Gaoth Dobhair progress after Donaghmoyne fightback

Gaoth Dobhair had five points to spare over Donaghmoyne on Sunday afternoon as they sealed the remaining semi-final spot of the Paddy McLarnon Cup at Pairc Kickham.  It looked to be going as planned for the Donegal champions as they went into the interval with a six point advantage.  It was the least their first half efforts deserved and they were dominant in the opening 30 minutes.  Donaghmoyne were a changed team after the restart though and going into the final quarter, they had reduced the deficit to just one point with man of the match David Garland leading the fightback.  Gaoth Dobhair regrouped though and with Michael Carroll and Gavin McBride again leading the way, weathered the Farney storm.  Ethan Harkin’s 56th minute goal proving to be pivotal as the Donegal champions booked a last four spot against Carryduff in two weeks’ time.

Gaoth Dobhair started the match on top, benefitting from playing in the preliminary round last week against Rossa while Donaghmoyne looked like a team who hadn’t played competitively recently and took a while to warm to the challenge.  The Farney men just weren’t at the races in the opening exchanges and but for some last gasp defending, could have conceded a goal in the opening 60 second.  Éamon Colm’s effort blocked wide by Mikey Murnaghan.

Points from Daire Boyle and McBride were answered to by the Garland brothers, Shane and David to leave the sides tied after six minutes in an open start to the quarter-final but Gaoth Dobhair were the better side in the opening exchanges with Carroll, Naoise Boyle and Odhrán McFadden-Ferry outstanding.

Éamon Colm opened the two point lead once again for Gaoth Dobhair by the 11th minute but a series of wides was hurting the Donegal men and keeping Donaghmoyne in the game.  The first goal of the match came in the 14th minute with Gaoth Dobhair already two points in front and it was just reward for a bright opening by the Donegal men.  Gavin McBride drilling his effort low and through David Callan’s legs to the back of the net.  Donaghmoyne had an opening to breach Cathal Doherty’s net in the 19th minute but Aaron Courtney’s shot was well saved by the Gaoth Dobhair stopper.

Gaoth Dobhair continued their dominance and scores from Carroll and a McBride free came either side of David Garland’s first point of the match to give the Donegal men a six point lead at the short whistle, 1-6 to 0-3.

With the foggy conditions at Pairc Kickham worsening, it was Donaghmoyne who made all the early running after the restart.  Where they struggled for any possession from restarts in the opening 30 minutes, they dominated the aerial challenges and any second phase ball to frustrate Gaoth Dobhair.  David Garland was punishing any errors in the Gaoth Dobhair defence and reeled off five unanswered points, three frees and one ’45 to leave just the minimum between the sides with still 15 minutes remaining.  It could have been better for the Monaghan champions but after a flowing move, David Garland’s drilled effort went to the wrong side of the post with Doherty beaten in the Gaoth Dobhair goals.  A reprieve for the Donegal men but they were struggling to ease the pressure on their defence.

Ethan Harkin pointed in the 47th minute, Gaoth Dobhair’s first effort at the Donaghmoyne goals in the second half such was the Monaghan men’s dominance, to prematurely halt the Donaghmore charge and when Gavin McBride split the posts three minutes later it looked like Gaoth Dobhair had weathered the Donaghmore storm.  We were left in no doubt of that in the 56th minute when the Donegal men scored their second goal.  Harkin provided the finish but it was a brilliantly incisive move that involve Carroll and Naoise Boyle beforehand to create the opportunity for the Gaoth Dobhair forward.  Harkin drilling his effort to give Callan no chance and all but seal Gaoth Dobhair’s spot in the semi-final.

Donaghmoyne continued to press in the time that remained and laid siege on the Gaoth Dobhair goals but couldn’t find or create the goal chance that they required.  David Garland’s seventh and eighth points of the match all they had to show for their efforts.  A free from Gavin McBride with the last kick of the game gave him 1-5 to his name for the hour and ensure the Donegal men’s place in the last four.

Gaoth Dobhair: Cathal Doherty; Ciarán Hughes; Gary McFadden; Ryan Kelly; Conor McCafferty; Niall Friel; Neasan McBride; Michael Carroll (0-1); Odhrán McFadden-Ferry; Naoise Boyle; Eamon Colm (0-2); Daire Boyle (0-1); Seaghám Ferry; Gavin McBride (1-5, 4 f’s); Ethan Harkin (1-1, 1 f)

Donaghmoyne: David Callan; Dylan Cunningham; Mikey Murnaghan; Ryan Mohan; Oran Martin; Stephen Cunningham; Thomas Finnegan; Shane Garland (0-1); Aaron Courtney; Niall Keenan; Stephen Finnegan; Diarmuid Boylan; Jamie Watters; David Garland (0-8, 6 f’s 1 ’45); James McCaghey (0-1)

Referee: Paul McKeever (Portglenone)