Henderson pointed the way for MacCumhaills as they fought off Buncrana

Seán MacCumhaills earned their place in the Donegal Senior Hurling Championship after this narrow victory over Buncrana in a thrilling affair in Ballybofey. 

Ex-county star Lee Henderson hit the final two points to shade this highly entertaining affair with him finishing with a tally of 0-9 points overall. 

Conor Griffin and Henderson gave MacCumhaills an early advantage with two points. 

Caolan O’Neill pointed for the visitors before a lobbed Fintan Griffin goal put real daylight between the sides as the home team led by 1-3 to 0-1, with Buncrana losing Jack O’Loughlin to injury. 

Kevin O’Rourke hit a fine goal for the visitors with O’Neill and Dylan Duffy swapping scores with Henderson, as the home side led by 1-4 to 1-3 at the break. 

Matters got more frenetic on the resumption with a flurry of points as Henderson traded scores with Duffy, the excellent Kevin O’Rourke and David Carey to put Buncrana into a lead of 1-6 to 1-5 five minutes into the half. 

Henderson hit two points before O’Rourke goaled from a penalty to make it 2-6 to 1-7 as Henderson and Oisin Grant traded points. 

Paul Tourish made it 2-8 to 1-8 as Henderson kept his side in touch from frees. 

But Chad McSorley hit a crucial levelling goal to set up a fine finish where Henderson’s two points secured a vital victory for his side. 

Seán MacCumhaills’ scorers: Lee Henderson 0-9, 7f; Chad McSorley and Fintan Griffin 1-0 each; Conor Griffin 0-1. Buncrana scorers: Kevin O’Rourke 2-1; Caolan O’Neill 0-3, 2f; Dylan 0-2; Oisin Grant and David Carey 0-1 each. 

Seán MacCumhaills: Dylan Lafferty; Conor Murphy, Kyle Tourish, Davitt Bradley-Flynn; Gavin Browne, John Anthony Chambers, Sean Brady-Devenney; Chad McSorley, Conor Griffin; P J Browne, Fintan Griffin, Dean Hannigan; Lee Henderson, Riain McBrearty, Jamie De Ward. Subs: Shane McMenamin for P J Browne (42), Aaron McCauley for Davitt-Bradley Walsh (52), Aaron Toner for Riain McBrearty (54), Barry McGee for Dean Hannigan (59) 

Buncrana: Tom Clare: John Vaughan, Paul Tourish, Martin Óg Shields; Declan McCarron, Conor Grant, James Doherty; Jack O’Loughlin, Peter Grant; Dylan Duffy, David Carey, Caolan O’Neill; Kevin O’Rourke, Oisin Grant, Rory Doherty. Subs: Ciaran McLaughlin for Jack O’Loughlin, Darren Doherty for Rory Doherty (40) 

Referee: James Callaghan (Setanta)