Buncrana take giant step back towards the top flight with Red Hughs win  

Buncrana took another giant step toward a return to Division 1 football with a hard-fought win over Red Hughs in the Scarvey on Friday night. 

Big John Campbell led the scoring charge for Gary Duffy’s side with four points while Sean Doherty, William McLaughlin, Aaron McCleary, Kevin Treacy, Oisin O’Flaherty and Dylan Mullholland also chipped in with points for the winners. 

Wing-back Thomas McMenamin scored the goal for Red Hughs who were fighting for their Division Two survival.  Calvin Bradley, Tiernan Kelly and James Doherty were the Red Hugh point scorers. 

The win takes Buncrana to 18 points in the Division Two League table, three points behind leaders Four Masters, with one game still to play.

Long-time leaders Killybegs are level on points with Buncrana, but lose out to the Inishowen men on the head-to-head and are relegated to third place in the table and the promotion play-off position. 

If Buncrana win their remaining game against second from the bottom Na Rossa they will copperfasten their second place position and one of the two automatic promotion places. 

Even if Killybegs win their remaining game against table toppers Four Masters, Buncrana would claim the second spot having beaten Killybegs a number of weeks ago.

The defeat means Red Hughs, who are currently propping up the Division 2 table, must win their remaining three games to avoid any hope of avoiding the automatic drop back down to Division 3.  

 Buncrana scorers: John Campbell 0-4, 2f, 1m, Sean Doherty, William McLaughlin, Aaron McCleary, Kevin Treacy, Oisin O’Flaherty, Dylan Mullholland 0-1 each.  

Red Hughs: Thomas McMenamin 1-0,  Calvin Bradley 0-2, Tiernan Kelly, James Doherty 0-1.  

Buncrana:  Adam Harrigan; Evan McCallion, Sean Doherty,  J P McKenna; Andrew Davison, William McLaughlin; Oisin Grant; Peter McLaughlin, Michael McLaughlin; Aaron McCleary, Oisin Crawford, Kevin Treacy; Oisin O’ Flaherty, John Campbell, Dylan Milholland. 

Red Hughs: Luke Kelly; Luke Browne, Jason Callaghan, Aaron McGlinchey; Tiernan Kelly, Pauric McMenamin, Thomas McMenamin; Peadar McGlinchey, James Doherty; Ryan Kelly, Gerard Melaugh, Shane Gallagher; Bryan Irwin, Cathair Browne, Calvin Bradley.