Bradley-Walsh's eight points helps MacCumhaill's to beat St Mary's Convoy

Joel Bradley-Walsh kicked eight points as Seán MacCumhaill’s claimed a hard-earned win against St Mary’s Convoy at MacCumhaill Park.

MacCumhaill’s 0-10
St Mary’s Convoy 0-7

The home side’s preparation was hindered by withdrawal of regular keeper Eoin Gallen, who pulled up in the warmup and was replaced by Carl Dunnion. The visitors capitalised on a slow start from MacCumhaill’s and were three points up from Matthew Coyle, Corey Lee Bogan and a 45 from Anthony Browne within the opening nine minutes.

However, things could have been better for St Mary’s who had a goal chance and three wide efforts in the same stretch to put the hosts under real pressure in the early stages of the game.

Bragging rights shared ahead of championship clash between Bundoran and Aodh Ruadh

Bundoran get goals at vital times and also a late free to get a deserved draw

MacCumhaill’s first score of the game came from full-forward Steven O’Reilly, who manoeuvred well to slot over on 10 minutes. Bradley-Walsh, on scintillating form, hit his side’s other three points of the half with a Paddy Dolan free for St Mary’s having the sides level at the interval at 0-4 to 0-4.

Bradley-Walsh and a Dolan free opened the scoring in the second half but it was MacCumhaill’s who looked the more accurate side in their efforts forward as the rain came plummeting down.

Two fine scores from Bradley-Walsh stretched the home side out in front by two and his long-range effort in for a point was fisted over the post from Gary Wilson on 43 minutes to take the lead out to 0-8 to 0-5.

O’Reilly’s expeditious run at the heart of the visitor’s defence nearly paid dividends but his rasping effort at goal came rattling back off the crossbar. Bradley-Walsh and Dolan exchanged frees and when O’Reilly made another direct run bearing down on goal his progress was halted by a blanket of St Mary’s players forcing a foul which Bradley-Walsh obliged to knock over the free awarded.

Bragging rights shared ahead of championship clash between Bundoran and Aodh Ruadh

Bundoran get goals at vital times and also a late free to get a deserved draw

St Mary’s never gave up hope of sneaking a result at the very end but had to settle for a final point from Corey Lee Bogan with the game ending with victory for the home side.

Seán MacCumhaill’s scorers: Joel Bradley-Wals2h 0-8, 4f; Steven O’Reilly and Gary Wilson 0-1 each.
St Mary’s, Convoy scorers: Paddy Dolan 0-3, f;  Corey Lee Bogan 0-2, 2f;  Matthew Coyle 0-1, 1f; Anthony Browne 0-1, 45.

Seán MacCumhaill’s: Carl Dunnion; Eoin McGonagle, Ronan McMenamin, Cian Mulligan; Andrew McCloskey, Joe Boyle, Chad McSorley; Gavin Gallagher, Padhraic Patton; Jamie Keegan, Gary Wilson, Benny McLaughlin; Joel Bradley-Walsh, Steven O’Reilly, Martin O’Reilly.
St Mary’s, Convoy: Mark Gordon; Conal McDermott, Benny Bonner, John Moore; Oran Patterson, John Doherty, Connor Bonner; Padraig Gordan, John Toye; Anthony Browne, Laurence McMullan, Matthew Coyle; Corey Lee Bogan, Paddy Dolan, Gavin Sweeney
Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)