McBrearty magic drives Kilcar to opening day win over St Eunan’s

Stephen McBrearty scored 1-8 as Kilcar began the Michael Hegarty era with a fine All-County Football League Division 1 win over St Eunan’s in Towney.

The Letterkenny side had their spells in a contest which would be best described as stop-start, with referee Kevin McGinley blowing for 41 free in all, 24 against the visitors, who let their frustrations be known on occasions.

Barry Meehan was back in the St Eunan’s dugout, previously taking charge in 2017. He saw Peter Devine sent off a minute from time for what they were told was a strike on Evan Kavanagh.

The 28-year-old McBrearty was in impressive form right from the off and his goal on 21 minutes was smashed past Ronan McGeehin and in off the post. It meant an interval lead of 1-3 to 0-2, with McBrearty scoring all of the hosts’ first-half total, and Conor O’Donnell and an Eoin Downing free on the board for St Eunan’s.

The wind seemed to pick up in the second half, although it was St Eunan’s who started part two the better. Eoin McGeehin, their main go-to man in the forward line, scored the first point followed by one from Eamonn Doherty. So on 35 minutes, Kilcar had a lead of 1-3 to 0-4.

However, McBrearty added three frees in quick succession, one short, one long and a third from in front of the hill, which was brilliantly executed, before another from play and then one from Ryan O’Donnell, who was making explosive runs from deep.

That pushed the Kilcar advantage out to 1-8 to 0-4 with 14 minutes to play, although in following with the see-saw nature of the match, St Eunan’s hit the next three, all of which were scored by McGeehin.

At four down, they might’ve smelt a waft of opportunity with 50 minutes played, although Kilcar reaffirmed their control with three in succession again. McBrearty, O’Donnell and Eoin McHugh all registered, making it 1-11 to 0-7.

St Eunan’s did manage to pull a goal back, with Darragh Mulgrew breaking purposefully and Conor O’Donnell’s shot that looked to be held up in the wind, dropping under the crossbar on 57 minutes.

Kilcar scorers: Stephen McBrearty 1-8, 6f; Ryan O’Donnell 0-2; Eoin McHugh 0-1
St Eunan’s scorers: Conor O’Donnell 1-1; Eoin McGeehin 0-4, 2f; Eoin Dowling 0-1, 1f. Eamonn Doherty 0-1.

Kilcar: Kevin Campbell; Barry McGinley, Brian O’Donnell, Pauric Carr; Ryan O’Donnell, Eoin McHugh, Ryan McShane; Eoin McCormack, Ciaran McGinley; Evan Kavanagh, Conor Doherty, Ben Rafferty; Stephen McBrearty, Ryan Jones, Gary Molloy. Subs: Paddy McShane for McCormack (50); Conor O’Donnell and Barry Shovlin for O’Donnell and Rafferty (57)
St Eunan’s: Ronan McGeehin; Anthony Gallagher, Eamonn Doherty, Conor Parke; Pauric Hughes, Darragh Mulgrew, Peter Devine; Eoin Dowling, Noel O’Donnell; Kevin Kealy, Oran Winston, David Boyle; Dylan Doogan, Eoin McGeehin, Conor O’Donnell. Suvs: Jake Whelan for Hughes (36).
Referee: Kevin McGinley (Naomh Columba)