Gweedore.......1-5

Termon...........0-6

By James Trearty

Gweedore are the Division two champions after defeating Termon at O Donnell park in an entertaining final played in terrible conditions.

A gale force wind and incessant rain that swept across the field made playing conditions difficult. Indeed for the numbers of spectators that braved the elements both teams played reasonable football.

Afterwards County Chairman Sean Kelly paid tribute to both teams and said it was pleasant to see these two great clubs back playing Division one football.

Assistant secretary Aodh Martin O'Ferraigh later presented the Sandy Harper Memorial Cup to his brother Colin Ferry the Gweedore captain.

Prior to the game a minute's silence was held for former Gweedore greats Sean McGinley and Charlie Duffy who died recently Termon who made all the running against the wind in the first half and went two points up early on courtesy of Christy Connaghan frees before Noel Kelly opened Gweedore's account.

Connaghan with two more and James Gallagher Gweedore with two points left Termon ahead by two points on thirty minutes played. Disaster struck for Termon in first half injury time. Michael Boyle the Termon goalkeeper who had previously made productive runs outfield was about thirty meters from goal. His intended delivery was intercepted and Noel Kelly has a simple task of lobbing the ball into the empty Termon net. A classic case of the Mickey Sheehy Kerry versus Paddy Cullen Dublin scenario in an All Ireland final of the late seventies. Halftime Gweedore 1--3 Termon 0--4

On the resumption Termon introduced James Doherty for Anthony McGrenra with Gweedore calling Paul Mulligan ashore to make way for Padraig Mc Garvey.

Christy Connaghan added to his tally by pointing for Termon while Michael Curran fed Thomas Diver for a great Gweedore score against the wind. Termon now introduced John Mc Cafferty for PJ McFadden and indeed McCafferty was soon to to be involved. His great try for a score just sailed narrowly wide soon after his introduction. Gweedore who now introduced Joseph Duffy and Colin Ferry for Michael McKelvey and Cathal Mulligan were taking the game to Termon. Paddy McDaid was fouled while on route to goals and Christy Connaghan again obliged with a pointed free. Play swung from end to end with Termon in ascendancy in the last five minutes but unable to score an equalizer.

In a rare breakaway Kevin Cassidy fed James Gallagher who fed Colin Ferry . As Ferry advanced on the Termon goals Joesph O'Donnell committed what would be described in another code as a professional foul and Gweedore were two up from the simple tap over free. Then in an amazing closing three extra minutes play Termon laid siege on the Gweedore goals . Heroic defending kept the Termon players out and Eamon McGee stood shoulder high in the face of this Termon onslaught. Indeed in one melee, all players were camped in the Gweedore square with Michael Boyle looking a lonely sight in the Termon half. During this charge a serious call went up for a penalty when it was alleged that a Gweedore player touched the ball on the ground after a inward punt by Kevin McGettigan, but Referee Trevor Mc Brearty decided to hop the ball on the twenty one yard line with the exasperated senior Termon umpire not in full agreement with the referees decision. Time overtook Termon and as the referee sounded the final whistle Gweedore had won a very dramatic game.

Best for Termon was Joe O'Donnell, Shaun O'Donnell and Christy Connaghan

Best for Gweedore was Eamon McGee, Kevin Cassidy and veteran James Gallagher.

Footnote – great credit goes to the St Eunan's club members for having the grounds and parking facilities in such great condition following the wet weather that the northwest has endured in the past two weeks.

Gweedore: Christopher Sweeney, Manus Weed, Ciaran Ferry, Eamon McGee, Michael Curran, Danny Curran, Pol Mulligan, Peter McGee, Michael McKelvey, Cathal Mulligan, James Gallagher, Tomas Diver, James Carroll, Noel Kelly, Kevin Cassidy. Subs used Padraigh McGarvey for Paul Mulligan, Joesph Duffy for Michael McKelvey, Colin Ferry for Cathal Mulligan.

Termon: Michael Boyle, Joe O'Donnell, Jimmy McElwaine, Sean O'Donnell, Barry Neilis, Paddy McDaid, Jimmy Gallagher, Kevin McGettigan, Oliver Doherty, Bernard Alcorn, P.J McFadden, Anthony McGrenra, Brendan Robinson, Christy Connaghan, Trevor Alcorn Subs used James Doherty for Anthony McGrenra, John McCafferty for PJ McFadden, Mark Alcorn for Trevor Alcorn.