Buncrana 1-13 Dungloe 0-11 – Dungloe miss out on opportunity for All West-Donegal MFC Sheild Final
10/06/2024 09:59 AM
By Patrick Sharkey,
Buncrana cruised by Dungloe with a straightforward five-point win over an outclassed Dungloe side.
With a senior final on the horizon, the logistical challenge of organising training sessions and challenge matches told for Dungloe as Buncrana looked much sharper and more organised than their opponents. Buncrana knew they had a bit of a defensive approach with Danny Doherty playing his heart out as he possessed the strength, power, marking ability and no-nonsense style that boiled the blood of Dungloe. Despite setbacks, Dooherty knew how to protect the goal, snuff out attacks and be a big physical presence. He was never too bothered about galloping up the field to support the play as he held firm at the back.
Some credit is due to Dungloe, they put in a much better performance when compared to last year's U-21 B final beating from Buncrana, but the logistical challenges became apparent early in the game.
Their opponents weren't afraid to kick the ball to their inside forwards throughout the game.
The game went slowly for the first ten minutes, with Dungloe controlling much of the early possession, but the final handpass was not sticking, meaning they could not benefit from this.
After this, Buncrana began to exert dominance, with Dylan Mulholland kicking his first free.
Killian Gillespie brought his good school form from Rosses Community School into this game at wing-back, replying with a good point after a great individual run. Mulholland responded with a long-range effort before Gillespie kicked the point of the evening, cutting inside his marker and connecting.
Buncrana created numerous goal chances in the first half. The final point of the half came from Dáire McColgan.
Buncrana kicked three points in the first five minutes in the second half through Bily Duffy, and a free each from Dáire McColgan and Dylan Mullholland. Kianan McDaid was sharp for Dungloe in the second half, kicking a point a winning a free which was converted by Boyle. Dungloe stayed in the game through the hard graft put in by Christopher O'Donnell as he was the clamp that held the back.
The game went ten minutes without a score before Elliot Friel converted his first chance. His teammate Dylan added another from play, which was cancelled out by a long-range shot from Bonner to cut the deficit to a point with 10 minutes left. Buncrana certainly held their own with Shay Deeney holding the half-back line as he displayed all the skills and discipline necessary to see out the game.
Dáire McColgan eventually converted a Buncrana goal chance, running at full speed onto a Killian Doherty pass and rifling to the back of the net. Dungloe got a goal chance of their own against the run of play, with substitute Kianan McDaid intercepting a kick out and failing to lob Odhran Doherty from 35 yards out. Buncrana however made the best use of their attacking options with Daniel Shaw putting in a big shift.
Buncrana can consider themselves road-tested after this hectic win in front of a few hundred Scarvey crowd this afternoon. Buncrana had put all the right checks in place with the likes of Danny Doherty and other defenders as they attacked from deep when needed. Buncrana took an all-action approach.
