Ulster club SFC: Gaoth Dobhair hold off Cargin

November 04, 2018

Gweedore players, management and supporters celebrate with the Dr Maguire Cup.

Goath Dobhair (Donegal) 3-11

Erin’s Own, Cargin (Antrim) 1-13

Gaoth Dobhair withstood a second half comeback from Cargin at Corrigan Park in Belfast to progress to an Ulster club SFC semi-final against Crossmaglen.

The Donegal champions looked to be cruising to victory when goals from Kevin Cassidy and Cian Mulligan helped them to a 10-point interval lead, but Cargin roared back after the restart and Mervyn O’Donnell's charges needed a late goal from Michael Carroll to make sure of the win.

Forced to line out without county star Odhrán Mac Niallais, Gaoth Dobhair lost centre back Kieran Gillespie to a knee injury in the opening minute, but it didn't stop them from bossing proceedings as they opened up a 0-8 to 0-5 lead before quick-fire goals from Cassidy and Mulligan late in the first half left them perched on a 2-10 to 0-6 lead at the break.

However, the Antrim winners refused to throw in the towel as they held their opponents scoreless for 18 minutes while eating into the deficit with points from Michael McCann and Jamie Gribben as well as a goal from Paul McCann, who replaced Gribben after he went off injured.

Michael McCann and Justin Crozier added further points to leave just a goal in it before Seamus Ó Baoill ended Goath Dobhair's scoring lull from a free.

Points from James Laverty and Tomas McCann had the margin down to just two points before Carroll's late goal settled it. The losers finished with 14 players after Donagh McKeever received a second yellow card in the closing stages.

Gaoth Dobhair - C Sweeney; G McFadden, N McGee, C McFadden; N Friel, K Gillespie, S O Baoill (0-1f); D O Baoill, E McGee (0-1); C Mulligan (1-1), N O Baoill, D McBride; E Collum (0-2), K Cassidy (1-3), M Carroll (1-3). Subs: P McGee for C Gillespie, S Carroll for D McBride, S Farrell for E Collum, G McBride for N O Baoill, C MacEachmarchaigh for G McBride (BC).

Cargin - J McNabb; D McKeever, M Kane (0-1), G McCorley; T Scullion, J Crozier (0-1), J Laverty (0-1); G McCann (0-1), M McCann (0-2); J Carron, J Gribben (0-3), C Bradley; E McGrogan (0-1), M Magill, T McCann (0-2f). Subs: K Close for M Magill, P McCann (1-1) for J Gribben, O McAuley for E McGrogan.

Referee - P Faloon.


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