Aodh Ruadh take League honours

Under 14 League county semi-final
11 September 2009
Aodh Ruadh 0-12
Saint Eunan's 0-5
Chris McNulty reports from Convoy.

Aodh Ruadh captured the U14 Division 1 Legue crown on Friday night as the Ballyshannon boys overcame St Eunan's in an absorbing contest in Convoy.

Leading by 0-6 to 0-3 at the break, Aodh Ruadh stretched that out to four points in the early stages of the second-half, before St Eunan's rallied and made the Ernesiders pay for a couple of glorious goal misses when Conor Tourish netted a goal five minutes from the end to give his side the lead for the first time since the early minutes of part one.

However, the Aodh Ruadh response to that strike was commendable. David McGurrin levelled matters from a free and the kick out was won by Niall Harley, who offloaded to Jamie McDonald and he stroked over.

McGurrin closed the contest out with a fisted effort two minutes into stoppage time and Eunan's had their woes worsened when they had David Tyrell sent off for an alledged off the ball clash.

Haran's team had started brightly with points from Barry McGeehin and Christopher Flanagan. But Aodh Ruadh reeled off six on the spin to take command - Jamie McDonald (2), David McGurrin (2), Matthew Gettins and Johnny Gethins on the mark for them.

St Eunan's Conor McEniff rattled the bar with a thumping effort, but they did get a point from a Sean Hume free soon after. Aodh Ruadh missed a glorious chance to lead by six at the break when Jordan McBride saved a penalty from Pauric Patton after the 'keeper was penalised for a foul on McGurrin.

Nine minutes into the second-half, Jamie McDonald raced clear of a chasing pack, but rolled his shot wide of the post. McDonald was denied a goal again on 24 minutes, with McBride saving brilliantly.

By that stage, there was just two points in it as Conor Tourish, Sean Hume and Conor McEniff had pointed. And a minute later, Tourish got on the end of a McGeehin ball in to send a clever lob over the goalkeeper and into the net.

But Aodh Ruadh responded well and it was they who finished the stronger to take the win. While Eunan's were served well by Tyrell, Tourish, McGeehin and McBride, Aodh Ruadh had good showings from McDonald, Patton, Gethins and Man of the Match Colm Kelly at centre-back who looks a class act.

Aodh Ruadh 2009 Under 14 League champions.

Saint Eunan's 2009 Under 14 League finalists.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh Daniel Kelly; Matthew Maguire, Eamon McGrath, Paddy Gillespie; Michael McNeely, Colm Kelly, Niall Harley; Pauric Patton, James Kelly; Jamie McDonald (0-4), David McGurrin (0-4, 2f), Matthew Gettins (0-1); Conor Gilmartin, Johnny Gethins (0-3), Darren Gethins. Substitutes: Patrick Dixon for McNeely; Philip Patton for Gilmartin; Jason Gallagher for Dixon.
Saint Eunan's Jordan McBride; Brian Hannigan, Thomas Grant, Evan O'Sullivan; Oisin Carr, Conor O'Donnell, David Tyrell (0-1); Sean Hume (0-3, 3f), Conor Tourish (1-1); Christopher Flanagan (0-1), Owen Barrett, Conor McEniff; Michael Miller, Barry McGeehin (0-1), Daniel Gillespie. Substitutes: Ronan Dorrian for Flanagan; Jordan O'Dowd for Miller; Conor O'Boyle for Gillespie.
Referee: Kieran Friel (Naomh Colmcille).

Report courtesy of Donegal News. Report Filed: 14 September 2009