8/11/2024 - Senior Football Final – Donegal Boston vs Connemara Gaels

 8/11/2024 - Senior Football Final – Donegal Boston vs Connemara Gaels

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Donegal Boston: 1-19

Connemara Gaels: 0-11

 

It was Donegal who came out of the blocks straight from the throw in and raced to a 10 point lead in this Boston Senior Football Final before Connemara Gaels registered a score. The Gaels did their best to fight back but left the margin too big with too little time remaining to get close enough to trouble the strong Donegal side.

 
A foul on Jordan Morrissey from the throw in was quickly taken by Cory Gallagher who kicked it into Daire Cregg. Cregg moved the ball fast to his county mate Ciaran Murtagh who fisted it to Sean Lowry who scored the opening point from a tight angle.

 

Stefan Okunbar went down for Connemara Gaels and was believed to have back spasms and couldn’t continue after just a minute into the game. We wish him all the best in his recovery. Cathal Hynes replaced his as a sub.

 

Shane Carthy got fouled on the left wing which Ciaran Murtagh dispatched well to double Donegal’s lead. Okunbar tried working through his injury but was unable to continue and proved to be a big loss to the Gaels on the day.

 

Morrissey played a quick ball into Daire Cregg who was one on one and turned his man to kick a great score off his favored left boot. The resulting kickout went over the end line and involved the Gaels sub Hynes and Ben McCarron for Donegal. Carthy took the sideline quickly into Murtagh who scored a nice point from a tight angle. McCarron ended up landing awkwardly and dislocating his shoulder. It was popped back in and he was rushed to the ER. We wish him a speedy recovery.

 

Gaels started creating a few chances and but for a few wides, great defending by Donegaland a great block by Jason Noctor, they would have been on a scoresheet earlier. The early ball into Cregg in the full forward line caused worked well for Donegal as he linked well with Murtagh to create scores.

 

The Gaels can feel hard done by for Donegal’s first goal. Donegal broke out of their defence with an early pass from substitute Cian O’Grady into Cregg. Cregg called the mark but was outside the 45. In the confusion, Cregg took the mark quickly to Sean Lowry. Lowry used his pace and skill to bring the ball in and finish well into the bottom corner off his left foot to put Donegal 9 points ahead.

 

Cregg added another for Donegal as he squeezed one over off of his right foot. Some good work from Oran Cunningham for Connemara fisted it through to Adam Nolan who kicked a nice point off his left from a tight angle for their first point of the game.

 

Donegal started playing keep ball and were patient in their attack before finding an opening for Lowry to score off his left. On the Gaels side, a quick ball in from USGAA captain Jack Lynch found Ryan McQuillan who took the mark. McQuillan steadied up and converted well off his right foot.

 

Connemara started putting good plays together before half time and kicked some great scores from distance. A brilliantly worked moved between Nolan and Cunningham finished with Cunningham scoring a monster point from distance. Cunningham converted from a free and McQuillan added another great point from 45 yards out from play.

 

This brought 6 points between the sides. Cregg converted a free for Donegal just before the half time whistle to leave seven between the sides at the break.

 

Half Time Score

Donegal Boston: 1-9

Connemara Gaels: 0-5

 

Gaels started the brighter in the second half with Hynes setting up McQuillan for a nice point after a strong run. They had it back to 6 points and could have it closer but for some bad shooting. On the Donegal end, Morrissey made a signature strong run through the middle before setting up Cregg for the goal chance. Cregg took it first time and smashed the post from close range.

 

A quick free by Murtagh found an unmarked Carthy for Donegal who tipped it over from close range. McQuillan responded from a close range free for the Gaels to leave 6 between them again.

 

Lowry burst through using his pace and was fouled for Murtagh to convert the free. O’Grady found Cregg again who was one on one, soloing off the right and kicked a point off the left. Cregg added a point from a free and was unmarkable.

 

Jack Lynch found McQuillan for the Gaels on the loop who kicked a great point from the top of the D. Cunningham added a point shortly after off a dead ball from the top of the D to bring 7 between the sides.

 

Donegal were happy to play at their own pace and work the ball in and take their frees which the Roscommon men Cregg and Murtagh converted. O’Grady kicked a nice point from the right wing before Cregg converted another mark.

 

Gaels to their credit, kept fighting to the end with Cunningham adding some nice points but the damage was done in the first half after a blitz of a start to the game by Donegal Boston.

 

Congratulations to Donegal Boston on winning the Boston Senior Championship 2024 and best of luck in San Francisco.

Please see link below to anyone who would like to watch the game back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D0pPTbCyw8

 

Finally, a huge thank you to our commentators; John Moylan, Greg Lundy and Eoin Casey for volunteering their time and adding to the entertainment in both games. Thanks lads.

Donegal Boston: Hugh Boyle, Cian Lynch, Neil Mulcahy, Sean Winston, Jason Noctor, Cory Gallagher, Shane Carthy (0-1), Jordan Morrissey (0-1), Ciaran McDevitt, Ciaran Murtagh (0-4), Ben McCarron, Sean Lowry (1-2), Daire Cregg (0-10)

Subs: Cian O’Grady (0-1), James O’Grady, Ethan McDevitt, Alex Doherty

 

Connemara Gaels: Bryan O’Flaherty, Sean Kennedy, Keelan Beirne, Stefan Okunbar, Sean Brady, Colman Mulkerrin, Adam Waddick, Jack Lynch, Michael Kerr, Dylan Murtagh, Oran Cunningham (0-4), Ryan McQuillan (0-6), Mark Nolan (0-1)

Subs: Cathal Hynds, Jack Lundy

 

Man of the Match: Jason Noctor

 

Referee: Eoin Moriarty