McGowan snatches it for Eunan’s

St Eunan’s 1-07 Naomh Conaill 0-09

Naomh Conaill’s Daragh Gallagher, who scored five points in all, missed a late free to force a replay.

Although Lee McMonagle, Sean McVeigh and Conall Dunne pointed to put St Eunan’s 0-3 to 0-1 up after nine minutes, by half-time Naomh Conaill led 0-6 top 0-4, with Leon Thompson, Gallagher and McDyre impressing.

Forty seconds into the second half, St Eunan’s had goalkeeper John Paul Clarke to thank for a wonderful save after Leo McLoone had escaped the attentions of Rory Kavanagh and Conor Parke.

Naomh Conaill maintained their two-point advantage for most of the second half, with Dermot Molloy scoring a raking point on the left foot. But ten minutes from time, St Eunan’s pulled a goal out of the fire.

Ross Wherity won Kavanagh’s ball into the square and laid off to the inrushing McMonagle, who fired into the net to put his team in front, 1-6 to 0-8.

However, the Naomh Conaill response was immediate and Gallagher scored a peach of a point to level.

Then, St Eunan’s substitute David McGinley, who was only on eight minutes, was given a straight red for a strike on Marty Boyle. However, his teammates dug in and McGowan sealed the title for the Letterkenny side.

They now face All-Ireland champions Crossmaglen Rangers in Armagh next Sunday in the Ulster quarter-final.

Scorers for St Eunan’s: L McMonagle (1-1), M McGowan (0-2, 1f, 45), C Gibbons (0-1), R Kavanagh, C Dunne, S McVeigh (0-1 each)

Scorers for Naomh Conaill: D Gallagher (0-5, 3f), D Molloy (0-2, 1f), L McLoone, L Thompson (0-1 each)

ST EUNAN’S: JP Clarke; E Brennan, M Martin, C Parke; P Devine, E Doherty, M McGowan; R Kavanagh, J Haran; K Rafferty, C Dunne, L McMonagle; C Gibbons, R Wherity, S McVeigh. Subs: D McClafferty for Brennan (20), D McGinley for Gibbons (43), K Sharkey for Parke (59).

NAOMH CONAILL: S McGrath; S Molloy, J Bonner, J Campbell; E Waide, C Ellis, M Boyle; A Thompson, T Donaghue; B McDyre, L McLoone, D Gallagher; D Molloy, J McLoone, L Thompson. Sub: J O’Malley for L Thompson (59).

Referee: Robbie O’Donnell.