A deserved win, not a great win for Aodh Ruadh
Under 18 A Championship final
Aodh Ruadh 1-12
MacCumhaill's 0-6
15 September 1990
Annette O'Donnell reports from Tirconaill Park, Donegal Town
Is it possible to say "grow up" in the nicest possible sense? Without patronising a gutsy MacCumhaills minor team — Ballyshannon were older, taller and as far as the scoreboard is concerned, that makes them better.
Not the best — just better. This minor final was not the best either — MacCumhaill's didn't provide enough competition to make it a nailbiting event and Aodh Ruadh failed to realise on-paper potential which should have led to a good display of football on their behalf.
The usual "settling period" opened the game — only longer and scrappier than its senior counterpart. Noel O'Donnell for MacCumhaill's started the scoring process from a free in the 3rd minute. Two minutes Iater Aodh Ruadh got their chance when PJ Daly had his free foiled by Martin McMenamin who knocked it over the line.
MacCumhaill's Paul Houston was about to provide us with a great point from play in the 5th — it was preceded by some intelligent passing from the half-way line. Off Houston went and hopes were raised and dashed when it went wide. Nearly, never...
Eamon McMenamin soon secured another free for MacCumhaill's; they got their point but only after Noel O'Donnell and Niall McGonagle had a few touches. One free; three players; one point, hmmm...
The experienced Charlie O'Donnell from the Ballyshannon camp should have been made of sterner stuff, but the MacCumhaill's full backs had his free well in hand at the other end of the field.
PJ Daly tried to compensate in the 10th minute with a shot at goal — it was well held by Damien Doherty in the Ballybofey net — no dramatics yet, but things were looking up. At last Aodh Ruadh seemed to have shed their jitters and O'Donnell, McGrath and Raphael McGee were having a go. Not until the 14th minute did they secure a point from a Gavin Bourke / Shane McGee combo.
Hello Aodh Ruadh! They are in this game after all — McGrath to Daly to Rogers to the net proves fruitless, but PJ Daly is awarded a free and the sides go level. Back at the half-way line Donal Buggy is making his mark and has a run at the 'keeper — foiled again, but at least we're in fourth gear.
During Ballyshannon's better spells, as just outlined, MacCumhaill's stayed quiet. When they gained possession it was as if they had to be really sure before they worked with it — the clock doesn't allow this.
Niall McGonagle was the better of the MacCumhaill's forwards during these lean periods, plugging — but not pointing.
In the back line Martin McMenamin was busiest and kept Aodh Ruadh at bay for longer than they should have been. It seemed as if the MacCumhaill's midfield was messing — but a shower-sodden ground punished them unfairly in a lot of instances.
In the 20th minute PJ Daly took Aodh Ruadh into the lead but following a lot of hard work from Ballybofey captain, Brendan Dunnion, Noel O'Donnell brought them level almost immediately. However, their efforts in midfield werealmost always suppressed by Liam Travers.
Ballyshannon were pushing ahead and a good run from Shane McGee allowed Donal Buggy to take his point. McGee was instrumental in a follow-up goal attempt which again he left to Buggy but it didn't materialise. Stung by this MacCumhaill's hit back with a point from Sean Molloy and the teams went to the dressing rooms level.
It shouldn't have been so — but Aodh Ruadh were doing too much with the ball in the middle of the field and hadn't clocked up the stores they deserved at this stage.
Sylvester Maguire must have told them so because 30 seconds into the second half PJ Dalv put them ahead from a free — soon followed by an equally accurate free by the same player.
15-year-old Alan Oliver was then put on in place of Martin Foy for MacCumhaill's. Michael McLoone was at this point getting in on the action and he took Ballyshannon one step further with a beautiful left foot point. Noel O'Donnell for Ballybofey was still in there and he answered bringing the gap down to two points — had he not missed a follow-up chance, spirits in his camp might not have flagged quite so much. Barry Rogers and Liam Travers went together and put Ballyshannon another two points in the lead by the 43rd minute, 0-9 to 0-5
SWITCH OF THE DAY
A MacCumhaills point half-way through the half was severely punished by Aodh Ruadh whose manager Sylvester Maguire must take credit for a quite brilliant switch. No sooner had he switched corner back, Ciran McLean from corner back to corner forward than McLean had the ball in the net from a high ball broken down by Barry Rogers. The goal sealed MacCumhaill's fate.
From here on McCumhaills back line did what they could to beat them off, but it was too late. Sean Molloy was to hit the post but the ribbons were on the cup.
The likes of Aodh Ruadh's O'Donnell, Daly and Travers were being allowed to play the kind of football they can — good fooball, the kind that takes a team nine points in the lead, which is how the final whistle found it. Aodh Ruadh gave us too little too late. In the last 10 minutes they showed the assembling senior crowd how it should be done — but they could have entertained the early birds a lot more. A deserved win, not a great win. After the game Minor Board chairman, Sean Masterson, presented the Donal Mac a' Bhaird Cup to Aodh Ruadh captain, Gavin Bourke.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh John Downey; Gerard Gallagher, John Muldoon, Ciaran McLean (1-0); Anthony McGrath, Gavin Bourke, Michael McLoone (0-1); Shane McGee (0-1), Liam Travers (0-1); Barry Ward, Charles O'Donnell, Raphael McGee; PJ Daly (0-6), Barry Rogers (0-2), Donal Buggy (0-1). Subs: Eamonn O'Donnell for Barry Ward; Gary Brennan for Ciaran McLean; Diarmuid Drummond for Donal Buggy. |
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MacCumhaill's Damien Doherty; Stephen Lynch, Martin McMenamin, Martin Foy; Ray Lafferty, Brendan Dunnion, Noel Doherty; Eamonn McMenamin, Sean Molloy; Peadar Molloy, Niall McGonagle, Noel O'Donnell; Emmet McCormack, Conor Gallagher, Paul Houston. Sub: Alan Oliver for Martin Foy. |
| Referee: Peter Hughes (Milford). |
Last modified: Saturday, 13 June 2020 at 6:05pm