Sun June 11 - Mens' Senior Football - Connemara Gaels v Donegal

 By Alana Loftus

There may not have been a victor in the battle between Connemara Gaels and Donegal senior championship game last Sunday, but there was surely a great display of football in Canton on the fine sunny day. The teams fought hard to combat the ever-present level-score throughout the game but finished with a draw.

Donegal number 13, David Garland scored the first point of the game. Gaels number 11, James Darcy, followed with a point for their side. Donegal goalie, Hugh Boyle (1) made a good save after the Gaels attempted a goal. Scoring went back and forth between the two sides, possession seemed shared evenly. Gaels number 9, Matthias Barrett made a dart for the Galway goal and was not confronted by any defenders. His attempt at a goal was unsuccessful.

Donegal’s 11, Cian O’Grady and 12, Ciaran McDevitt, secured points for their side. Gaels number 4, Coleman Mulkerin, drove a shot at the goal that was narrowly saved by the Donegal keeper. Play continued with two fouls in the space of a few minutes, and both frees were taken by Donegal’s 13, Garland. One attempt was successful, the other was put wide.

Gaels number 13, Simon Garrity was relentless with attempts at a goal. Though the Gaels goalie did his best, Garrity (13) scored a goal, putting them back in the running. Garrity (13) and James Darcy (11) banked two more scores from frees. A foul by Gaels number 5, Jack Lynch resulted in a free for Donegal (13) and another point between them.

The score levelled out just before the end of the first half. Gaels dominated play in the remainder of the first half, but scoring did not seem to be going their way. The halftime score was Connemara Gaels 1-05 to Donegal 0-8.

Play resumed with scoring from both sides. Gaels number 12, Sean Conneely, secured a fantastic goal, followed by a point from Barrett (9), that put them back in the lead. Points bounced back and forth between the two sides, constantly widening and narrowing the gap. A tremendous run from Gaels number 11, Darcy, resulted in a goal that was much deliberated both on the field and off. The ball hit the post but somehow made it’s way inside the net. The referee and umpire made the decision to award the goal, putting the Gaels ahead by three points.

With tensions high, a penalty was scored by Donegal’s number 11 (name), which once again levelled the score. Donegal (13) came back with a point that put Donegal in the lead for the first time since the first half.

A penalty for the Gaels saw Jack Lundy (10) secure a one-point lead. After a point from Donegal’s substitute number 21, the teams found themselves neck-in-neck again. With minutes left, a foul against Gaels number 14 Daniel Kerr, led to a free that saw Darcy (11) put his team back in the lead.

Frustrated and feeling helpless, the Donegal goalie, Hugh Boyle, made a powerful run and scored the equalizer with seconds left to go. With nails bitten down to nothing, the referee blew the whistle and signaled the game had ended in a draw.

The final score was Connemara Gaels 4-10 to Donegal 1-19.

 

Connemara Gaels:

1.      James Keoghan

2.      Tommy Gill

3.      Eoighain Murray

4.      Colman Mulkerin

5.      Jack Lynch

6.      Mikey Kerr

7.      Ryan Caffrey

8.      Nathan Donnelly

9.      Maithias Barrett

10.  Jack Lundy

11.  James Darcy

12.  Sean Conneely

13.  Simon Garrity

 

Donegal:

1.      Hugh Boyle

2.      Cillian Gilligan

3.      Anthony Diver

4.      Jason Nochton

5.      Jack O’Brien

6.      Sean Doherty

7.      Donal McBride

8.      Tomas Galligan

9.      Sean Winston

10.  Shane O’Donnell

11.  Cian O’Grady

12.  Ciaran McDevitt

13.  David Garland