Under 13s get season off to a flyer

Under 13 Football Championship
26 August 2011
Aodh Ruadh 4-9
Dungloe 0-4
John Hughes reports from Father Tierney park

The under 13s got their season off to a great start with a good win over the visitors from Dungloe. The opening exchanges of the game hadn't augured well, with Dungloe making a sprightly start and drawing a penalty from an Aodh Ruadh rearguard taking time to adjust to the pace of the game. Matthew McCole made his way up to take the spot kick, but he blazed his effort well wide.

The first score came from the homesters on the five minute mark. After good preparatory play from Nathan Boyle, Ryan McKenna swung over a fine opening effort. Three minutes later Shane McGrath got a free about 30 metres from the Dungloe posts. His effort dropped into the back of the net over Conor O'Donnnell grasp.

Aodh Ruadh had the breeze in the opening half, but Dungloe were putting up stiff resistance and Ballyshannon found it difficult to make full use of the elements. It was a full nine minutes before Aodh Ruadh scored again, this time with a free from the lively Shane Dorrian.

With six minutes left of the first half and only 1-2 to show for all their efforts and facing the wind in the second half, it looked like if Aodh Ruadh were going to win this they were going to have to do it the hard way. Then in a three minute period the Ernesiders found the key to the Dungloe defence and hit a string of scores which would put a much more promising complexion on the score board. Daniel Warnock drove over a beautiful point on 24 minutes, followed directly by a superb catch and point from Shane McGrath. A minute later Jimmy Ward clipped over a nice close range score. Shane McGrath again followed up with a fantastic individual goal. Nathan Boyle got his reward for great work all half with a point to put Aodh Ruadh 2-6 to 0-0 up at the half time whistle.

Dungloe came out with renewed vigour in the second half, but it took them time to get the point their efforts deserved. That finally came on 35 minutes from a Nathan Whyte free. Oisin Rooney came on at half time for Aodh Ruadh and he was instrumental in setting up their response a minute later, a goal from Garrett Sheerin. Shane McGrath showed his footballing intelligence to work Ballyshannon's next score. He took a distance free short and took a one two before sweeping the ball over the bar. Oisin Rooney hit another point a couple of minutes later before Conor McGee, who had looked lively after coming on for Dungloe, hit back with visitor's only point from play.

Ballyshannon were next on the score sheet with a point from Jimmy Ward, a nice long range effort. And a minute later the ball broke in the Dungloe area, Oisin Rooney resisted the temptation to pick up the ball and pulled on it first time and left the keeper with the powerful volley.

Aodh Ruadh rang the changes and didn't score for the final quarter of the game. Dungloe were only able to add two pointed frees before the final whistle.

There were a lot of encouraging displays from players in white and green. Dylan Gallagher was a very effective on the break-out, while Jason Granaghan was much more old-style in his defensive philosophy, he was in no way any less effective.

Nathan Boyle at centre back was excellent and his pin-point tackling was a particular feature of the game. At midfield Ryan McKenna and Shane McGrath had a great partnership and brought the best out in each other. Daniel Warnock and Jimmy Ward were excellent attacking conduits, while the tenacity and brio of Shane Dorrian lent considerable bite to the attack. Oisin Rooney contributed well on his introduction also. For Dungloe Christopher Doyle deserves a special mention for his marking and reading of the game.

Man of the match was probably Shane McGrath for his pure, languid ability.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh Naoise Patton; Dylan Gallagher, Jason Granaghan, Cian McGloin; Caolan Drummond, Nathan Boyle (0-1), Michael McKenna; Shane McGrath (2-2), Ryan McKenna (0-1); Daniel Warnock (0-1), Jimmy Ward (0-2), Garrett Sheerin (1-0); Aaron Clarke, Oisin Kerr, Shane Dorrian (0-1f). Substitutes: Oisin Rooney (1-1) for Aaron Clarke, Conal Sweeny for Garret Sheerin, Odhran Kennedy for Ryan McKenna, Nathan McNeely for Nathan Boyle, Patrick McCafferty for Oisin Kerr, James McGarrigle.
Dungloe Conor O'Donnell; Christopher Doyle, Mark Curran, Jason McBride; Caelan Ward, James McCole, Dominic Sharkey; Matthew McCole; Ryan Connors; Matthew O'Brien (0-1f), Matthew Rodgers, Matthew O'Donnell (0-1f); Conor Sweeney, Sean McGee, Nathan Whyte (0-1f), Oisin Bonner. Substitutes: Conor McGee (0-1) Conor Sweeney, Oisin Bonner for Ryan Connors.
Referee: Ryan Walsh (Bundoran)

Last modified: Friday, 22 May 2020 at 2:31pm