By Charlie Collins
Glenswilly 1-12 v 2-08 St Eunans
Daithi Gildea kicked a super free from a tight angle, his ninth point of the game, in the first minute of injury-time to top off an outstanding individual performance in what was also an excellent team performance as Glenswilly returned to the Under 21A championship after a long absence.
Following a somewhat slow start by both teams without a score at either end this game burst into life with a string of scores. David Boyle and CIaran Moore for Eunans and Daithi Gildea and Mark Bonner for Glenswilly had it 0-02 apiece after twenty minutes. The home side then hit three in a row, two Gildea frees and one from play by Keelan Dunleavy.
That three point lead didn’t last long as St.Eunans replied with a Noel O Donnell goal, his effort just dropping in under the crossbar and the teams level again.
From there Glenswilly dominated the remainder of the half. Gildea converted his fourth free and then great work by Reid Kelly set up Oisín McGrenra and he calmly rolled the ball to the net from close range. Gildea replied with a point from a mark, Leon Boyce got Eunans’ third point and then Glenswilly keeper Keelan Curran denied Eoin Dowling with a super save.
Daithi Gildea’s sixth point of the game had Glenswilly 1-08 to 1-03 ahead at half-time.
Glenswilly led by five points at half-time and were still ahead by that margin as the game entered the final ten minutes but a goal by David Horgan brought St.Eunans right back into the game and very quickly two David Boyle frees had them level.
Both teams added thre points in the opening twenty minutes of the second-half, two more from Gildea and one from Reid Kelly for Glenswilly and Eunans replying from CIaran Moore, Eoin Dowling and Kieran Tobin, 1-11- to 1-06 and Glenswilly still in control. But that quickly changed when Tobin burst through to set up David Horgan for a second St.Eunans goal , followed quickly by two David Boyle frees to biting them back on level terms and the momentum with the visitors with time running out.
However the home team lifted themselves again, won a free on the left side near the touchline and Daithi Gildea kept his nerve to skilfully steer it over the bar to restore his team’s lead, 1-12 to 2-08.
Eunans then won a free near the Glenswilly 45 metre line but David Boyle’s effort drifted just wide and Glenswilly held on for the victory.
In the other Group A game Gweedore had a comfortable 1-09 to 0-06 victory over Termon at the Burn Road.
Next week’s fixtures are Gweedore v Glenswilly and St.Eunans v Termon.
Glenswilly: Keelan Curran, Donal Gallagher, Jake Kelly, Mickey Toner, Mark Bonner (0-01), Sean Collum, Reid Kelly (0-01), Jack Gallagher, Keelan Dunleavy (0-01), Eoghan Scott, Darragh Enright, Gerard Shields, Oisin McGrenra (1-00), Emmet O Boyle, Daithi Gildea 0-09 /06f’s). Subs: Gary Kelly for O Boyle (45mins), Dylan McAteer for Shields 58mins).
St.Eunans: Fintan Doherty, Gavin McCarron, Nathan Plumb, Sean Freeburn, Noel O Donnell (1-00), Josh Hay, David Horgan (1-00), Ciaran Moore (0-02), Eoin Dowling (0-01), Donnacha Devenny, Noah Barrett, Lorcan O Donnell, Lorcan Harvey, David Boyle (0-03f’s), Leon Boyce (0-01). Subs: Kieran Tobin (0-01) and Brian Drumm for Devenny and Lorcan O Donnell ( both h/t), Eoghan Doherty for Boyce (50mins), Boyce for Drumm (56mins).
Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).
Gildea leads the way in Glenswilly U21 derby win over St Eunans was last modified: October 28th, 2023 by