Urris prove too strong for St Naul’s to reach U-21C semi-final

A burst at the end of the first half and a second goal early in the second half sent Urris on their way to victory over St Naul’s in the U-21C quarter-final at Gerald Gallagher Memorial Park, Mountcharles on Saturday.

Jayden Gillespie was the scorer of both Urris goals and they laid the platform for the win along with great work of young guns Joe Doherty, Tadhg McDaid and Danny Og Cooney.

Both sides had trouble with their shooting at times and Urris would have been disappointed with their efforts with seven wides in the first half and six more in the second.

St Naul’s looked to be in a good place after 27 minutes as they led 1-7 to 0-4, but then allowed Urris back into the contest and with three kicks, the Inishowen side were level through a point, a two point free and a goal.

St Naul’s goalkeeper made a great save from the first big chance of the game, deflecting a Patrick Doherty shot out for a ‘45’ in the fifth minute. Joe Doherty pointed the ‘45’ but Kevin Rose hit back with a two pointer for the home side.

St Naul’s then were gifted a goal when Brendan Coughlan made a great run but his effort was short but was fumbled over the line by an Urris defender.

Urris hit back with a two point free from Joe Doherty after a breach but Tommy Friel cancelled that score with a magnificent two pointer. The home side added three more when Oisin Mogan forced a turnover and Darragh Reilly pointed and Matthew McInern landed another two pointer for a 1-7 to 0-4 lead.

In the final minutes of the half Shay O’Donnell pointed for the visitors and they were gifted another two point free for dissent, Joe O’Donnell punishing. And in the final play of the half Tadhg McDaid’s effort for a point was well short but St Naul’s didn’t deal with it and Jayden Gillespie was in to fire to the net and send the teams to the break all square at 1-7 each.

With the aid of the slight breeze, Urris were much the better side in the second half. They got the perfect start when Jayden Gillespie fired home his second goal and it was followed by points from Tadhg McDaid and Joe Doherty.

Darragh Burke had a lone St Naul’s point on 39 minutes and Darragh Burke was unlucky to see an effort come back off the crossbar.

But Urris kept pulling away with another Joe Doherty two point free. Darragh Reilly and Jamie Ward (free) gave St Naul’s some home but that was quickly cancelled by an Odhran Lagan two pointer and one from Joe Doherty.

Oisin Mogan had two late points for the home side either side of Urris’s last score from Ben Gill.

St Naul’s scorers: Brendan Coughlan 1-0; Matthew McInern (tp), Kevin Rose (tp), Tommy Friel (tp), Oisin Mogan (2f), Darragh Reilly 0-2 each; Darragh Burke, Jamie Ward 0-1,f.

Urris scorers: Joe Doherty 0-9,3tpf; 1’45’; Jayden Gillespie 2-0; Odhran Lagan (tp); Tadhg McDaid 0-2 each; Shay O’Donnell, Ben Gill 0-1 each.

St Naul’s: Peadar Shallow; Cian McMahon, Jamie Kennedy, Brendan Coughlan; Dara Cunnea, Matthew McInern, Kevin Rose; Tommy Friel, Johnathan O’Driscoll; Nathan McInern, Oisin Mogan, Darragh Burke; Darragh Reilly, Jamie Ward, Gavin Doherty.

Subs: Christian Ward for G Doherty (26); Eunan O’Boyle for N McInern (ht);David McGettigan for Cunnea (37)’ Patrick Craig for McMahon (41); Daithi Walsh for J Ward (49); Patrick Gallagher for M McInern (55)

Urris: Aaron Cregan; Niall O’Donnell, Jack Doherty, Shay O’Donnell; Aodhan Harkin, Tadhg McDaid, Keelan Doherty; Danny Og Cooney, Odhran Lagan; Ben Gill, Joe Doherty, Patrick Doherty; Jayden Gillespie, Mark Doherty, Jake O’Donnell.

Subs: Dermot McGonigle and Adam McDaid for K Doherty and M Doherty (both 46); Caolan Devlin and Colm Morris for Gillespie and J O’Donnell (both 55).

Referee: Greg McGroary (St Naul’s)