Carndonagh 4-09 Naomh Colmcille 4-05
A large number of people left the Carndonagh and Newtowncunningham/Carrigans parishes on Sunday last to see the Carndonagh Under 13 team overcome a strong Naomh Colmcille team in Buncrana- Final score Carndonagh 4-09 Naomh Colmcille 4-05. This was the reversal of the last occasion these teams met when Naomh Colmcille won. The game was played in wet breezy conditions where it was hard to hold on to the high ball. However both teams served up a feast of entertaining football.
After fifteen minutes the teams were level with both teams having scored 1-03. Carndonagh then began to dominate. The ball was being moved with great precision and speed by the Carndonagh team. Carndonagh added two goals and three points without reply from Naomh Colmcille, leaving the half time scoreline as Carndonagh 3-06 Naomh Colmcille 1-03. Christy McElhinney scored one of these goals and he will remember scoring it for along time. There was great passing movement by the Carndonagh forwards. McElhinney received the final pass; solo'd the ball and sent a hard dipping shot to the corner of the net giving Michael Keyes, who got his hand to the ball, no chance in goals.
The second half commenced with Naomh Colmcille playing with the breeze. Ronan Doherty, who was having a great game for Carndonagh, crashed the ball against the Naomh Colmcille post. The ball rebounded and the Naomh Colmcille team worked the ball swiftly up the field for Emma Duffy to score a spectacular goal. If Carndonagh dominated the latter end of the first half Naomh Colmcille certainly dominated the first half of the second half. Two more goals were added by Michael Clarke and Conor
McMacken to bring the sides level. The signs looked ominous for Carndonagh. Naomh Colmcille then had Michael Clarke sent off for two yellow card offences.
This had an unsettling effect on the Naomh Colmcille team. Carndonagh rallied. Ronan Doherty added a goal and a point for Carn. Shane Doherty completed the scoring with about a minute to go with a tremendous point. Conor McLaughlin had his best game ever for Carndonagh at full back. He made a number of fine catches and interventions. This player has certainly progressed over the year. Ryan McLaughlin was having a good game until he went off injured. Carndonagh corner forward Ronan Doherty was the star player on view from both sides. Best for Naomh Colmcille were Shane McGee, Michael Clarke, Thomas McKinley, Mark Dowds and Emma Duffy.
The teams lined out as follows:
Carndonagh: Dermot McGonagle, Pádráig Doherty, Conor McLaughlin, Darren McDermott, Ryan McLaughlin, Mark McLaughlin, Rory Ward, Brian Long, Éanna Newton(0-03), Christy McElhinney(1-01), Robin O'Doherty(captain), Deirdre Foley, Ronan Doherty(2-02), Zoë Doherty(0-02) and Shane Doherty(1-01). Subs: Darragh Canny (replaced the injured Ryan McLaughlin and played very well), Emmet Lafferty, Brendan Hartin, Anthony Stevens, Paul Stevens, Adrian Loftus, Paul McCarroll and Ryan McCormack.
Naomh Colmcille: Michael Keyes, Shane McGee, Ryan McErlean, Alistair Doherty, Paul Toland, Michael Clarke(1-00), Brendan Devine, Mark Dowds(0-2) Thomas McKinley(0-1) Paul Friel, Kelan Doherty, Barry O'Donnell, Conor Crossan (0-01), Emma Doherty (2-00) and Gerald McGee (0-01). Subs: Conor McMacken (1-00)
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