Sean MacCumhaills reach SHC semi-final with win over Carndonagh

It was winner takes all in MacCumhaill Park on Friday night as MacCumhaills and Carndonagh battled it out for the final spot in the last four of the Senior Hurling Championship.

This was a hard-hitting affair between two teams who know each other very well from previous seasons and at underage in recent years.

It was a four-minute burst at the start of the second half inspired by Gavin Browne, which ultimately got the Twin Towns men over the line, getting into a three-point lead that they never looked like surrendering, even at that early stage of the half.

It was the visitors that started brightest in the first half, doing something similar to the home side in the second half.

They were inspired by a resilient Pierce McConalogue, opening his account with two points on the board and putting Carndonagh a three-point lead.

MacCumhaills replied with Gavin Browne scores from the media stand side along with a Dylan Patton free.

Hereafter, there were a lot of turnovers, wides and general nerves given the magnitude of the game, which impacted the match as a spectacle for the rest of the first half.

The sides went score for score, with momentum going both ways in the closing stages of the half.

But the Inishowen men would have been happiest with their lot at half-time, getting two late scores to level up the game, most notably from Darragh McCormick, excellently bouncing the sliotar off the new surface of MacCumhaill Park and splitting the posts from 65 metres.

As mentioned, after the break, MacCumhaills got a foothold on the game, all inspired by Gavin Browne, who made the switch to midfield.

With a potent threat inside of Dan Donnelly and Ciaran Matthewson, Carndonagh would have been happy with the work of the full-back line, but their efficiency at the other end will disappoint them.

The sides were level at the break with marksman Dylan Patton, Gavin Browne and Dan Donnelly on target for the hosts, with the accurate McConalogue and Luke White converting for the battling visitors.

In the middle of the four-minute surge for MacCumhaills, Michael McCarron had to make way with a dislocated finger, leading to a brief stoppage.

Patton, Jamie DeWard and Ciaran Matthewson pointed for MacCumhaills while McConalogue, McCormick and White did the bulk of the Carn scoring.

Both defences were on top for the remainder, and it was frees and mistakes in and around the middle sector which led to scores.

The big hits didn’t let up, and referee Marc Brown did well to keep tempers from rising on many occasions throughout the game.

The game went score for score from the 40th to the 60thminute, the Foden men unable to get the two scores in a row to get the game into the melting pot.

Despite many occasions when the ball was in the MacCumhaills penalty area, a resolute defence was found, and the experience of Del Laverty in the goal came to the fore.

MacCumhaills will come out happy with their win, knowing they have a lot to do in the next four weeks to prepare for a mammoth task v Setanta on the weekend of August 28, while Carndonagh now face Dungloe in the Intermediate semi-final, as they go in search of their second Intermediate title in four years, which they last won in 2023.

Sean MacCumhaills scorers: Dylan Patton 0-7f; Gavin Browne 0-3; Jamie De Ward 0-2; Ciaran Matthewson, Jacob Malone, Pauric Kelly and Dan Donnelly 0-1 each.

Carndonagh scorers: Luke White 0-5; Pierce McConalogue 0-4; Fergal Diver Hall 0-2; Darragh McCormick and Daire Tully 0-1 each.

Sean MacCumhaills: Dylan Laverty; Christopher Gallagher, Aaron Toner, Rory Doherty; Gavin Browne, John Chambers, Shay Bradley; Pauric Kelly, Sean Brady Devenney; Conor Murphy, Fintan Griffin, Jacob Malone; Dylan Patton, Ciaran Matthewson, Dan Donnelly. Subs: Jamie De Ward

Carndonagh: Stephen Burns; Fergal Diver Hall, Padraig Doherty, Liam Fox; Shaun McCreanor, James Monagle, Oran Lafferty; Luke White, Michael McCarron; Conor McCormick, Darragh McCormick, Eoghan Kelly; Pierce McConalogue, Daire Tully, Liam Doherty. Subs: Ryan Noone for Michael McCarron (35 mins), Cathal Doherty for Liam Doherty (45 mins), Ryan Davenport for Fergal Diver Hall (55 mins).

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters).