Errigal Ciaran beat St Eunan's in Ulster club opener

Eoin McGeehin of St Eunan's blocks a shot from Ciaran McGinley in the preliminary round game

Errigal Ciaran hit three stoppage-time points to clinch a 0-12 to 0-10 victory over St Eunan's in the Ulster club preliminary round encounter at Healy Park.

Donegal champions St Eunan's went in 0-5 to 0-4 in front at the break after Errigal's Peter Harte saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Shaun Patton.

It remained tight in the second half with Conor O'Donnell jnr giving St Eunan's the lead going into added time.

But back came their Tyrone opponents as Ben McDonnell slotted over two points before Thomas Canavan sealed the win and a place in the quarter-finals against Antrim champions Cargin.

The sides were level seven times in Omagh, with Shane O'Donnell outstanding for the Letterkenny side kicking 0-4.

While St Eunan's were the better side for most of the second half, extra time still looked a likely option until Errigal's late flourish.

Conor Morrison tackles Errigal Ciaran's Joe Oguz at Healy Park

Patton to the rescue

A fine Ruairi Canavan point gave Errigal an early lead before Conor O'Donnell jnr levelled in what quickly looked like being a close encounter.

Scores from Peter Harte and Ruairi Canavan put Errigal two in front and Conor O'Donnell jnr pulled one back before the penalty on 16 minutes.

Joe Oguz was fouled in the square and an outstretched Patton dived to his left to keep out Harte's spot-kick.

Ruairi Canavan's '45 made it a two-point game again but St Eunan's finished the first half strongly with the final three scores as Shane O'Donnell popped over twice before James Kelly ensured they led at the interval.

Errigal came out quickly on the restart with points from Odhran Robinson and Peter Harte only for Conor O'Donnell jnr and their star forward Niall O'Donnell, who was introduced at the break, to quickly reply.

Mark Cavanagh made it all-square again and Peter Og McCartan put Errigal 0-9 to 0-8 in front.

Shane O'Donnell slotted over another double - the second a wonderful score - to restore the lead for St Eunan's before Ben O'Donnell levelled.

A '45 from Conor O'Donnell jnr with a minute left looked to have won it for the Letterkenny men.

But Errigal had the final say with those three late quickfire points, two from Ben McDonnell and then Thomas Canavan's insurance point on the break.

Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac Quinn, A McCrory, Ciaran Quinn; P Og McCartan (0-1), N Kelly, T Colhoun; B McDonnell (0-3), J Oguz; P McGirr, P Harte (0-2), C McGinley; D Canavan (capt), O Robinson (0-1), R Canavan (0-3, 1f, one ‘45’)

Subs: T Canavan (0-1) for McGirr (40), M Kavanagh (0-1) for Robinson (46), D Morrow for Ciaran Quinn (55)

St Eunan’s Letterkenny: S Patton; A Deeney, C Morrison, C Ward; D Mulgrew, C O’Donnell (0-1), K Tobin (capt); E Dowling, J Kelly (0-1); C Moore, S O’Donnell (0-4), O Winston; E McGeehin, K Kealy, C O’Donnell Jr (0-3, 2f, one ‘45’)

Subs: N O’Donnell (0-1) for Winston (HT), P Coyle for McGeehin (48), L McMonagle for Kealy (59)

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)