan’s defence and coolly struck Setanta’s third goal. 

O’Maoileidigh got a late consolation goal for the home side, but this tie was well over by then as Setanta eased to an impressive victory.

St Eunan’s scorers: Daire O’Maoileidigh 1-5,4f; Brian McIntyre and Sean 0-2, Russell Forde, Kevin Kealey 0-1 each; Peter Kelly 0-1, f. 

Setanta scorers: Davin Flynn 1-3,1f; Gerry Gilmore 1-3; Josh Cronolly McGee 1-2, Ruairi Campbell and Oisin Marley 0-2, 1f each; Dean Harvey, Travis Lafferty and Niall Cleary 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s: Daire McBride; Sean Halvey, Conor McVeigh, Lorcan Heavey; Colm Flood, Steven Doherty, Ryan Hilferty; Daire O’Maoileidigh, Brian McIntyre; Kevin Kealey, Sean McVeigh, Russell Forde; Peter Kelly, Matthew Ahern, Cormac Finn. Subs; Conor Parke for Conor McVeigh (14), Conor O’Donnell for Thomas Crossan (half-time), Conor O’Grady for Peter Kelly (40) 

Setanta: Mark Kane; Mark Callaghan, Conor McGettigan, Denim Rowan; Danny Cullen, Stephen McBride, Ryan Coyle; Oisin Marley, Ritchie Kerr; Gerry Gilmore, Sean Ward, Ruairi Campbell; Davin Flynn, Josh Cronolly McGee, Dean Harvey. Subs; Niall Cleary for Ryan Coyle (53), Travis Lafferty for Josh Cronnolly/McGee (57), Pauric Moss for Dean Harvey (58), Ryan Callaghan for Ruairi Campbell (59)  

Referee: Noel Mullaney (Gaeil Fhanáda)