Michael Murphy makes his mark as Glenswilly confirm last eight spot in Ardara

Glenswilly made the most of Michael Murphy at full-forward with four second half marks in Ardara as they strode onto the Donegal SFC quarter-finals unbeaten.

Ardara 1-10
Glenswilly 1-14

Ardara had done well to come from four down in the first half to go in 1-6 to 1-4 in front at half-time, but Glenswilly and their talisman played in perfectly in the first half and Murphy ended up with six points.

When Pauric Bonner’s side won the All-County Football League Division 1 fixture at the same venue in July, Wogan scored a first minute goal in Glenswilly’s 1-18 to 1-5 victory, one which relegated the Kentucky side.

Wogan repeated the trick, although a minute later, to give the visitors the perfect start, slamming a shot down low past Cathal Gallagher from Jack Gallagher’s pass.  The Glenswilly centre-back then pointed and just four minutes in, they led 1-1 to 0-0.

Using the wind to their advantage, though, Ardara got things going and posted five out of the next six scores to level it up at 0-5 to 12 by the 24th minute. The hosts scores came from an Oisin O’Donnell long-ranger, Conor Classon, a Paul Walsh free and two from Kevin Whyte. The only Glenswilly score in that 20-minute spell came from a Michael Murphy free.

John Ross Molloy eked Ardara ahead for the first time on 25 minutes, although points from Gary McFadden, from a free, and Jack Gallagher meant that Glenswilly looked as though they’d go in 1-4 to 0-6 in front at half-time. 

Cathal Gallagher in the Ardara goal made a good save late in the half to keep out Ryan Diver’s goalbound hook at goal and the home team had been breaking well against the wind, although not always taking the right options. 

However, two minutes into injury time, Ardara’s John Ross Molloy made another daring charge forward and although there were options left and right, opted to take the shot on himself and produced a fantastic goal to give his side a 1-6 to 1-4 lead at the break.

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With Murphy inside, Glenswilly had a target with the wind and the Donegal captain marked to score before Caoimhinn Marley tied it up at 1-6 each. Murphy then marked again and just five minutes into part two, Glenswilly were back in front.

Glenswilly kept laying balls into Murphy and he hit five points alone in the third quarter and although Ardara got a couple of scores from John Ross Molloy, while Paul Walsh also showed his prowess from distance, they were just a little too far off.

Gary McFadden and Shane McDevitt, as well as goalscorer Wogan, chipped in to keep Ardara at arm’s length.

Ardara scorers: John Ross Molloy 1-3; Kevin Whyte 0-2, Oisin O’Donnell, Conor Classon 0-1, Paul Watters; Paul Walsh 0-2, 1f.
Glenswilly scorers: Michael Murphy 0-6, 1f, 4m; Shaun Wogan 1-1; Gary McFadden 0-3, 3f; Jack Gallagher 0-2;  Caoimhinn Marley, Shane McDevitt 0-1.

Ardara: Cathal Gallagher; Shane Whyte, Joe Melly, Paddy McGrath; Robbie Adair, Conor Classon, Nicholas Breslin; Tony Harkin, John Ross Molloy; Kevin Whyte, Paul Walsh, Matthew Sweeney; Oisin O'Donnell, Tomás Boyle, Paul Watters. Sub: Gareth Concarr for Whyte (52); 

Glenswilly: Kealan McFadden; Ryan Diver, Ruairí Crawford, Caolan Kelly; Cormac Callaghan, Jack Gallagehr, Shane McDaid; Caoimhinn Marley, Shaun Wogan; Gary Kelly, Gary McFadden, Oisin Crawford; Shane McDevitt, Michael Murphy, Kealan Dunleavy. Subs: Eamon Ward for C Kelly (45), Leigh Crerand for O Crawford (52)

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters)