Daire Ó Baoill strikes late to consign Killybegs to relegation play-offs

Killybegs 2-11 Gaoth Dobhair 1-15

Gaoth Dobhair are now through to the quarter-finals, while Killybegs must prepare for a relegation play-off semi-final with south-west rivals Ardara.

But if heartache had a colour, it would be the red and white of Killybegs, who played the better football for long periods, but were undone by a late flash of genius from Ó Baoill two minutes into injury time.

It looked like the home side had sealed matters when Hugh McFadden converted a 20m free to put them 2-11 to 1-13 ahead.

Wind-assisted Killybegs settled swiftly, and Evan Broderick drove over a fine point.

Hugh McFadden then landed a 45’ for Killybegs to put them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after five minutes.

Ethan Harkin got Gaoth Dobhair off the mark with a well-struck effort. But Killybegs’ response was swift and immediate as a long direct ball from Odhran McGuinness was fielded by McFadden on the edge of the square.

And the talismanic Killybegs man rifled the ball low to the Gaoth Dobhair net.

Harkin hit another point for Gaoth Dobhair after he intercepted a loose ball in the 11th minute.

But it got even better for the Gaeltacht men on 14 minutes when Fionan Coyle found Cathal Gillespie free inside the Killybegs defence, and Gillespie steered a low drive to the net.

Jack McSharry stretched the home side’s lead to 1-3 to 1-2. McFadden took a big hand again when he powered over a fine two-pointer free to put Killybegs into a 1-5 to 1-2 lead by the 20th minute.

Killybegs had the momentum, and Ryan Cunningham slipped inside the Gaoth Dobhair defence to ram home his side’s second goal as they led by 2-5 to 1-3.

But Gaoth Dobhair finished the half on a strong note when Fionan Coyle pointed.

Ó Baoill then hit a bizarre effort into the swirling wind and it seemed to curl in over the bar before coming back, prompting calls for a two-pointer from Gaoth Dobhair fans and a wide from others.

But it looked like a score as Killybegs turned over with a 2-5 to 1-4 lead at the break.

Gaoth Dobhair began strongly on the restart and had a two-pointer from Ethan Harkin and a point from Eamon Collum to make it a one-point game.

Collum then levelled matters with a fine point. The pace was hectic as Fionan Coyle and Ryan Cunningham swapped points.

Jack McSharry put Killybegs ahead by a point, and the impressive Ryan Cunningham doubled the lead as the home side led by 2-8 to 1-9 midway through the second half.

Collum and Cunningham swapped scores as Rory Colyer made it Killybegs 2-10 to 1-10 in front.

Aodhan Breathnach narrowed the gap before a Collum two-pointer made it Killybegs 2-10, Gaoth Dobhair 1-13.

But McFadden looked like he had won it for the home side before Ó Baoill’s late heroics.

Killybegs scorers: Hugh McFadden 1-4; Ryan Cunningham 1-3; Jack McSharry 0-2; Rory Colyer and Evan Broderick 0-1 each.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Eamon Collum 0-5, 1tp; Cathal Gillespie 1-1; Ethan Harkin 0-3, 1tp; Daire O’Baoill 0-3, 1tp; Fionan Coyle 0-2; Aodhan Breathnach 0-1.

Killybegs: Josh Colyer; Charlie Breslin, Cillian Gildea, Ethan Byrne; Ryan Carr, Seamus Byrne, Edward McHugh; Ryan Cunningham, Evan Broderick; Rory Colyer, Jack McSharry, Odhran McGuinness; Conor Cunningham, Hugh McFadden, Christopher Mulligan.

Subs: Michael Gallagher for Conor Cunningham (43).

Gaoth Dobhair: Padraig Mac Giolla Bride; Cathal Rua Gallagher, Gary Mac Phaidin, Dallan O’Baoill; Aodhan Breathnach, Fiachra Mac Giolla Chomhaill, Cathal MacAoidh; Donal MacGiolla Bríde, Adam Mac Iomhair; Daire O’Baoill, Stiofan Donna MacPhaidin, Fionan Mac Giolla Chomhaill; Cathal Mac Giolla Easpuig, Ethan O’hAircin, Eamon Collum.

Subs: Jordi Gribben for Dallan O’Baoill (half-time).

Referee: Ryan Walsh (Bundoran).