Three wins on the bounce for our Minor side as they came out on top down in the Banks against Naomh Muire last night, Friday August 20th. Due to the Donegal Minor team reaching the Ulster Final, their game against Naomh Columba scheduled previously wasn't played so there was a three week gap since their last win against Na Cealla Beaga.
Jack Hegarty got his team off to a good start with a score from play in the opening minute, scores were then few and far between in the first quarter. Luke Gallagher converted a free kick after 6 minutes and got his first from play then on 13 minutes after some patient Naomh Ultan build up. Naomh Muire pointed just as the first water break was called leaving us with a score of 0-3 to 0-1. Naomh Ultan reacted the better to the restart, Gallagher getting his third to finish off a well worked move. It was in the 21st minute where the crucial score of the half came, always good for one Kyle McGeoghan slotted the ball into the Naomh Muire net to make it a six point game and put them well in front. Naomh Muire added their second from a free soon after and that was all the scoring there was left in the half, the game drew out to the interval on a scoreline of Naomh Ultan 1-4 Naomh Muire 0-2.
You could sense that a purple patch was due for Naomh Muire as they were looking to vastly improve on their return of 2 scores in the opening 30 minutes. That patch came from the get go and on 34 minutes they got a goal of their own to make it a two point game. Jack Hegarty, like he did in the opening half got his side's first score a minute after conceding to somewhat settle them. Gallagher scored a free then on 36 minutes to open the gap a little more. Naomh Muire stuck over a free on 39 minutes to which Kyle McGeoghan responded to with a point from play. Those three scores were put to lose though as Naomh Muire got their second goal of the evening after 42 minutes to make the deficit the minimum. The team from the Banks then levelled the game for the first time two minutes later to finish off a better quarter for Naomh Muire and leave them very much in contention. Just right before the water break however, Gallagher slotted another free over to restore their one point lead again.
Michael Hegarty's team needed to better their last quarter and restarted the game well, Luke Gallagher got his sixth of the evening from yet another free. Naomh Ultan went hunting for the goal that would inevitably finish this game and they got it, McGeoghan getting the crucial score of the opening half got the crucial score of the game with ten minutes remaining. He cooly finished off a goal to make it Naomh Ultan 2-9 Naomh Muire 2-4 and it looked as if they'd done enough to secure the victory with that. They defended well and it wasn't until the 55th minute that Naomh Muire returned a score, this one a point from play. With a couple of minutes now remaining, like he did so many times in the game up stepped the free scoring Gallagher to knock over the best score of the game. From a mammoth distance right out on the sideline he stroked the ball over to finish the game on a high and more importantly to secure the win for Naomh Ultan.
Massive well done to the team and management, another great result. Next up is Naomh Columba in Pairc na nGael this Monday, August 23rd at 7:00pm.
Final Score - Naomh Ultan 2-10(16) Naomh Mhuire 2-5(11)
Naomh Ultan Team & Scorers -
Caoimhin O'Neill
Pauric Cunningham
Aaron O'Shea
Tiernan Boyle
Matthew Huntley
Owen Cunningham
Barry Murray
Jamie Cunningham
Jack Hegarty (0-2)
Kyle McGeoghan (2-1)
Shay Byrne
Luke Gallagher (0-7, 4f)
Kyle McGeoghan
Substitutes -
Corey Boyle for Finlay Gavigan
Brian Carey for Tiernan Boyle
