Naomh Conaill snatch win as Ardara derby tussle ends with late controversy

Cometh the crisis, cometh Dermot ‘Brick’ Molloy and Eoghan McGettigan, who played a huge role in edging out a valiant Ardara side in what was a fabulous game of football before a huge crowd in the Davey Brennan Memorial Park.

It looked bleak for Naomh Conaill after the outstanding CJ Molloy’s free had put the visitors into a 1-14 to 0-15 lead in the 62nd minute.

READ NEXT: Second half goals from Dungloe help sink the Fishermen

But Dermot Molloy hammered over a two-pointer to level matters in a frenetic finish.

Naomh Conaill then won the kick out and Molloy had possession before going to ground under pressure and McGettigan kicked the winners’ late point from the resulting free.

But irate Ardara mentors and players were annoyed with the awarding of the free and they may have had an arguable point.

A few verbal missiles were hurled at referee James Connors from some angry Ardara fans as he left the field in a climax that had shades of the infamous 1995 saga about it.

However, full credit to Naomh Conaill who badly needed the points and showed that trademark resilience and grit to carve out a precious victory.

Shay Malone opened the scoring for the home side after five minutes. But, 90 seconds later, CJ Molloy pounced on a poor kickout and netted.

Kevin McGettigan and Molloy swapped points before Matthew McGlynn pulled off a superb save from Naomh Conaill veteran Brendan McDyer.

McGettigan pointed a free but this was quickly countered by a two-pointer from Ardara’s accurate Johnny McHugh.

Kyle McHugh and Molloy made it 1-3 to 0-5 for the visitors but a two-pointer free from McDyer put the home side into a 0-7 to 1-3 lead as wasteful Ardara hit five wides in the opening half.

Points from Max Campbell, Finnbarr Roarty and McGettigan were matched by similar efforts from the excellent Conor Classon and CJ Molloy to leave the visitors leading by 1-8 to 0-10 at the break.

Molloy increased their lead on the restart, but McGettigan replied with a pointed free to level matters yet again.

It was score for score as Kyle McHugh and McGettigan swapped points as Naomh Conaill ran their bench.

Naomh Conaill went into a 0-14 to 1-10 lead by the 40th minute but McHugh tied matters as McGettigan and Molloy traded points to leave the score at Ardara 1-12 Naomh Conaill 0-15.

But two pointed frees from Molloy put Ardara into a 1-14 to 0-15 lead as time was almost up.

However, it was then that ‘Brick’ Molloy made his mark as Naomh Conaill dramatically snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in an epic finish.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Eoghan McGettigan 0-9, 6f; Dermot Molloy 0-2, 1tp; Brendan McDyer 0-2,1tp; Finbarr Roarty, Max Campbell, Kevin McGettigan, Shay Malone and John O’Malley 0-1 each.

Ardara scorers: CJ Molloy 1-7,1f 1tp; Kyle McHugh 0-4,1tp; John McHugh 0-2, 1tp, Conor Classon 0-1.

Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, AJ Gallagher, Jason Campbell; Max Campbell, Finnbarr Roarty, Kevin McGettigan; Keelan McGill, Jeaic MacCeallbhuí; Brendan McDyer, John O’Malley, Odhran Doherty; Shay Malone, Anthony Thompson, Eoghan McGettigan.

Subs: Kieran Gallagher for Max Campbell (36), Charles McGuinness and Dermot Molloy for Anthony Thompson and Brendan McDyer (43), Seamus Corcoran for Shay Malone (49), Leo McLoone for John O’Malley (53).

Ardara: Matthew McGlynn; John McGonigle, Shane Mooney, Danny Walsh; Shane Whyte, Paddy McGrath, Darragh Hennigan; John Ross Molloy, Conor Classon; Callum Malley, Kyle McHugh, Josh Malley; Kevin Whyte, CJ Molloy, John McHugh.

Subs: Karl Joseph Molloy for John McHugh (37), Joe Melly for Callum Malley (49).

Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s)

Click here to read article