St Eunan’s prove too hot to handle for Glenfin in Under-21 final

First-half goals by Claire Doherty and Niamh Harkin set the tone as St Eunan’s proved too strong for Glenfin in Sunday’s Donegal LGFA Under-21 final.

St Eunan’s 3-14
Glenfin 1-4

Aoibhin Randles added a late third in the dying moments, by which time the black and amber were firmly on their way to an impressive win.

Alan O’Connell’s team led 2-4 to 0-3 at half-time and they tacked on seven points in the opening 14 minutes of the second half to effectively drop the curtain.

It was a slow burner to begin with, Katie Long and Brenda Carr firing over to give Glenfin an early advantage.

A brace from Niamh Walsh had St Eunan’s level and they bagged the first goal in the 18th minute when Doherty finished well after a Randles free fell invitingly in the danger zone.

St Eunan’s survived a real scare in the 25th minute when, after Hannah Hopkins kept out Josephine Gallagher’s powerful shot, the ball somehow stayed out in the ensuing scramble. Hopkins became the latest St Eunan’s outfield player to take a turn in goal with the side not having a recognised ‘keeper.

For the final quarter, Niamh Harkin stepped in with Hopkins moving into the forward division.

In added time at the end of the first half, Harkin’s shot beat Faith Harkin to put St Eunan’s seven in front at the short whistle.

On the resumption, the Cathedral Town side went for the kill. Niamh Walsh and Alisha Tobin landed a brace apiece, with Harkin, Doherty and Clodagh Sheerin all raising white flags as St Eunan’s opened an unassailable 14-point advantage.

Randles curled over majestically from the right-hand side for a buoyant St Eunan’s and, with seven minutes remaining, Randles arched over another cracker.

Katie Long, having seen one effort come off the top of the St Eunan’s crossbar, blasted a 20-metre free kick to the roof of the St Eunan’s net in the 56th minute.

It was too late to revive the An Gaeltacht Lár side, though.

Doherty posted another point and the final say was left to Randles, who tucked routinely to the net in the third minute of added time.

Scorers for St Eunan’s: Niamh Walsh 0-5, 1f; Claire Doherty, Aoibhin Randles 1-2 each; Niamh Harkin 1-1; Alisha Tobin 0-2; Shauna Higgins, Clodagh Sheerin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Glenfin: Katie Long 1-2f; Brenda Carr, Katy Gallagher 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s: Hannah Hopkins; Sophie McFeely, Laura Kealy, Katie McGovern; Ciara O’Donnell, Sinead McIntyre, Clodagh Sheerin; Laoise Ryan, Shauna Higgins; Anna Boyle, Alisha Tobin, Niamh Harkin; Claire Doherty, Niamh Walsh, Aoibhin Randles. Subs: Laura Doherty for Harkin (42), Harkin for Boyle (46), Boyle for O’Donnell (57).

Glenfin: Faith Harkin; Gemma Bradley, Josephine Gallagher, Shannon Doherty; Rebecca McColgan, Caoimhe McGlynn, Lauren Martin; Katie Long, Ciara Moy; Jamie Lee McMahon, Brenda Carr, Anna Carr; Katy Gallagher, Sinead Bonner, Danielle McGinley. Subs: Aibhe McMenamin and Sarah Morrow for K.Gallagher and Doherty (44); Doherty for Long (60)

Referee: Mark Dorrian (St Naul’s).