Buncrana win Inishowen U16 football final in style

Buncrana GAA 3-12

Moville GAA 1-2

Buncrana U16s wrapped up their season in style with a comprehensive win over reigning champions Moville in the Inishowen A final at windswept Hibernian Park on Sunday afternoon.

Playing with a gale force wind at their backs, Buncrana knew they would have to build a significant lead by the time referee Sean McDaid would blow for half time.

However, it was Moville who made the better start with Harry McHenry Pike getting forward from wing back to kick the opening score into the teeth of the wind.

Buncrana did settle however and a fine score from distance by Joe Bradley was soon followed by three on the spin from the excellent Danny Friel.

Shane Friel then got forward to fire over a fine score from out on the right before the opening goal arrived on 17 minutes when Oisin O’Brien decided to rely on his soccer skills to run the ball toward goal and calmly slot low to the bottom corner.

O’Brien then hit a two pointer and two scores from Lorcan McCarron saw Buncrana close the half with an eleven point lead - 1-9 to 0-1.

The big question was would it be enough?

The answer was a resounding yes.

Tiernan McGonagle and Caoimhinn Crawford fired over the first two points of the second period and by the time Cian McLaughlin hammered to the net midway through the half, the game was dead and buried as a contest.

To their credit, Moville kept plugging away and a Parker Craig goal put a little bit of respectability on the scoreline. Lorcan McCarron and Oisin O’Hare (suffering from an injury and only introduced late on) traded scores before a Danny Friel point and a Crawford goal, helped seal a very impressive win for a Buncrana side who have shown a real improvement in the last few years.

Buncrana: Paul Denis Hegarty; Shane Friel (0-1), Cole Breslin, Oisin Dougan; Andrew McLaughlin, Sean Óg Boyle, Joe Bradley (0-1); Aaron Stevenson, Peter Bradley; Cian McLaughlin (1-0), Lorcan McCarron (0-3), Oisin O'Brien (1-2, one 2pt); Danny Friel (0-4), Tiernan McGonagle (0-1), Caoimhin Crawford (1-1). Subs: Ryan O'Loughlin, Peter Sharkey; James McConnell.

Moville: Matthew Doherty; Alex Harkin, Charlie O'Donnell, Noah Masson; Harry McHenry-Pike (0-1), Peadar O'Gorman, Teddy Friel; Mark Faulkner, Reuben Craig; Jack Gill, Ronan Doherty, Tony Reddin; Jake Laird, Parker Craig (1-0), Shea Brennan. Subs: Conor Farren, Jude Morgan, Oisin O'Hare (0-1), Michael Price, Jude Hannaway.

Referee: Sean McDaid (Urris)