P.A. Dorrian (Buncrana) Under 18 'A' Final: Carndonagh 1-09 Buncrana 1-09
The minor final played in Ture on Monday night proved to be an entertaining affair for a good sized crowd and both sides were happy to get a second chance.
Buncrana looked the more promising side in the opening quarter, winning a lot of possession around the middle of the park. Declan O'Keefe opened the scoring after three minutes and Oisin Doherty added a second a couple of minutes later, as the Carndonagh defence took time to find their shape. They did however pull a score back through Michael Nelson from a free after ten minutes but Ryan Bradley restored Buncrana’s two point advantage shortly after.
Carndonagh captain Kevin McElhinney lead by example when he slotted over a free to narrow the gap on fourteen minutes and they should really have levelled the game a minute later but the ball went wide of the post following a good move down the left. Oisin Doherty from a free and a point from play by Michael Hegarty extended Buncrana’s lead briefly before the break, but
Carndonagh responded brilliantly with points from Joe McLaughlin and Kevin McElhinney to leave the minimum between the sides at the break, Buncrana 0-05 Carndonagh 0-04.
The second half was a real ding dong affair, as play switched from one end to the other, some excellent midfield play and two goals within the space of three minutes, with two red cards shortly afterwards. Adrian Doherty opened the scoring for Buncrana shortly after the restart with a point from a free and when Oisin Doherty burst through the middle for a goal to give his side a five point lead it was looking good for Malachy McCann’s boys.
However Carn showed great character to respond with three scores to level the game again. Michael Nelson slotted over a free and then Ryan Davenport reacted quickest to the breaking ball on the edge of the square to slot past the advancing keeper, reducing the deficit to just one point. Up popped Michael Nelson once again with his excellent free taking to level the game, midway through the half.
Buncrana then had a player dismissed for an off the ball incident after the referee consulted with his umpire, as tempers became a little frayed. Oisin Doherty from play and Nelson again, exchanged points and then Carndonagh lost their numerical advantage when they had a player dismissed for a second yellow card offence.
Both teams could sense victory in their sights as the last few minutes approached, Buncrana had a fine point from play after a good move involving Doherty and Hegarty providing the finish. At the other end, midfielder Dominic Doherty from play brought the sides level yet again. It was no surprise when the two sides exchanged points in the final minute with Peter Gallagher for Buncrana and man of the match Michael Nelson for Carndonagh ensuring that they will all return to Ture next Wednesday night to do it all again.
Carndonagh: Declan O'Donnell, Feargal Matthews, Mark Canny, Cathal O'Kane, Darren Loftus, Kevin McElhinney (Capt) (0-02), Shane Devlin, Dominic Doherty (0-01), Jerry Simpson, Brian McLaughlin, Owen Doherty, Ryan Davenport (1-00), Liam Nelson, Joe McLaughlin (0-01) and Michael Nelson (0-05). Subs: Paul Kilfeather, Tiarnan Coyne, Shane Hartin and Christy McLaughlin.
Buncrana: Oisin O'Fhlaithertaigh, Charles Doherty, Henry O'Connor, Aodhan Porter, Declan O'Keefe (0-01), Michael McLaughlin, Michael Hegarty (0-02), Caolan McCann, Oisin Doherty (Capt) (1-03), Peter Gallagher (0-01), Christopher McDermott, Adrian Doherty (0-01), Paddy McLaughlin, Cathal McLaughlin, Christy Bell and Ryan Bradley (0-01). Subs: Darren McGlynn
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