Naomh Conaill got back to winning ways in the SFC as they comfortably downed MacCumhaills at a wet and blustery MacCumhaill Park on Saturday night. 

The reigning champions led 0-7 to 0-3 at the midpoint but ramped up matters in the third and final quarter with two late goals helping them run out 14-point winners in the end.

MacCumhaills came into the weekend with full points on the board after picking up wins over Ardara at home and Killybegs away. 

Naomh Conaill put Cloughaneely to the sword on day one but came undone last time out with rivals St Eunan’s grabbing the victory in Glenties. 

The hosts welcomed back Eoin Gallen and Luke Gavigan from suspension but were again without ace attacking duo Oisin Gallen and Joel Bradley Walsh as well as Sean Martin in defence.  

Marty O’Reilly, who limped off early on in Fintra last week, was also a notable absentee for MacCumhaills. 

Naomh Conaill were again without Ultan Doherty but veteran Leo McLoone was back in tow for his first appearance of the championship. 

The Glenties Men Take Control

After a slow enough start, with both sides locked at 0-2 apiece on the quarter-hour mark, the Glenties men took a grip of matters. 

Mark McDevitt and Ciaran Thompson (free) for Naomh Conaill and Conor McGinty and Gavigan for the hosts, did the damage there. 

However, with Odhran Doherty, John O’Malley, Finnbarr Roarty and Charlie McGuinness all landing successive overs, Naomh Conaill led 0-6 to 0-2 on the fringes of half-time. 

Chad McSorley ended a 17-minute baron scoring spell for Gary Wilson’s men but with McGuinness nabbing his second just before the whistle, Naomh Conaill held a four-point upper hand at the break. 

A Dominant Second Half

Jamie Keegan cut the gap back to three on the resumption but it took a last-ditch block on his own goalline by Ronan McMenamin to deny AJ Gallagher a three-pointer after Ciaran Thompson had cut through the home rearguard. 

A Poor Third Quarter

A poor third quarter, where just that single Keegan effort was registered, came to an end with a quickfire Naomh Conaill brace, through Gallagher and Doherty, helping open up a five-point gap.

Kevin McCormick and Brendan McDyer then traded points as 0-10 led 0-5 and headed into the final ten minutes Dermot Molloy, twice, edged the visitors even further in front as Naomh Conaill eased towards the finish line. 

Late Goals Seal the Victory

Four minutes out from the break and MacCumhaills were hit on the counter as Kevin McGettigan was found at the end of that breakaway by Anthony Thompson and he palmed home to the empty net. 

And to compound the hosts’ misery late on, Glenties replacement Neil Francis Boyle slapped home to help secure what was, in the end, a landslide victory. 

The Match Recap

MacCumhaills scorers: Conor McGinty 0-1; Luke Gavigan 0-1; Chad McSorley 0-1; Jamie Keegan 0-1;  Kevin McCormick 0-1.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Neil Francis Boyle 1-0; Kevin McGettigan 1-0; Dermot Molloy 0-2; AJ Gallagher 0-1; Brendan McDyer 0-1; Mark McDevitt 0-1; Ciaran Thompson 0-1; Jeaic MacCeallbhuí 0-1; Odhran Doherty 0-2; John O’Malley 0-1; Finnbarr Roarty 0-1; Charlie McGuinness 0-2.    

MacCumhaills: Eoin Gallen; Cian Mulligan, Ronan McMenamin, Andrew McCloskey; Fintan Griffin, Aaron Gillooley, Conor Griffin; Joe Boyle, Gavin Gallagher; Chad McSorley, Jamie Keegan, Shaun McMenamin; Conor McGinty, Luke Gavigan, Kevin McCormick.

Subs: Steven O’Reilly for R McMenamin (51), for Sean Breene for Aaron Gillooley (59); Jack Duffy for J Boyle (60). 

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Connor Roarty, AJ Gallagher, Kevin McGettigan; Finnbarr Roarty, Anthony Thompson, Ethan O’Donnell; Leo McLoone, Ciaran Thompson; Odhran Doherty, Mark McDevitt, Brendan McDyer; Jeaic MacCeallabhuí, Charles McGuinness, John O’Malley.

Subs: Dermot Molloy for L McLoone (ht), Leo Dunphy and Keelan McGill for John O’Malley and Mark McDevitt (both 49), Neil Francis Boyle and Hughie Gallagher for MacCeallbhuí and O’Donnell (both 59).

Referee: Ryan Walsh (Bundoran). 

Looking Ahead

St Eunan’s have already beaten Kilcar and Naomh Conaill in this year’s Donegal SFC and now they will meet last year’s beaten finalists Gaoth Dobhair in Round 3. 

Naomh Conaill have a tasty game themselves away to Sean MacCumhaill’s. 

Four Masters and Glenswilly have both won two games each and they will meet in Tir Chonaill Park next weekend. 

St Michael’s and Dungloe also have 100% records and they will clash at the Bridge. 

Cloughaneely and Downings are both struggling with no points, and they will have a big encounter at Pairc Naomh Fionnan. 

Aodh Ruadh will host Ardara, St Naul’s entertain Killybegs, and Glenfin will welcome Kilcar to Pairc Taobhoige.