May 26 - Senior Football: Christopher's v Donegal

Christopher's 1-9 Donegal 1-9

The final game of the day saw Christopher's and Donegal play out a draw, a result that was fair in the end.  Neither side got a hold of the game, and there were chances to win it at either end that went amiss.

Mark Delaney tries to put a halt to
Thomas Gallagher's progress.

The first half was fairly uneventful, with Christopher's taking the break two points to the good.  Mark Delaney got Christopher's off the mark, and Niall McConnell answered with a free for Donegal.  After Chris Brady and McConnell traded points from frees Christopher's got the upper hand in the game.  Dan Kenneally was a great outlet on the edge of the square and the big man caused problems for Christopher's back line breaking high balls and getting a point of his own at one stage.  Donegal had some promising moves that broke down in the final third, but would be playing with the breeze in the second half.

Donegal got off to a great start to get the second period going.  Four unanswered points put them two points to the good before Christopher's recorded their first score of the game with 15 minutes gone.  After a Chris Brady free that broke the duck for Christopher's, Gervase Toner won the ball on the edge of the box and turned, with his shot finding the back of the net.  Donegal answered with a well taken Eamon McCarney goal, McCarney slotting the ball into the far corner soccer style as he somehow ended up totally unmarked at the far side of the goal.  Mark Delaney then leveled the scores with a point from distance, and with 10 minutes left it was all to play for.  After Dan Kenneally and McConnell traded points, it looked like Michael Mennis might have got the winning point for Christopher's from center back, but the biggest chance of the game fell to Christy Bell at the death.  Bell was found all alone with the keeper to beat, but his shot flew an inch over the crossbar to square up the scores, and as it turned out, the final result.  A fair ending to the game, but both teams will have to improve in their next outings.

Christopher's:  J. Howard, C. Lordan, C. Murphy, E. O'Neill, M. Mennis (0-1), M. Hunt, M. Delaney (0-2), P. Kenneally, G. Toner (1-0), J. Horgan, C. Brady (0-3), D. Kenneally (0-2), P. Manning.  Donegal:  S. Connolly (0-1), P. McNulty, S. Doherty, M. Canning, P. Moynihan, E. Doonan, T. Gallagher, P. McLaughlin, C. Bell (0-1), D. McDaid (0-1), P. Quigg, E. McCarney (1-0), N. McConnell (0-6).

 

By Rory O'Donnell