Division 3 Reserve League Final: v Fanad Gaels, in Glenswilly
- Carndonagh 1-12 Fanad Gaels 0-08
Carndonagh emerged as worthy winners of the Division 3 Reserve title thanks to a comfortable seven points win over Fanad Gaels in Glenswilly on Sunday afternoon. Carndonagh led by 3 points at the interval with the aid of a Joe McLaughlin goal and after coping with an encouraging Gaels start to second half went onto win the decider with some ease. Fanad as a unit never matched their opponents in terms of team play and were forced to rely on individual inspiration in a bid to win this final. The Inishowen side's blend of youth and experience again worked a treat with veterans - Des Newton, John Gibbons, James Carr and JJ Doherty, always supporting youngsters like Joe McLaughlin, Michael Nelson, Dominic Doherty, Mark Canny and Jerry Simpson.
With the breeze at their backs, the Gaels got off to the ideal start with Christy Sweeney very influential in the opening minutes. After being taken down, Sweeney got the game's first point from a free and the same player followed with a super point from play. After an initial shaky patch Carndonagh settled well to take the lead by the 13th minute with the impressive Michael Nelson in the thick of the action, taking two points while his half-forward colleague Joe McLaughlin was also on target. Michael Nelson (0-06) and Joe McLaughlin (1-03) contributed all but 3 of Carndonagh's final points tally. Fanad Gael's responded well as Michael McGroarty equalised from a free and 15-year old Michael Sweeney put his side ahead for a second time and the youngster was also unlucky to see another effort come back off the upright. A Michael Nelson free brought the sides level for a thrid time before Sweeney popped up again to squeeze over a wonder point from the narrowest of angles. It was to be the last time that the Gaels led in this decider as Carndonagh then hit 1-02 in a purple patch just before the interval. Michael Nelson hit 2 points before Joe McLaughlin burst through to fire an unstoppable 28th minute shot in off the underside of the crossbar, past a despairing Fanad Gaels keeper. At the other end, Tony McBride did set up Paddy McAteer to slot over but the Gaels still went in at the interval trailing by 3 points.
At the start of the second half, Dominic Doherty released midfielder Francis Ward to extend Carndonagh's lead shortly after the restart. From the resultant kick out, Jerry Simpson won possession and he fed Kieran Canny and his long pass found Brian Gibbons in the Fanad penalty box however he was quickly crowded out and a good goal chance went begging. Francis Callaghan kept Fanad's title dreams alive with an excellent effort, followed by a Christy Sweeney point. However with the Gaels failing to score again, Carndonagh pulled away with points from Michael Nelson and Joe McLaughlin again to lead by 1-09 to 0-08 by the mid point of the second half. A quick James Carr free gave the outstanding Joe McLaughlin the opportunity to complete his personal tally and it was left to the Carndonagh veterans to complete the scoring statistics. John Gibbons split the posts before James Carr rounded off a fabulous victory with a perfectly struck free in the dying seconds.
Teams:
Carndonagh - Patrick McCallion, Des Newton, Ryan Davenport, Mark Canny, Dominic Doherty, Kieran Canny, Daniel McLaughlin, Jerry Simpson, Francis Ward (0-01), Joe McLaughlin (1-03), James Carr (0-01), Michael Nelson (0-06), Brian Gibbons, JJ Doherty and John Gibbons (0-01). Subs: Fergal Doherty for Kieran Canny, Emmet Doherty for Francis Ward, Kevin McElhinney for Brian Gibbons, Diarmuid Gallagher for Michael Nelson, Seamus Callaghan for Ryan Davenport.
Fanad Gaels - Seamus McAteer, Enda Logue, Colm McElwaine, Seamus Murphy, Seamus Carr, Tony McBride, James Martin, Michael McGroarty (0-01), Paddy McAteer (0-01), Donal Callaghan (0-01), Christy Sweeney (0-03), Ephrim McFadden, Michael Sweeney (0-02), Liam Blaney and Fergal Friel. Subs: Barry McGettigan for Liam Blaney, Michael Murphy for Seamus Carr, Pauric McGettigan for Enda Logue, Aiden Friel for Paddy McAteer, Ruairi McDonagh for Fergal Friel.
Referee - Hugo Wallace
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