Points keep Carndonagh on course in Markey semi

Danske Bank Markey Cup semi-final
Carndonagh CS 1-18 St Joseph’s Donaghmore 5-4
This Danske Bank Markey Cup semi-final in Owenbeg was a see-saw battle with Donaghmore’s ability to find the net keeping them ahead for long stretches although ultimately it was Carndonagh’s accuracy and range of scorers that brought them through strongly in the middle of the second half and holding on at the final whistle.
Carndonagh started well with points each for Oisin Hessian and Lee McLaughlin, but a couple of defensive errors were cruelly punished by a very sharp Ryan Cush for the opening two goals.
Before the Inisowen side could recover Paddy McIlduff ran off the shoulder in a fine sweeping move taking out most of the defence and he fired to the net for a third Donaghmore goal.
At eight points down, Carndonagh composed themselves and worked their way back into the game with three points from Conor O’Donnell who had a superb battle with Conor Ward throughout.
By half-time the deficit was a mere two points, 0-10 to 3-3, and that closed on the re-start with scores from Oisin McGonagle and Lorcan Bradley before Conor Ward with a goal followed by a point from Dermot McAleer pulled the Tyrone side clear once more.
However they couldn’t push on and instead Carndonagh added a flurry of points before a high ball in from Oisin McGonagle was punched to the net by Daniel Houghton.
More points followed so that when Donaghmore’s fifth green flag came curtesy of Davin Cummings in the 58th minute, it couldn’t really hurt the Donegal side.
Carndonagh CS : Daniel Houghton 1-0, Conor O’Donnell 0-5, 0-2 frees, Lee McLaughlin 0-3, Oisin Hessian 0-3, Lorcán Bradley 0-3, Donal Doherty 0-1, Finn McClure 0-1, Oisin McGonagle 0-1, Sean O’Neill 0-1,
St Joseph’s : Ryan Cush 2-3, 0-1 free, Paddy McIlduff 1-0, Conor Ward 1-0, Davin Cumming 1-0, Dermot McAleer.