Gaoth Dobhair continue fine form to go three from three against MacCumhaill's

What crisis? Three games into the Donegal SFC and Gaoth Dobhair have still a 100 percent record following their comfortable victory over MacCumhaill’s.

Gaoth Dobhair 1-15
Sean MacCumhaill’s 0-7

With Trevor Alcorn only appointed as the curtain-pullers for the All-County Football League were already backstage, the 2018 Ulster SFC winners took a few matches to find their feet in early season with a spate of unavailable players.

There was an improvement towards the end of the league and their third win in the SFC was pretty impressive, with Ethan Harkin also impressive, scoring eight points as Gavin McBride’s goal late in the first half turned the tide. Niall Friel also made a welcome return from injury, with plenty more in the queue they hope.

Both teams entered the contest unbeaten, with Gaoth Dobhair easing to victory against Ardara and then squeezing a fine one-point win in Glenfin. MacCumhaill’s had opened with a useful draw at St Michael’s and then had seven points to spare when Four Masters came to the Twin Towns.

Gaoth Dobhair and MacCumhaill’s have seen their paths cross frequently in recent years, with the Gaeltacht team having the upper hand. However, MacCumhaill’s would’ve been quietly confident making the journey west.

Ethan Harkin had his shooting boots on last weekend with six points and although he opened the scoring, it was MacCumhaill’s who went into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with Gallen scoring twice and Kevin McCormack also registering.

Four wides in the opening quarter hampered the hosts - MacCumhaill’s hadn’t one at that stage - although they were controlling the bulk of the possession and creating chances. And although Harkin popped over two frees - one an excellent effort from the right - to level at 0-3 each, hit and miss shooting continued to hamper the hosts.

Gallen, at the other end, showed them how it’s done with a top-class long-range, which was instantly cancelled out by Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhríde before Danny Curran edged Gaoth Dobhair 0-5 to 0-4 in front. Daire Ó Baoill on his return from travelling in Australia, entered the fray on 25 minutes.

McBride’s free in first half injury time doubled the Gaoth Dobhair advantage out to two. Then, in the 33rd minute of that opening period, he planted the first goal when rounding off a move that involved Harkin and Ó Baoill when MacCumhaill’s were caught trying to take the ball out. Gallen’s fourth point was the last of the half and it meant Gaoth Dobhaior were 1-6 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.

Eamon McGee almost grabbed a second Gaoth Dobhair goal three minutes after the restart, cutting inside and driving at goal only for Eoin Gallen in the MacCumhaill’s goal to save. But Gaoth Dobhair continued on the front foot, with a succession of points - three from Harkin, one by McBride and two from Mac Giolla Bhríde - and suddenly it was 1-12 to 0-6, with Gallen their only third quarter point-scorer.

Joel Bradley Walsh hit a 47th minute free for MacCumhaill’s, although that was only a prelude to further points from Harkin and Seaghan Ferry scored the last point, as Gaoth Dobhair free-wheeled their way home and into the last eight.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Ethan Harkin 0-8, 2f; Gavin McBride 1-2, 1f; Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde 0-3, Danny Curran 0-1 each
Sean MacCumhaill's scorers: Oisin Gallen 0-5, 3f; Kevin McCormick 0-1; Joel Bradley Walsh 0-1, 1f.

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; James Ó Baoill, Neil McGee, Gary McFadden; Seaghan Ferry, Neasan Mac Giolla Bhride, Fergal Delaney; Domhnailll Mac Giolla Bhride, Michéal Roarty; Cian Mulligan, Eamon McGee, Eoin De Burca; Danny Curran, Gavin McBride, Ethan Harkin. Subs: Daire Ó Baoill for Mulligan (25), Fionnan Coyle for E McGee (41), Niall Friel for Ferry (53), Ferry for De Burca (59).

Sean MacCumhaill's: Eoin Gallen; Aaron Gillooley, Ronan McMenamin, Gary Dunnion; Cian Mulligan, Andrew McCloskey, Carl Dunnion; Padhraic Patton, Gavin Gallagher; Steven O'Reilly, Gary Wilson, Joel Bradkey Walsh; Kevin McCormack, Oisin Gallen, Martin O'Reilly. Subs: Jamie Keegan for Patton (35), Luke Gavigan for Dunnion (45), Brian Lafferty for Wilson (50), Barney Lafferty for Wilson (57), Chad McSorley for Gillooley (58)

Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill)