Celebration time for Dungloe after victory over St. Eunan's in thrilling Minor final

Dungloe are the new Donegal Division One Minor champions after they had just enough to defeat the title-holders St. Eunan’s in a thrilling final on Thursday evening.

Dungloe . . . 2-15
St. Eunan’s . . . 2-10
(after extra time)

This decider, played in front of a big crowd at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy, was a brilliant advertisement for the ladies game in the county.

It went all the way to extra-time before Dungloe eventually got over the line to record a first ever Minor Division One title.

For St. Eunan’s, there was huge disappointment at the finish. They played their part in a great game and could so easily have won the match in normal time after fighting back from eight points down in the second half.

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They also lost a key player when Emma Gribben went off injured right at the start of the first period of extra time. The game was held up for 14 minutes while the midfielder received treatment before she was removed from the pitch by stretcher. 

At that stage, the game was in the melting pot, but the St. Eunan’s players were definitely impacted by the loss to injury of their team-mate.

They managed only one point in extra-time as Dungloe took control of the game and in the end, the team from the Rosses just about deserved the victory.

St Eunan's who played Dungloe in the Division One final

Dungloe had to dig deep at times, especially after losing the influential Ulitah Boyle who was shown a yellow card early in the second half. Without their midfielder who produced a player of the match display, Dungloe saw a lead of 1-9 to 0-4 wiped out during her ten minute spell on the sideline.

St. Eunan’s hit two quick goals through substitute Aoibheann Randles and Caitlin Fletcher and along with a number of well taken points, they were back level at 1-9 to 2-6 by the time Dungloe were back to their full complement of 15 players.

It meant for an exciting final quarter during which the teams traded the lead. A goal from Rihanna McCready for Dungloe put them two points up close to the end only for St. Eunan’s to produce another comeback with points from Maria McGeehin and Fletcher again. 

St. Eunan’s mounted a couple of late attacks as they sought a winner but referee Clint Marron signalled full-time and that meant two ten minute periods of extra time.

Dungloe captain Sara O'Donnell receives the cup from Donegal LGFA Chairperson Seamus Herron

Dungloe were quickest out of the blocks in the extra-time and a couple of scores from Eimear McCole set them on their way. They were five points up, 2-14 to 2-9 after the first period and try as they might, St. Eunan’s were unable to find a way back.

In the end a brilliant score from the excellent Tara Geoghegan rounded off a memorable night for Dungloe. 

Geoghegan, McCready, Ellie Ward, Ava Caulfield and Ulitah Boyle all caught the eye for Dungloe.

St. Eunan’s can take heart from the fact that they have a number of players who will be underage again next year. They had good performers in Sine Harris and Alisha Hughes in defence, Clodagh Sheerin and Caitlin Fletcher.

Dungloe scorers: Rihanna McCready 1-7 (3f), Tara Geoghegan (1-4), Eimear McCole (0-2), Ulitah Boyle (0-1), Ava Caulfield (0-1)

St Eunan’s scorers: Caitlin Fletcher (1-2), Aoibheann Randles (1-0), Laura Doherty (0-2, 1f), Maria McGeehin (0-2), Orla Malseed (0-1), Emma Gribben (0-1), Serena McCrossan (0-1), Hannah Hopkins (0-1)

Dungloe: Elisha Boyle; Grace Anne Boyle, Ellie Ward, Eve Doherty; Ava Caulfield, Sara O’Donnell, Alannah O’Donnell; Ulitah Boyle, Claire Diver; Aoife Rodgers, Tara Geoghegan, Rihanna McCready; Eimear McCole, Ellie McGarvey, Amy Timoney.

St. Eunan’s: Molly Prendergast; Lucy McGeever, Sophie McFeely, Katherine Hopkins; Sine Harris, Ella Gallagher, Amy Callaghan; Ella McLaughlin, Emma Gribben; Laura Doherty, Hannah Hopkins, Orla Malseed; Eabha Daly, Caitlin Fletcher, Clodagh Sheerin.

Subs: Alisha Hughes for Callaghan (17), Aoibheann Randles for Gallagher (33), Serena McCrossan for Daly (46), Maria McGeehin for Doherty (56), Ella Gallagher for Randles and Olivia Plumb for Gribben (extra time).

Referee: Clint Marron.

OTHER FINALS

This game was part of a double-header in Convoy. On the adjacent pitch, Killybegs had a narrow win over Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin in the Division Two final.

In Castlefin, Robert Emmets were victorious against Glenfin in the Division Four final.

Reports on those two games to follow.