Under 16s force semi-final play-off
Under 16 football
20 October 2013
Aodh Ruadh 2-8
Naomh Conaill 1-2
Father Tierney Park
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Aodh Ruadh under 16s have taken their Southern championship semi-final to a play-off with a 2-8 to 1-2 second leg victory over Naomh Conaill. The opening 15 minutes were excellent from the homesters as they played some slick football hitting four unanswered points. However this is a good Glenties side and they weren't going to let Aodh Ruadh have anything easy. They started to assert themselves as the half wore on, but their shot selection let them down at times and they were often shooting under significant pressure from the Erneside defenders. Shortly before half time Glenties got their only score of the half, and an important one it was too, with Gavin McDaid having to pick the ball out of the back of his net.
The visitors seemed to have assumed the ascendancy and they duly leveled up the game shortly after half time with a point. However Aodh Ruadh stepped up to the mark right across the pitch, with the quality of ball into the forward line improving. They reaped the rewards with two goals in five minutes. The first came from the boot of Jason Gallagher with the second being dispatched by Eugene Drummond. Both three pointers were the product of hard work and clever play from the Ballyshannon boys. The last quarter was dominated by the Ernesiders as they turned the screw in midfield, with the half back line also turning over a lot of ball. On the two occasions Glenties dropped ball into the square Gavin McDaid and his defence were equal to the threat, speedily repelling the danger. The game was finished with a fine point from one of Aodh Ruadh's stars on the day, Oisín Roper.
It was a fine team display, with Ballyshannon growing in stature as the game went on. Ryan McKenna and Justin Granaghan put in great hard-working displays. Calum O'Halloran got on a lot of ball and made a big difference around the middle of the field. Philip Patton lead the attack well, with Jason Gallagher also catching the eye up front. Gavin McDaid was very sound between the posts, while the ever-assured Conor Kennedy put in another solid performance at number three.
Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 1:10pm