St Eunan's come strong in the second half to ease past MacCumhaills
Despite only leading by 0-8 to 0-7 at the break, the Letterkenny lads only really pulled away in the last quarter to remain strong in the hurling championship
In the end, St Eunan’s had a comfortable enough win over Sean MacCumhaills in O’Donnell Park as they cruised to an 11-point win.
But this was a very evenly matched game in the first half when Eunan’s only led by 0-8 to 0-7 at the break. And the Letterkenny lads only really pulled away in the last quarter.
The first quarter was very evenly contested, and it was 0-3 each with Eunan’s getting points from Peter Kelly and Brian MacIntyre (0-4) on target for Eunan’s, while Lee Henderson (0-2) and Conor Griffin responding for the visitors.
The game continued in that vein up to half time with Brian McIntyre and Peter Kelly landing points for Eunan’s with Riain McBrearty, P J Browne and Joel Bradley Walsh getting their names on the scoreboard.
But Eunan’s outscored their opponents by 0-6 to 0-1 in the third quarter.
Peter Kelly (0-3), John Kealy and Fergal Delaney pointed for the home side with Lee Henderson replying with a pointed free to leave Eunan’s leading by 0-14 to 0-8.
MacCumhaills landed two quick frees from Henderson to narrow the gap to four points. But Eunan’s pulled away with points from Peter Kelly, while Fintan Griffin replied for MacCumhaills and pointed with a great chance of a goal.
The clinching score came from a John Kealy goal four minutes from time to ease the winner’s home.
St Eunan’s scorers: Peter Kelly 0-9, 7f; Brian MacIntyre 0-5; John Kealy 1-2; Cormac Finn 0-2; Fergal Delaney 0-1. Sean McCumhaills scorers: Lee Henderson 0-6, 5f; Conor Griffin and Riain McBrearty 0-2 each; Fintan Griffin, Joel Bradley Walsh, and P J Browne 0-1 each.
St Eunan’s: Dara McBride; Conor Parke, Brendan Horgan, Lorcan Heavey; Sean Halvey, Kevin Kealy, Ryan Hilferty; David Horgan, Fergal Delaney; Peter Kelly, Brian MacIntyre, Sean McVeigh; John Kealy, Brendan Gaffey, Cormac Finn. Subs used: Cathal O’Brien and Johnny Lambe.
Sean MacCumhaills: Dylan Laverty; Conor Murphy, Kyle Tourish, Eoghan Wright; Conor Griffin, John Anthony Chambers, Sean Brady Devenney; Gavin Browne, Jamie De Ward; Riain McBrearty, Fintan Griffin, Joel Bradley Walsh; Dean Hannigan, P J Browne, Lee Henderson. Subs used: Davitt Bradley Flynn, Shane McMenamin, Aaron Toner, Darren McGowan.