On a cold and blustery Easter Sunday afternoon these two neighbours went into battle in front of a large crowd.
Playing with the elements in the first half it was the visitors who started brightly with a point in the opening two minutes from young Ciar·n McCafferty following a great run and layoff from full back Brian Gillespie. Harry Harden then fired wide from the right hand wing as Naomh Muire pushed forward trying to make the most of the wind advantage.
Dungloe, moving the ball quickly, opened their account on seven minutes with a point from the lively Adrain Hanlon.
The hard working Paul ‘The Yank’ Boyle fired wide two minutes later as Naomh Muire looked to respond. The visiting defence were alert moments later when they thwarted a certain gaol with Dungloe having to recycle the ball resulting in a wide.
Naomh Muire went on the attack again but notched their third wide as the half drew to a close. Then a quickly taken free put in the Dungloe midfielder to slot over an easy score to nudge Dungloe in front by a point.
Some good play saw Naomh Muire finish the half stonger and they converted two free to go in at half time one point up. A fairly even match with scores being exchanged left the half time score, Dungloe 0-05 Naomh Muire 0-06.
Playing with the breeze and the hill in the second half, the home team leveled things up inside the first three minutes with an Adrian Sweeney free. Owen Grant shot wide for Naomh Muire following a good move up the left hand side. Paul Boyle restored Naomh Muire’s lead minutes later with an excellent point from distance.
Then the turning point of the game occurred when Naomh Muire had the chance to go two points up only for Shaun Boyle’s effort to come back off the post. Dungloe gained possession and broke quickly down the field where they fed Adrian Sweeney who laid it off to the corner forward who slotted it past Shaun Gallagher to push Dungloe two points ahead.
Two frees from former county man Sweeney in the 13th and 15th minute extended the home team’s lead and he followed this up with a long range point from play to leave five points in it after 17 minutes. Naomh Muire introduced Hugh Martin for Darragh White and Shaun ‘The Yank’ Boyle for Ciar·n McCafferty shortly afterwards as they attempted to freshen things up. Adrian Sweeney, playing at full forward then scored another point from play before Ciar·n McGinely replied with a close range free. Naomh Muire enjoyed a spell of possession now but failed to convert it into scores. An off the ball incident in the 23rd minute saw referee Mickey Mulhern issue a straight red card to Dungloe’s Adrian Hanlon for striking.
Naomh Muire mounted several good attacks as they went in search of gaols. Shaun ‘The Yank’ fired narrowly wide before a five man move saw P·draig McCafferty in on goal but the defence stood firm. Both teams exchanged points at the end as the time ran out.
Teams and Scorers:
Naomh Muire: 1. Shaun Gallagher, 2. Robert O’ Donnell, 3. Brian Gillespie, 4. Daniel Gallgher, 5. P·draig McCafferty, 6. Thomas Duffy, 7. Harry Harden (0-02), 8. Paul Boyle (0-02), 9. Owenie McGarvey, 10. Darragh White, 11. Tom McHugh, 12. Ciar·n McCafferty (0-01), 13. Shaun J Boyle (0-01), 14. Ciar·n McGinley (0-03), 15. Owen Grant
Referee: Mickey Mulhern