St Eunan's 1-13 An Clochán Liath 1-10
St Eunan's got over the line in the Donegal final but were made fight to the final whistle by An Clochán Liath for their three-point win.
The underdogs An Clochán Liath, known in English as Dungloe, fought like tigers and even after conceding an unlucky goal in the second half came back to level matters with a 60-minute penalty.
However, St Eunan’s showed their experience by hitting the last three points in added time to secure the win, a first triumph since 2021 and 16th overall lifting them back above Gaoth Dobhair to the top of the roll of honour.
An Clochán Liath played as if they were perennial county finalists and not appearing in their first final in 60 years.
They got the opening point through Matthew Ward on seven minutes and produced a defensive display par excellence in the opening half, keeping the O’Donnell brothers at bay.
Conor O’Donnell jnr levelled for St Eunan’s and it was point for point until the break, although An Clochán Liath had much the better chances.
Dylan Sweeney, Conor Greene (mark) and Ryan Connors (free) pushed An Clochán Liath ahead but each time St Eunan’s replied, through Pauric Boyle, Ciaran Moore and Conor O’Donnell jnr (free) to leave it 0-4 each at the break.
Danny Rodgers (45) and Niall O’Donnell traded scores before St Eunan’s got a piece of luck when a Niall O’Donnell effort came back off an upright and Conor O’Donnell jnr fired home.
An Clochán Liath refused to give in and points from Ryan Connors and another Danny Rodgers '45’ kept them in touch.
Niall O’Donnell, Aaron Deeney and Conor O’Donnell jnr had St Eunan’s three ahead with eight minutes left.
Points were traded again before referee Ryan Walsh awarded An Clochán Liath a controversial penalty on 60minutes.
Ryan Connors was about to take a free inside the ‘45’ but the referee adjudged that an An Clochán Liath forward was fouled inside and spread his arms.
Connors fired home past Shaun Patton to send An Clochán Liath followers wild.
But there was no fairytale finish as St Eunan’s, through Conor O’Donnell jnr, Ciaran Moore and Eoin McGeehin got the scores to secure the Dr Maguire Cup.
St Eunan’s: S Patton; A Deeney (0-01), C Morrison, C Ward; D Mulgrew, C O’Donnell Snr, K Tobin (0-01); E Dowling, J Kelly; C Moore (0-03), S O’Donnell, K Kealy; C O’Donnell Jnr (1-04, 2f), N O’Donnell (0-02, 1f), P Boyle (0-01).
Subs: E McGeehin (0-01) for Dowling (34), L McMonagle for Boyle (46), O Winston for Mulgrew (53).
An Clochán Liath: D Rodgers (0-02, 1f, 1 ’45); J McBride, A Ward, M Curran; B Curran (0-01), C O’Donnell, K Magee; D Curran, R Connors (1-02, 1pen, 2f); D Sweeney (0-02), D Gallagher, M Ward; A Neely (0-01), C Greene (0-02, 1f), O Bonner.
Subs: S McGee for Bonner (42), C Diver for Greene (60+2), N. McBride for M.Ward (60+5).
Referee: R Walsh (Bundoran)
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