Naomh Conaill too powerful for An Ghaeltacht in Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta

Naomh Conaill are Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta champions for the second year running as they squeezed past An Ghaeltacht in yesterday’s Senior final in Ballyvourney.

The Donegal champions had three points to spare as they ran out deserved winners, 1-16 to 2-10. It had been a tired performance from An Ghaeltacht for much of the afternoon and though they sparked to life towards the end of the game, they had left themselves too much to do.

Naomh Conaill, spearheaded by Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy were impressive throughout the weekend and it was another clinical performance from the side who won the Donegal Senior Championship last year.

They were four points up at half-time, 0-8 to 0-4, and had extended that to six soon after the restart. An Ghaeltacht began to fight back at this point, Seán Ó Conchúir grabbing a badly needed goal. Two more frees from the full-forward reduced the gap further but just as the West Kerry side looked to be back in the contest, Leon Thompson struck for Naomh Conaill’s opening goal.

An Ghaeltach fought back once again and had the deficit reduced to a single point, thanks in part to a goal from Eoin MacGearailt, as the game entered injury time. Naomh Conaill’s experience shone through, however, and they killed off the contest in the closing stages.

In the Junior final, last year’s beaten finalists Na Dúnaibh went one step better as they overcame Renvyle of Galway. Two goals either side of half time proved crucial for the eventual victors as they won on a scoreline of 2-9 to 0-12.

Lorcan O’Connor stabbed home Seán Mac Giolla Bhríde’s miss-hit shot just before halftime and ten minutes into the second half, Garry Mac Laifeartaigh score dafter Colin Ó Gallchóir’s initial shot had been blocked.

Renvyle mounted a bit of a comeback in the final quarter but it was too litte, too late for the Galway side.

Scorers for An Ghaeltacht:

S Ó Conchúir (1-6, 6 frees), Eoin Mac Gearailt (1-0), Éanna Ó Conchúir (0-2, 1 free) Gearóid Mac an tSaoir, Cathal Mac Gearailt (0-1 each).

Scorers for Naomh Conaill:

Dermot Molloy (0-4, 3 frees), Leon Thompson (1-1), Adhamhnán Ó Dochartaigh, Cathal Mac Donaill, Seán Ó Máille (0-3 each), Máirtín Ó Baoill, Aaron Thompson (0-1 each).

AN GHAELTACHT:

T Mac an tSaoir; C Ó Murchú, C Ó Lúing, P Sauerland; C Ó Gairbhí, C Ó Beaglaoí, C Ó Fiannachta; É Ó Conchúir, C Ó Muircheartaigh; E Mac Gearailt, P Ó Sé, C Ó Coileáin; C Ó Céilleachair, S Ó Conchúir, G Mac an tSaoir.

Subs:

T Ó Sé for C Ó Céilleachair (30 mins), C Mac Gearailt for C Ó Fiannachta (30 mins), PJ Mac Láimh for C Ó Gairbhí (30 mins), G Mac Gearailt for S Ó Conchúir (54 min).

NAOMH CONAILL:

S Mac Craith; C Mac Eiegáin, C Mac Eilis, M Ó Gallachóir; A Ó Dochartaigh, M Ó Baoill, A Thompson; A Ó Gallchóir, E Ó Domhnaill; C Mac Dónaill, D Molloy, S Ó Corcáin; B Mac Duibhir, S Ó Máille, L Thompson.

Subs:

S Molloy for M Ó Gallchóir (30 mins), S Mac Aodh for L Thompson (49 mins), E Mac Uaid for A Ó Gallchóir (50 mins).