Naomh Columba get the better of Buncrana - but they'll meet again

Naomh Columba got the better of Buncrana in the Donegal IFC, although it turns out it was merely a dress rehearsal as the two sides will meet again in a fortnight.

Naomh Columba 2-16
Buncrana 1-13

Still licking their wounds from their heavy defeat against Downings, Naomh Columba’s start wasn’t good as Buncrana raced into an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead. The points came from Oisin O’Flaherty, three from Darach O’Connor and John Campbell - all this after Kevin McNern had put Naomh Columba in front after just a minute.

But the tide turned as a Ryan Gillespie point followed by a Eric Carr goal but then Buncrana got a goal straight from kick out with an O'Connor finish to the net but the home team rallied to lead at the break with points from Phillip Doherty, Ryan Gillespie with three and a free from Aaron Doherty to leave score Naomh Columba 1-7 Buncrana 1-6.

Naomh Columba got out of the blocks early with points from Ryan Gillespie and Aaron Doherty before a couple of Kevin Treacy points for Gary Duffy’s troops.

Paul O’Hare and Peter McLaughlin traded points, then Kevin McNern of the home team posted two points before Buncrana rallied with points from Adrian Doherty’s two and one from William McLaughlin.

Donegal IFC quarter-final pairings confirmed as first round draws to an end

The final series of fixtures in the first round of the Donegal IFC ran off simultaneously this evening and the quarter-final pairings are now confirmed

Naomh Columba scorers: Ryan Gillespie 0-8, 3; Pauric Ward 1-1; Eric Carr 1-0; Kevin McNern 0-3; Aaron Doherty 0-2, 1f; Philip Doherty and Paul O’Hare 0-1 each.
Buncrana scorers: Darach O’Connor 1-3, 1f; Kevin Treacy 0-2, 1f; Adrian Doherty 0-2; Oisin O’Flaherty, John Campbell, William McLaughlin, Ryan Hegarty, Peter McLaughlin and Caolan McGonagle 0-1 each.

Naomh Columba: Padraig Byrne; Pauric Ward, Phillip Doherty, Barry Carr; Eric Carr, Phillip McNern, Pauric Hegarty; Fionn Gallagher, Declan McGuire; Paul O’Hare, Aaron Doherty, Kevin McNern; Ryan Gillespie, Christopher Byrne, Ryan McNern. Subs: Lanty Molloy for R McNern, Oisin McGinley for C Byrne, Stephen Jones for B Carr.

Buncrana: Harry Doherty; JP McKenna, Aedan Stokes, Stephen Doherty; Ryan McElhinney, William McLaughlin, Oisin Crawford; Peter McLaughlin, Caolan McGonagle; Oisin O’Flaherty, Ben Bradley, Michael Bernard McLaughlin; Darach O’Connor, John Campbell, Ryan Hegarty. Subs: Kevin Treacy for R Hegarty; Adrian Doherty for R McElhinney; Oisin Hegarty for J Campbell; Conor Grant for JP McKenna

Referee: Greg McGrory (Four Masters)