Sean MacCumhaills bravely bow out of Ulster JHC in Truagh

Youthful Sean MacCumhaills made the long trip to Truagh, but just lost out to their physically powerful opponents at the latter’s splendid venue.

And while MacCumhaills, who started nine players who are still Under-20, battled hard in the second half, three first-half goals were their undoing.

Two of them were of the softish variety as the bigger and physically stronger Truagh led by 3-7 to 0-6 at the break.

The Donegal champions took the fight to Truagh in the second half, with Jacob Malone and Gavin Browne prompting a wave of attacks.

But the Truagh defence stood firm, and a key turning point was when Browne was bearing down on the Truagh goal, but his shot was superbly blocked by Truagh veteran Kieran McGuirk.

The ball broke downfield, and man of the match Oisin Hagan landed a monster point.

Before Hagan’s great point, the score was Truagh 3-10 Sean MacCumhaills 0-12.

Had Browne’s shot hit the net, it would have been a four-point game with ten minutes to go.

So, this four-point turnaround sealed the deal for Truagh, who finished strongly.

They had a dream start after 50 seconds when a high lob from Hagan sat on the MacCumhaills goal line, and Diarmuid O’Domhnaill shovelled the ball over the line.

MacCumhaills had a chance of a goal at the other end, but over-elaboration cost them dearly.

Sean Brady Devenney and county star Gavin Browne had points for the visitors.

And the bustling Fintan Griffin levelled matters six minutes into the match.

But Truagh were winning the 50/50 battles, and Hagan, David Carville and O’Domhnaill eased them into a 1-3 to 0-3 lead by the 10th minute

Conor McKenna made it 1-4 to 0-3 as the home side struck for a killer goal when O’Domhnaill crossed for Gareth Mohan to hammer the sliotar to the roof of the MacCumhaills net.

Dan Donnelly replied with a point, but Truagh responded when Padraig Treanor had loads of space inside the MacCumhaills and had a simple tap in.

Ahead by 3-4 to 0-4 by the 17th minute, this was already a huge task for Jamesie Donnelly’s men

Carville and Dylan Patton swapped points and Griffin traded scores with O’Domhnaill and Conor Boyle as Truagh led by 3-7 to 0-6 at the break.

Fionn McNulty and Dean Hannigan came on for Dylan Laverty and PJ Browne on the restart as MacCumhaill came out with vim and vigour.

Dan Donnelly and Dylan Patton traded scores with Conor Boyle, and Griffin added another minor to leave Truagh leading 3-9 to 0-9 five minutes into an eventful start to the second half.

The powerful Jacob Malone then hit a monster point for the Donegal men, which was negated by a similar score from Noel Flood of Truagh.

Ciaran Matthewson narrowed the gap for MacCumhaills

It was then that McGuirk made his timely block on Browne and Hagan hit a wonder point.

The scoring rate dropped in the final minutes.

Gareth Mohan, Niall Coyle and Mattie Flood closed out the scoring for the winners as Matthewson had MacCumhaills’ final score.

A deserved win for Truagh, but if this young Twin Towns team sticks together, then silverware could be coming back to the banks of the Finn.

Truagh Gaels scorers: Diarmuid O’Domhnaill and Gareth Mohan 1-2 each; Oisin Hagan 0-3; Padraig Treanor 1-0; David Carville 0-3,1f; Conor Boyle 0-2; Conor McKenna 0-1; Noel Flood and Niall Coyle 0-1 each.

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Ciaran Matthewson 0-3,1f; Fintan Griffin and Dan Donnelly 0-3 each; Dylan Patton 0-2; Sean Brady Devenney and Jacob Malone 0-1 each.

Truagh Gaels: Karl McMeel; Pierce McKenna, Noel Flood, Darren Sherlock; Ronan Boyle, Kieran McGuirk, Conor Boyle; Daithi McMeel, Oisin Hagan; Diarmaid O Domhnaill, Matthew Flood, Padraig Treanor; Gareth Mohan, David Carville, Conor McKenna.

Subs: John Treanor for Padraig Treanor (43), Colm McKernan for Conor Boyle (51), Callum Sherry for Conor McKenna (54), Niall Coyle for Gareth Mohan (56), Colm McKernan for David Carville (59).

Sean MacCumhaills: Dylan Laverty; Chris Gallagher, Aaron Toner, Gavin Browne; Jacob Malone, John Anthony Chambers, Conor Murphy; Paudie Kelly, Sean Brady Devenney; Dan Donnelly, Fintan Griffin, Dylan Patton; Ciaran Matthewson, P J Browne, Shay Bradley.

Subs: Fionn McNulty and Dean Hannigan for Dylan Laverty and P J Browne (ht), Davitt Bradley Flynn for Christopher Gallagher (48), Lorcan Byrne for Conor Murphy (52).

Referee: Derek Argue (Cavan)