Carndonagh secure their first-ever win over Buncrana in the hurling championship

Carndonagh overcame Buncrana for the first time ever at senior level in a pulsating clash on Saturday evening at the Scarvey by 0-19 to 1-13 points. 

Both teams were minus a number of regulars who should be back for a possible Intermediate final at the end of August. 

It was a tight match throughout with hard-hitting and ferocious tackling from both sides with no quarter asked or given and a good refereeing performance by James Callaghan to keep everything under control. 

Buncrana lost Declan McCarron to what looked like a head injury in the first minute and the holdup meant things took a while to get fired up, but a Cian Doherty score from distance had Carn ahead before a pair of Caolan O'Neill frees had Buncrana up by two points to one. 

Buncrana would have been the favourites going in and they started to get on top and were able to supply the all-county forward line of Jack O'Loughlin and Oisin Grant with quality ball and they quickly established a two-point lead of 0-5 to 0-3. 

But Carn was not to be denied and powered by Danny Monagle in midfield they took back control and scored the next three points from Monagle, Luke White, and Cian Doherty to lead by a point. 

Then, Jack O'Loughlin took over and scored 1-1 inside a minute and Buncrana led again by 1-6 to 0-6. 

But Carn responded through points again from White (2), Darragh McCormick, and Cian Doherty which were answered by Kevin O'Rourke and Caolan O'Neill to leave the half-time score 1-08 to 0-10 to Buncrana. 

It was more of the same in the second half with never more than a point either way until the very end. 

Cian Doherty equalised for Carn, before O'Neill got a point and a Luke White free had them level again. 

Kevin O'Rourke kept Buncrana ahead but Carn would not be denied and captain Danny Monagle, from distance again, brought them level. 

An Oisin Grant score from play was answered by Cian Doherty from the sideline for the score of the game which had the teams all square entering the last 15 minutes on a score of 1-11 to 0-14. 

Carndonagh were the stronger team for the last quarter and were creating chances and had a couple of goal chances but Tom Clare in the Buncrana goals did well to keep the clean sheet. 

Danny Monagle and Cathal Doherty had points answered by Coalan O'Neill and Jack O'Loughlin to leave the teams level again. 

But Carn found their scoring touch, and it was fitting that Cian Doherty, a Luke White free, and a monster Luke White point from play from inside his own half sealed an exciting victory. 

Buncrana scorers: Caolan O'Neill 0-7, 7fs; Jack O'Loughlin 1-2; Oisin Grant and Kevin O'Rourke 0-2 each. Carndonagh scorers: Luke White 0-9, 6fs; Cian Doherty 0-5, 5fs; Danny Monagle 0-3; Cathal Doherty and Darragh McCormick 0-1 each.  

Buncrana: Tom Clare; Oisin Hegarty, Ciaran McLoughlin, John Vaughan; Cathal Og Wilson, Conor Grant, Mairtin Og Shields; Peter Grant, Declan McCarron; Caolan O'Neill, James Doherty, Kevin O'Rourke; Oisin Grant, Jack O'Loughlin, Rory Scott. Subs used: Oisin Kelly, Kevin Vaughan, Luke McClafferty 

Carndonagh: Paddy Monagle; Conor Lafferty, Padraig Doherty, Oran Lafferty; Shaun McCreanor, Luke White, Paul Kelly; Daire Tully, Danny Monagle; Michael McCarron, Donal Doherty, Cathal Doherty; Darragh McCormick, Matthew Porter, Cian Doherty.  Subs used: James Monagle, Altan McDermott, Emmet Lafferty, Shay McLaughlin.