Free-scoring Buncrana run riot against Kilcar in Division 1

Buncrana secured back-to-back wins in Division 1 with a runaway 14-point win over Kilcar at the Scarvey.

Having overcome Gaoth Dobhair eight days earlier, Buncrana were determined to build on that result and were more than good value for this win in their first season in the top tier of league football since 1997.

With a strong wind blowing in off Lough Swilly on their backs, Buncrana made hay in the first half, landing a goal and three two-pointers to build up a 1-9 to 0-1 lead at the break.

Conor Doherty got a goal for Kilcar straight from the throw-in at the start of the second half, but a meaningful comeback didn’t materialise. Kilcar struggled to get their kickout past the tall Buncrana centre fielders Peter McLaughlin, Darragh Corry and John Campbell, and their cause was further hampered when Jack Hegarty was sent to the line after picking up a second yellow card midway through the half.

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Buncrana had largely being in control before that and were leading by 1-12 to 1-1, but with Kilcar a player down the home side took full advantage of the 11 v 10 man advantage they had at both ends of the pitch.

Aaron Cleary, Oisin Campbell, John Campbell, Elliot Friel, substitute Darach O’Connor and 2012 All-Ireland winner Ryan Bradley all tagged on scores as Buncrana exploited the gaps in the visitors’ defence.

Conor Doherty hit a point late on and Eoin Love got a two-pointer in injury time for a Kilcar team who have yet to pick up a league win in three outings this season.

Buncrana already have four league points on the board and the tantalising prospect of an Inishowen-derby against Malin to come next weekend.

Buncrana made good use of the breeze the first half with John Campbell and Peter McLaughlin (2) scoring two pointers from beyond the 40m arc.

Aaron Cleary got an early point before full back Sean Doherty found himself in the right place to collect a shot that struck the Kilcar upright and he finished the ball to the net for a rare goal. Seanie Boyle got Kilcar’s only score of the first half from a free, but the side managed by Gary Duffy took a 1-9 to 0-1 lead into half time with Sean Doherty and John Campbell on target late in the half.

Conor Doherty’s goal right from the throw-in gave Kilcar a glimmer of hope of making a fist of it in the second period, but Buncrana quickly snuffed that out. Playing into the breeze, they held possession for long periods and switched the ball from side to side to open up gaps in the Kilcar rearguard.

With their half backs driving forward, Michael Bernard McLaughlin, Billy Duffy and Aaron Cleary all got on the end of scoring moves and when Jack Hegarty was sent after receiving a second yellow card from referee James Connors, the game was up for Kilcar.

Oisin Crawford pointed within a minute of the dismissal and with Kilcar required to keep three forwards in the opposition half their defenders were outnumbered 11 to 10 by Buncrana attackers.

John Campbell hit a rare point off his right foot, with Elliot Friel driving forward to get on the scoresheet and substitute Darach O’Connor pointed with his second involvement to stretch Buncrana’s lead to 1-17 to 1-1.

Kilcar rallied late on. Conor Doherty fired over a 58th minute point and while Ryan Bradley chipped over a late free for Buncrana, Kilcar centre half back Eoin Love powered forward to hit a two pointer deep in injury time. But this was Buncrana’s day and after three rounds they sit in fourth place in Division 1.

Buncrana scorers: Sean Doherty 1-1; Peter McLaughlin and John Campbell (0-4); Aaron Cleary 0-2; Michael Bernard McLaughlin, Billy Duffy, Oisin Crawford, JP McKenna, Elliot Friel, Darach O’Connor an Ryan Bradley (0-1).
Kilcar scorers: Conor Doherty 1-1; Eoin Love 0-2; Seanie Boyle 0-1, 1f.

Buncrana: Adam Harrigan; Cathal McNutt, Sean Doherty, Elliott Friel; JP McKenna, Mick Gallagher, Andrew Davidson; Peter McLaughlin, Darragh Corry; Aaron Cleary, John Campbell, Oisin O’ Flaherty; Billy Duffy, Ryan Bradley, Michael Bernard McLaughlin. Subs Oisin Crawford for O O’Flaherty; Caolan O’Neill for A Davison; Darach O’Connor for M McLaughlin.
Kilcar: Pauric Love; Darren Cunningham, Pauric Carr, Karl Lyons; Seanie Boyle, Eoin Love, Pauric McShane; Evan Cavanagh, Eoin Cormack; Conor Doherty, Jack Hegarty, Charles Byrne; Ronan Cunningham, Ben Rafferty, Hugh O’Donnell. Subs: Conor O’Donnell for P McShane (40).