Termon hold on as Red Hughs' spirited fightback falls just short

Daire McDaid’s first-half penalty squeezed Termon past a spirited Red Hughs, whose strong comeback fell agonisingly short.

Termon 1-8
Red Hughs 0-10

Red Hughs outscored Termon by eight points to three in the second half, but Termon, who seemed to run out of steam in the final quarter, had done enough - but only just.

Calvin Bradley and Jack Gallagher led the charge for Red Hughs, who clawed back from the brink.

Gallagher scored four points in the last ten minutes and Red Hughs could perhaps feel aggrieved having been denied a free when Jason Callaghan went to ground in added time. The final whistle shrilled soon after and they were left to wonder ‘what if?’.

When McDaid smacked home a 15th minute penalty, the scoreline, 1-2 to 0-0, bore an ominous look.

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McDaid took possession from a Ricky Gallagher shot that dropped short. As McDaid looked set to blast to the net from close range, the Termon forward was bundled over. Referee Marc Brown awarded the penalty and McDaid duly dispatched.

It was the 12th minute before Anthony Grant ached over the game’s first point with McDaid kicking over a free a minute later.

Termon’s form book had showed a dramatic shift since their relegation from Division 1 of the All-County Football League and Francie Friel’s men arrived to Letterkenny as firm favourites for advancement, unbeaten in the group phase, where they won three and drew one.

After Stephen Black opened up a six-point gap, Red Hughs spurned a big goal chance in the 21st minute. Stephen McMenamin and Tim O’Callaghan exchanged passes to create the chance. Pauric McMenamin was on the end of the move, but his low effort found only the side netting.

In the last minute of the opening period, Calvin Bradley found the bottom corner of the Termon net, but referee Marc Brown had already blown for a free. Red Hughs raged and had to settle for the converted free by Gillespie.

Red Hughs’ 0-12 to 0-9 win over St Mary’s, Convoy sealed their place in the last eight.  While hefty defeats at the hands of Buncrana and Downings came in between, an opening win over Naomh Bríd and that success over Convoy was enough for Red Hughs - who have still to play a Division 2 relegation play-off against Convoy - to get through.

Red Hughs had to wait until the 29th minute to get off the mark, Jack Bradley posting impressively from the right-hand side and they were six points, 1-5 to 0-2, behind at the break.

Points by Tim Callaghan and Calvin Bradley - who landed two superb attempts from difficult angles - began the second half brightly for Red Hughs.

A pair of Gillespie frees brought Red Hughs to within a goal and Termon looked a little edgy as they held a 1-8 to 0-8 lead with six minutes to play.

Red Hughs continued to inch back, but Termon clung on.

Termon scorers: Daire McDaid 1-1, 1-0 pen, 1f; Enda McCormick 0-2; Stephen Black, Anthony Grant, Steve McElwaine, Bobby McGettigan, Jack Alcorn 0-1 each.

Red Hughs scorers: Jack Gillespie 0-5, 4f; Calvin Bradley 0-3, 1m; Tim Callaghan, Jack Bradley 0-1 each.

Termon: Darragh Russell; Conor Cassidy, Kevin McDaid, Oisin Cassidy; Stephen Black, Caolan Gallagher, Ricky Gallagher; Ryan McFadden, James McSharry; Anthony Grant, Cormac Gallagher, Jack Alcorn; Steve McElwaine, Daire McDaid, Bobby McGettigan. Subs: Enda McCormick for McElwaine (27), Jamie Grant for Caolan Gallagher (half-time), Conor Black for Grant (50).

Red Hughs: Luke Kelly; Aaron McGlinchey, Thomas McMenamin, Shane Gallagher; James Doherty, Stephen McMenamin, Peadar McGlinchey; Darragh McMenamin, Jack Gillespie; Tim Callaghan, Ryan Kelly, Pauric McMenamin; Jack Bradley, Calvin Bradley, Damien Browne. Subs: Tiernan Kelly and Denim Rowan for Callaghan and Doherty (45), Sean McGlinchey for P.McMenamin (57), Jason Callaghan and James Gallagher for R.Kelly and A.McGlinchey (60).

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters).