MacCumhaills edge Naomh Conaill in U21A opener
Sean MacCumhaills began their Under 21 A Football Championship campaign with a narrow 3-9 to 3-8 victory over Naomh Conaill at MacCumhaill Park on Sunday.
Sean MacCumhaills 3-9 Naomh Conaill 3-8
The sides were inseparable for much of an entertaining contest, with the home team holding on to claim the points in the closing stages.
Tomas McNulty scored MacCumhaills' opening goal, while Jamie Byrne found the net for Naomh Conaill after Oran Doherty's effort was stopped on the line.
Shea Malone and Shaun McMenamin exchanged points before Daithi Molloy added another for the visitors.
Conor McGinty helped MacCumhaills move forward, but Malone struck a goal for the Glenties side. Matthew McGeehan then found the net for the hosts, only for Tiernan Ward to put Naomh Conaill ahead with a two-pointer in first-half stoppage time.
The sides exchanged points after the restart before McGeehan struck his second goal to give MacCumhaills an advantage.
Naomh Conaill responded through Danny Brown, whose goal put the visitors back in front.
McGeehan, Peter Sweeney and Ruairi Callaghan then registered points as MacCumhaills regained the lead.
Ward and Sweeney exchanged two-pointers before Malone converted two close-range frees to bring the sides level with five minutes remaining.
Sweeney stepped up to the plate late on though, scoring the winning point to give MacCumhaills a one-point victory and a very positive start to their U-21 championship campaign.
Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Matthew McGeehan 2-1, Tomas McNulty 1-0, Peter Sweeney 0-4, Ruairi Callaghan 0-1, Oisin Mullen 0-1, Conor McGinty 0-1, Shaun McMenamin 0-1.
Naomh Conaill scorers: Shea Malone 1-3 (0-2 frees), Tiernan Ward 0-3 (0-3 two-pointers), Jamie Byrne 1-0, Danny Brown 1-0, Daithi Molloy 0-1, Stephen McDevitt 0-1
Sean MacCumhaills: Ronan Callaghan, Raynne Rowan, Ruairi Callaghan, Josh Reid, Oisin Mullen, Fionn McGinty, Conor McGinty, Shaun McMenamin, Adam Byrne, Niall McBrearty, Darragh Boyle, Daimhin Byrne, Tomas McNulty, Matthew McGeehan, Peter Sweeney.
Subs: Darragh Lynch for Fionn McGinty (16 mins).
Naomh Conaill: Darragh Kennedy, Niall Roarty, Marc Gavin, Peter McGlynn, Oran Doherty, Jack McGlynn, Thomas McDevitt, Daithi Molloy, Max Campbell, Jamie Byrne, Mark McDevitt, Danny Brown, Stephen McDevitt, Shea Malone, Tiernan Ward.
Subs: Conan Brannigan for Thomas McDevitt (half-time), Feargus Campbell for Stephen McDevitt (49 mins).
Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters).