MacCumhaills came from seven points down to beat Glenswilly and reach the senior championship semi-final led by the outstanding Oisín Gallen who scored 1-09.
These two teams came impressively through their preliminary quarter-finals against Glenfin and Four Masters and this fixture was expected to be a closely contested affair.
The game began at a hectic pace and they shared four points in the opening ten minutes, Caolan Kelly and Gary McFadden for Glenswilly, Oisín Gallen and Jamie Keegan for MacCumhaills. Keegan had almost got MacCumhaills off to the perfect start as his shot crashed off the crossbar and was collected by defender and a big moment averted for Glenswilly.
Play swung from end to end as the points flew over at both ends. Michael Murphy added two and Gary McFadden got his second to put Glenswilly three ahead, 0-05 to 0-2. Keegan and Gallen replied to leave a point in it but then Glenswilly added four of the next five scores, Shaun Wogan, Murphy, Caoimhin Marley and Keelan Dunleavy all scoring to Gallen’s lone reply for MacCumhaills, 0-09 to 0-05.
Then in the 29th minute disaster for MacCumhaills when Eoin Gallen’s short kick out was intercepted by the alert Gary McFadden who feed Michael Murphy and he hammered the ball high into the net, 1-09 to 0-05.
To their credit MacCumhaills responded with a Oisín Gallen free and then in the 33rd minute Gallen’s attempt at another point dropped short and deceived keeper Keelan McFadden and ended up in the net to leave it 1-09 to 1-06 at half-time.
Gary McFadden got the first score of the second-half and Glenswilly led by four but then MacCumhaills took command with five points in a row, Keegan, Cian Mulligan, Joel Bradley-Walsh and two from Oisín Gallen and they led for the first time, 1-11 to 1-10.
Back came Glenswilly, McFadden, Daithi Gildea and Murphy to lead by two. Joel Bradley-Walsh and Murphy exchanged points but that proved to be Glenswilly’s last score as MacCumhaills dominated the final ten minutes. Keegan and Chad McSorley levelled it up at 1-14 each but then the Brillant Oisín Gallen took over with three super scores to send his team to the semi-final.
Glenswilly: Keelan McFadden, Jake Kelly, Mark McAteer , Caolan Kelly (0-01), Donal Gallagher, Jack Gallagher, Shane McDaid, Shaun Wogan (0-01), Caoimhin Marley (0-01), Cormac Callaghan, Shane McDevitt, Keelan Dunleavy (0-01), Gary McFadden (0-04), Michael Murphy (1- 05), Oisin Crawford.
Subs: Daithi Gildea (0-01) for Crawford (47mins), Sean Collum for McDaid (51mins).
Sean MacCumhaills: Eoin Gallen, Cian Mulligan (0-01), Ruairi Callaghan, Aaron Gillhooley, Shaun McMenamin, Andrew McCloskey, Sean Martin, Steven O’Reilly, Joe Boyle, Sean Breen ,Jamie Keegan (0-04), Chad McSorley (0-01), Oisin Gallen (1-09), Joel Bradley Walsh (0-02),Conor McGinty.
Subs: Kevin McCormick for Breen (h/t).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
