Fiachra Coyle kicks late winner as Gaoth Dobhair overcome St Michael's

Gaoth Dobhair 1-13 St Michael’s 0-15

Coyle landed the winning point in the dying seconds of this hard-fought, full-blooded senior championship clash at breezy Magheragallon.

The game looked to be heading for a draw when Andrew Kelly equalised seconds earlier for St Michael’s.

But Gaoth Dobhair, who could not buy a result in the league, refused to settle for a share of the points. And Coyle stepped into the breach when Cathal Rua Gallagher’s strike for a point came back off the posts.

It was a hectic finish to an absorbing contest that St Michael’s shaded for the bulk of the 60-plus minutes.

The men from the Bridge led by a point, 0-8 to 1-4, at half-time, having played with the advantage of the breeze and having left a number of scores behind them.

Max Roarty, Colin McFadden, Michael Langan and Andrew Kelly kicked the first-half St Michael’s points.

Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride scored the Gaoth Dobhair goal, with Fionnan Coyle, Eamonn McGee, Eoin De Burca and Ethan Harkin also scoring.

Mac Giolla Bhride’s goal, his side’s opening score on nine minutes, got Gaoth Dobhair off the mark after a blistering opening four points from St Michaels.

Ahead by a point at half-time, and despite playing into the breeze, St Michaels got the second period to a lightning start.

Daniel McLaughlin with two points and Langan with one saw St Michaels open up a four-point lead inside the opening eight minutes of the new half.

The locals had to wait nine minutes for their first score of the second half. Ethan Harkin, with a two-point score, got the men in green and white up and running.

That was on 44 minutes, and as Daire Ó Baoill and Eoin De Burca came more into the game, they were ahead for the first time when De Burca struck a two-pointer with the clock ticking on full-time.

In a frenetic finish, Andrew Kelly levelled before Coyle was the right man in the right place when the ball came back off the St Michael’s upright.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Eoin De Burca 0-4; Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride 1-0; Ethan Harkin 0-3,1tp; Daire O’Baoill 0-3, 1 tpf; Fionnan Coyle, Eamonn McGee, Fiachra Coyle 0-1 each

St Michael’s scorers: Michael Langan 0-5, 2tpf,1f; Colin McFadden 0-3,1tp; Max Roarty 0-2, 1tp; Daniel McLaughlin, Andrew Kelly 0-2,1f each; Carlos O’Reilly 0-1.

Gaoth Dobhair: Padraig Mac Giolla Bhride; Jordi Gribben, Gary McFadden, Dallan Ó Baoill; Aodan Breatnach, Fiachra Coyle, Cathal Mac Aoidh; Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride, Daire Ó Baoill; Eoin De Burca, Stephen McFadden, Fionnan Coyle; Sean Pol Ó Gallchoir, Ethan Harkin, Eamonn McGee.

Subs: Joey Coll for Ó Gallchoir (45), Cathal Rua Ó Gallchoir for Breatnach (52), Liam Breatnach for McFadden (57).

St Michael’s: Oisin Cannon; Seamus Ferry, Kyle McGarvey, Stephen Doak; Oisin Langan, Patrick Francis Spier, Max Roarty; Martin McElhinney, Michael Langan; Colin McFadden, Daniel McLaughlin, Andrew Kelly; Edward O’Reilly, Michael McGinley, Carlos O’Reilly.

Subs: Fionn Chernick for Francis Spier (half-time), Conan Brennan for Roarty (60).

Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s)