Kelly and O’Donnell goals send Carndonagh into Junior A final after win over Naomh Ultan

Carndonagh are looking forward to a Donegal Junior A Championship final following a comfortable win over Naomh Ultan this afternoon in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny. 

Carndonagh  3-11
Naomh Ultan 2-7 

Ryan Kelly scored two of the goals  and Conor O’Donnell scored the other while Fergal Doherty, Cian Doherty, Eoghan Kelly, Anthony Doherty, Donal Kelly and Will Quinn all chipped in with points, on a day Carndonagh had eight different scores. , 

County man O’Donnell also posted three points in what was his first start of the season having only returned to action for the first time when sprung from the bench in last weekend’s quarter-final win over Urris. 

The winners  led by six points at half-time with O’Donnell making an early impact with two points. The first of Kelly’s goals  came on 22 and  was the big score of the half with the teams level. Kelly ghosted in behind the Naomh Ultan defence to get on the end of a sweeping move involving O’Donnell and James Monagle to give Daniel McGlynn between the posts no chance.

All of a sudden Carndonagh were 1-4 to 0-4 up and they pushed on after that with points from Eoghan Kelly, Cathal Doherty and Anthony Doherty to lead 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time. 

Dermot Gallier and Cian Kennedy were the  Naomh Ultan scorers in that opening half. 

It took Carndonagh  a while to get into their stride in the second half before O’Donnell curled over from close range  after quick thinking from goalkeeper Kyle Harkin,  who decided to go short with a ‘45’. 

That was on 39 minutes and they extended the lead out to eight points thanks to a super strike from Donal Doherty before Daniel Gallagher joined the Naomh Ultan attack to steer between the posts for his team’s first white flag of the second period. This was followed quickly by a fine Cian Kennedy strike from play. Kennedy, Daniel Gallagher and Peter Alvey were by far Naomh Ultan’s top performers over the 60 plus minutes.  

But with Naomh Ultan forced to chase the game in the closing ten minutes and leaving gaps at the back, Carndonagh took full advantage and Kelly and O’Donnell found the net twice in quick succession to finally end the Naomh Ultan challenge. 

With under five minutes remaining Carndonagh led 3-10 to 0-6 but to their credit Naomh Ultan kept trying with player manager Aidan Duddy, a second half substitute, having an influence. Kennedy and Patrick White struck for late goals and respectability. 

Late points send Letterkenny Gaels into Junior A final once more after win over Na Rossa

The Letterkenny side were pushed all the way by Na Rossa, who led by two points at the break after being wind-assisted in the opening half.

Carndonagh scorers: Ryan Kelly 2-1,Conor O’Donnell 1-3, 1f,Fergal Doherty, Cian Doherty, Eoghan Kelly, Anthony Doherty, Donal Kelly, Donal Doherty, Will Quinn  0-1, each, 

Naomh Ultan scorers: Cian Kennedy 1-3,1f;  Patrick White 1-1; Dermot Gallier,  Patrick White, Joe Alvey 0-1 each.

Naomh Ultan: Daniel McGlynn; Kevin McGuinness, Jack Boyle, Daniel Gallagher; Peter Alvey, Aaron Kyles, Joe Alvey; John Knightly, Patrick White; Donal Murrin, Cian Kennedy, Kyle Breslin; Luke Gallagher, Dermot Gallier, Matthew Erskine. Subs: Aidan Duddy for M Erskine (42), James Cunningham for K McGuinness (60), Daniel McGlynn for D Murrin, Darragh Byrne for J Knightly (62), Ciaran Cunningham for Jack Boyle (64). 

Carndonagh: Kyle Harkin; Cormac Monagle, Conor Doherty, Darragh Browne; James Monagle, Danny Monagle, Anthony Doherty; Ryan Kelly, Will Quinn; Cian Doherty, Donal Doherty, Eoghan Kelly; Cathal Doherty, Fergal Doherty,  Conor O’Donnell. Subs: Conor Fagan for Cian Doherty (34), Ryan Davenport for D. Monagle (60)

Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).