Moore strikes at the death as St Eunan's dethrone Naomh Conaill

St Eunan’s 1-16 Naomh Conaill 1-15

In a dramatic conclusion, Naomh Conaill dropped one short at one end and, quick as a flash, a lightning Letterkenny counter down the other side finally settled matters in Ballybofey.

It was Kieran Donnelly’s team that had also got the better of the first-half exchanges as they departed with a 0-9 to 0-7 lead.

But with matters deadlocked at 1-10 apiece going into the final ten minutes at MacCumhaill Park, both sides went toe-to-toe before St Eunan’s got that last vital jab in right at the end of four minutes of added time.

Back at the outset, the Letterkenny men were out of the blocks impressively and went three clear inside as many minutes through Oran Winston, Moore and Eoin McGeehin.

The champions were off the mark on five minutes from a John O’Malley free, but Ciaran Thompson soon levelled matters with a fine two-pointer.

Eoin Dowling then matched that feat down the other side to once again put two between the sides.

And with Conor O’Donnell Jnr nailing another from play, 0-6 now led 0-3 nearing the ten-minute mark.

Brendan McDyer pulled one back for Martin Regan’s charges, but with O’Donnell Jnr registering from a free, three remained the difference.

Thompson again made some accelerated headway when he let fly from outside the arc. And with Eunan Doherty intercepting a rare stray Shaun Patton dispatch, the game was level three minutes out from the break.

But St Eunan’s would end the opening period strong and back-to-back efforts from Shane O’Donnell and Niall O’Donnell, just in from the bench, made sure the Black and Amber held the upper hand at the midpoint.

Eoin Dowling stretched the gap out to three on the resumption but a brilliant Ethan O’Donnell goal dragged the Glenties outfit level.

At the end of the third quarter, a Shea Malone two-pointer put Naomh Conaill in front for the very first time.

However, a James Kelly goal sparked St Eunan’s once more as they again got their noses in front.

Niall O’Donnell was then brilliantly denied by Stephen McGrath and with Max Campbell and Malone, with another two-pointer on the mark, Naomh Conaill were now 1-12 to 1-10 up.

This was where Moore really came to the fore for the winners and successive points from the Donegal senior flyer levelled it all up with four minutes of normal time to go.

Things got even better for St Eunan’s as Winston again pushed them ahead. But it looked like it was going to be Naomh Conaill’s day when an O’Malley two-pointer again saw the lead change hands.

And with substitute Charles McGuinness landing between the river end posts a minute into added time, the blue ribbons seemed destined to remain tied to the ears of the Dr Maguire Cup.

But Niall O’Donnell took on the bravest responsibility from distance to square it all up. And with St Eunan’s breaking in the dying seconds, Moore decided it with the very last kick of the game

St Eunan’s scorers: Ciaran Moore 0-4; Niall O’Donnell 0-3, 1tp; Eoin Dowling 0-3, 1tp; James Kelly 1-0; Oran Winston 0-2; Conor O’Donnell Jnr 0-2, 2f; Eoin McGeehin and Shane O’Donnell 0-1.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Ciaran Thompson 0-4, 2tp; Shea Malone 0-4, 2tp; John O’Malley 0-3, 1tp; Ethan O’Donnell 1-0; Max Campbell, Eunan Doherty, Charlie McGuinness and Brendan McDyer 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s: Shaun Patton; Noah Barrett, Caolan Ward, Josh Hay; Kieran Tobin, Conor O'Donnell Snr, Oran Winston; Dillon Doogan, Eoin Dowling; Ciaran Moore, Shane O'Donnell, Luke McGuinness; Eoin McGeehin, James Kelly, Conor O'Donnell Jnr.

Subs: Niall O’Donnell for Doogan (26); Brian MacIntyre for Kelly (44); Pauric Boyle for C O’Donnell Jnr (50)

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, Shean Roarty, Kevin McGettigan; Daithi Mollory, Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Ciaran Thompson; Brendan McDyer, Odhrán Doherty, Eunan Doherty; John O'Malley, Ethan O’Donnell, Shea Malone.

Subs: AJ Gallagher for S Roarty (19, blood sub); AJ Gallagher for S Roarty (35); Charlie McGuinness for Mac Ceallabhuí (47); Keelan McGill for McDyer (54).

Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara).