By Charlie Collins
Gaoth Dobhair 4-16 v 2-09 Naomh Conaill
These two teams won their respective Groups to claim a semi-final spot and then drew each other to meet for a place in the final and they provided a high scoring cracker of a game with Gweedore proving too strong in the second-half.
The first ten minutes were hectic with goals flying in at both ends. Aidan Breathnach should have opened the game with a goal in the first minute but was denied by a brilliant Dylan McGlynn save. Naomh Conaill immediately burst forward and Tiernan Ward produced an excellent lobbed effort over Daithi Roberts quickly added a point and it be net, Finbarr Roarty and the Glenties lads led by four.
Back came Gweedore, Eoin De Burca pointed and the Cian McEntee scored two goals in quick succession. Tiarnan Ward and Fionnan Coyle exchanged points as did Daniel Gildea and Aodan Breathnach to leave a goal in it, 2-03 to 1-03. Mark McDevitt added two for Naomh Conaill, McEntee one for Gweedore who led by 2-04 to 1-05 at the break.
Danny Brown’s goal in the first minute of the second-half had Naomh Conaill ahead again but from that point Gweedore took control. They hit 2-06 without reply, goals from Cian McBride and Johnny O Donnell to lead by 4-10 to 2-05 and game very much over.
Shea Malone and Daniel Gildea both added two points for Naomh Conaill but Gweedore kept the scoreboard ticking over by adding another six points to win by 4-16 to 2-09 and book a final spot.
Gaoth Dobhair: Daithi Roberts, Sean Noel McFadden, Sean Gallagher, Aodan Breathnach, Daire Ferry, Adam McGeever, Johnny O’Donnell, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Stephen McFadden, Cian McEntee, Fionan Coyle, Cian McBride, Johnny McBride, Eoin De Burca, James Doherty. Subs: Eamonn Mac Giolla Bríde , Lee McBride, Cathal De Burca (0-01), Conan McFadden.
Naomh Conaill: Dylan McGlynn, Conan Brannigan, Mark Campbell, Odhran McCallig, Joseph Shankey, Conor Roarty, Oran Doherty, Neil Francis Boyle, Finbarr Roarty, Daniel Gildea, Mark McDevitt, Conor Gildea, Shea Malone, Tiarnan Ward, Danny Brown. Subs: Jack Boyle, Jackie Chen, Sean Doherty, Aidan Gilmore.
Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Rua).
Gaoth Dobhair too strong for Naomh Conaill in U21A semi-final was last modified: December 10th, 2023 by