Naomh Conaill ease past Gaoth Dobhair in game that lacked real championship intensity

Naomh Conaill had an easy passage to the quarter-final with victory over Gaoth Dobhair in Davy Brennan Park in Glenties.

Naomh Conaill 1-14
Gaoth Dobhair 1-9

There was no championship bite in the tie with Gaoth Dobhair already qualified for the last eight. Naomh Conaill were always in control after hitting 1-3 without reply and even though Gaoth Dobhair came back within three points early in the second half, that was as good as it got for the Magheragallon men who started without Cian Mulligan and Ethan Harkin.

The result means that Naomh Conaill will square up against Glenswilly in the quarter-final while Gaoth Dobhair will meet Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon.

Naomh Conaill got off to the perfect start with points from  Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui and John O'Malley and then almost had a goal when Seaghan Ferry got a foot to a Leo McLoone cross but it went just over the crossbar.

The goal that was threatened arrived on nine minutes when a magnificent crossfield ball from Odhrán Doherty found Eoin Waide. Jeaic  Mac Ceallabhui fired in long and Charles  McGuinness got the touch to see the ball in the Gaoth Dobhair net.

Fionnan Coyle got Gaoth Dobhair on the board but Ciaran Thompson's long delivery ended over the bar. James Boyle (free) and Dermot Molloy traded scores before Ciaran Thompson found the range from distance to leave it 1-6 to 0-2 after 16 minutes.

Naomh Conaill pictured before their game with Gaoth Dobhair

Gavin McBride (free) and Thompson traded  points before Gaoth Dobhair had their best patch of the tie in the final 10 minutes to add two points from Seaghan Ferry (this time at the right end) and Donal McBride while Gavin McBride should have cut the lead to four but skied a mark from 35m.

Half-time: Naomh Conaill 1-7, Gaoth Dobhair 0-5.

It took  eight minutes to register the first score of the second half with John O'Malley lofting one with his left. Three minutes later we thought we might have a game on our hands when Fionnan Coyle was on the end of a good move to sidefoot home from close range.

But the response from the home side was clinical with Ciaran Thompson denied a goal by Daithi Roberts at the expense of a '45'. Charles McGuinness converted and Kevin McGettigan, Anthony Thompson and Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui added to their tally.

Before the end Niall Friel had two points for the visitors while Gavin McBride had a free while  Dermot Molloy and Kevin McGettigan kept the home side comfortably ahead.

Donegal SFC quarter-final ties and relegation play-off pairings confirmed

The end of round one of the Donegal SFC means the knock-out stages are confirmed

Naomh Conaill scorers: Charles McGuinness 1-1,0-1 45; Ciaran Thompson 0-3,1f; John O'Malley, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui,  Dermot Molloy, Kevin McGettigan 0-2 each; Anthony Thompson 0-1; Seaghan Ferry 0-1 (own point)

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Fionnan Coyle 1-1; Niall Friel 0-2; Gavin McBride 0-2,2f; James Boyle (f), Eamonn McGee, Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhride, Seaghan Ferry 0-1 each.

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Kevin McGettigan, AJ Gallagher, Jason Campbell; Ethan O'Donnell, Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide; Ciaran Thompson, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí; Dermot Molloy, Odhrán Doherty, Eunan Doherty; John O'Malley, Charles McGuinness, Leo McLoone. Subs: Daniel Gildea for O Doherty (48); Hughie Gallagher for D Molloy (54

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts; James Boyle, Neil McGee, Gary McFadden; Seaghan Ferry, Neasan Mac Giolla Bhride, Danny Curran; Micheal Roarty, Domhnaill Mac Giolla Bhride; Fionnan McBride, Eamonn McGee, Dáire Ó Baoill; Fergal Delaney, Eoin de Burca, Gavin McBride. Subs: Niall Friel for de Burca (28); Aodhan Breathnach for Curran (40); Odhrán Mac Niallais for F Coyle (46); Dáire Ferry for S Ferry (47).

Referee: Michael McShane (Kilcar)