Carndonagh up and running in Junior 'A' after a good away win to Naomh Ultan
Carndonagh took their first win of the Junior Football Championship away to Naomh Ultan in Group B of the competition
Carndonagh, favourites for the Junior ‘A’ Championship, got their campaign off to a good start with an away win over Naomh Ultan, also challengers for the Dr McCloskey Cup.
The elusive Michael Noone scored the Carndonagh goal and Fergal Doherty, who was in fine form both from play and frees, Cian Doherty, Conor O’ Donnell, who was only used as a late substitute, and Sean O’Carroll all hit the target for the north Inishowen men.
County star Conor O’Donnell was introduced from the bench ten minutes into the second half and kicked two points.
Full-forward Patrick White led the Naomh Ultan charge and ended up his side's top scorer with five points, all from frees.
Luke Gallagher capped a good performance for the locals with four points. Kyle Breslin and Aaron Byrne were the other Naomh Ultan scorers.
Carndonagh, playing with the aid of the strong breeze, set out their stall from the off and they landed the game’s three opening points to race 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after ten minutes. Patrick White responded with the game’s next two scores to make it a 0-3 to 0-2 game after 20 minutes.
Cian Burke, Kyle Breslin, Fergal Doherty, and White traded points before White stuck over his third point of the half to trim the Carndonagh to a single point.
Moments later, Sean O’Carroll got forward to split the posts to restore Carndonagh’s two point advantage.
And moments later, the Carndonagh lead was out to five points when Michael Noone added the polish to a sweeping move to drive the ball to the Naomh Ultan net.
Fergal Doherty added another point before half-time to send Carndonagh in at the break 1-7 to 0-4 to the good.
Fergal Doherty extended the Carndonagh lead on the resumption before Naomh Ultan, courtesy of strikes from Luke Gallagher (2), Aaron Byrne to reduce the Carn lead down to four points.
Luke Gallagher reduced the lead to three points with five minutes of normal time remaining, which was as close as the locals got, as John O’Callaghan and Fergal Doherty closed out the game with late white flags.
Naomh Ultan scorers: Patrick White 0-5,5f, Luke Gallagher 0-4,1 tptr, Kyle Breslin, Aaron Byrne 0-1.
Carndonagh: Fergal Doherty 0-6,1tptr, 2f, Michael Noone 1-0, Cian Doherty 0-2,1f, Cian Burke and Conor O’Donnell 0-2 each, Sean O’Carroll 0-1.
Naomh Ultan: Daniel McGlynn; Darragh Gallagher, Christopher Boyle, Finley Gavigan; Daniel Gallagher, Jordan Watters, Jamie Cunningham; Jack Boyle, Johnny Bach; Seanie O’ Shea, Luke Gallagher, Kyle Breslin; Aaron Byrne, Patrick White, Aaron O’Shea.
Sub: Aidan Duddy for D Gallagher.
Carndonagh: Daniel McDaid; Danny Diver, Danny Monagle, Eoghan Kelly; Will Quinn, James Monagle, John O’Callaghan; Sean O’Carroll, Ryan Kelly; Cian Doherty, Cian Burke, Keith Norris; Michael Noone; Brendan McLaughlin, Fergal Doherty.
Sub: Conor O’Donnell for B McLaughlin (45).