GAA: St Eunan’s win in first Championship game against Kilcar for all its worth

St Eunan’s defeated Kilcar in their opening match of the Senior Championship at O’Donnell Park today, leading the visitors by nine points at the end of the game.

St Eunan’s 2-12 … Kilka 0-9

In fact, the Letterkenny team might have scored at least two goals against a weaker Kilkal side.

Niall O’Donnell scored two goals, scored a point and even missed a penalty as Barry Meehan’s side beat the understrength Townies by nine points.

In the 13th minute of the match, the County star received a pass from Conor O’Donnell Jnr on the edge of the penalty area and used the space to slot the ball into the goal, changing the score to 1-3 to 0-1, giving the home side a 1-3 lead.

Earlier, Conor O’Donnell had scored two points – a nice 45 and a great shot from distance – Brian MacIntyre also had one, while Patrick McBrearty’s free throw was the only score for Kilka in the first quarter.

It wasn’t until the 28th minute that Kilcar scored a point, with Evan Kavanagh scoring to give St Eunan’s a 1-7 to 0-2 lead at half-time, with MacIntyre, Tobin and Niall O’Donnell then netting three more times by half-time.

Kilcar were further weakened by the absence and injuries of Andrew and Matthew McClean, Jason Campbell, Ciaran McGinley and Conor Doherty due to Ryan McHugh’s leave. St Eunan’s played without Ciaran Moore and Shane O’Donnell.

Kilkals have started their Championship campaign at O’Donnell Park four times since 2012, winning two and drawing two. However, at half-time, head coach Michael Hegarty knew they still had a long way to go.

Things could have been much worse for Kilka had goalkeeper Eoin O’Donnell not saved Niall O’Donnell’s penalty in the 37th minute after Eoin McHugh brought down Darragh Mulgrew.

St Eunan’s continued to lead with Niall and Conor O’Donnell scoring, Eoin McGeehin opening the scoring, McBrearty scoring twice in the third quarter and Brian O’Donnell scoring once.

With 11 minutes remaining, Niall O’Donnell faked past Pauric Carr in the shadows of O’Donnell Park before cutting inside and firing the ball into the net for a 2-10 to 0-5 lead.

Lee McMonagle – hero of Donegal’s 2012 SFC final win over Naomh Conaill – came off the bench to add two more late on, while Kilcar’s Conor O’Donnell, Eoin McHugh and McBrearty hit the crossbar with a free-kick as time was about to run out.

The competition is going to get tighter for Eunans and Kilcar.

Kilcar will next face St Naul’s, while St Eunan’s will travel to Dr Maguire Trophy winners Naomh Conaill.

St Eunan’s scorers: Neil O’Donnell 1-2, 1f; Conor O’Donnell Jnr 0-3, 1f, 45; Brian McIntyre and Lee McMonagle 0-2; Conor Morrison, Kieran Tobin, Eoin McGeeshing,
Kilkal scorers: Patrick McBrearty 0-4, 2f; Eoin McHugh 0-2, Evan Kavanagh, Brian O’Donnell and Conor O’Donnell 0-1.

St Eunan’s: Sean Barton; Anthony Gallagher, Conor Morrison, Brian McIntyre; Kieran Tobin, Conor O’Donnell, Darragh Mulgrew; Ka’oran Ward, James Kelly; Conor O’Donnell Jnr, Kevin Kiely, Oran Winston-Boyle, Neil O’Donnell, Eoin McGehee. Subs: Lee McMonagle for P Boyle (50), Eamon Doherty for McIntyre (54); Sean O’Donnell for C O’Donnell Jnr (55); Conor Parker for Morrison (56)

Kilkal: John O’Donnell; Paddy McShane, Patrick Carr, Ryan McShane; Brian O’Donnell, Mark McHugh, Oran Duggan; John McHugh, Evan Kavanagh; Patrick McShane, Patrick McBrearty, Ryan O’Donnell; Kenny Duggan, Stephen McBrearty, Conor O’Donnell. Subs: Eoin Cormack for P McShane (46), Mark Sweeney for R O’Donnell (52).

Referee: Mark Dorion (Gail Fanada).

GAA: St Eunan’s win in first Championship game against Kilcar for all its worth Last modified: August 10, 2024 go through Staff Writer