Aodh Ruadh go back to basics to beat Setanta
Under 16 league
Aodh Ruadh 2-8
Setanta 1-4
Dennis Doherty reports
In a highly competitive match in Fr. Tierney Park, the under 16 hurlers in their first competitve match since winning the Alan Ryan/Seamus Grimes tournament beat a more skillful but less physical hurling team from Killygordon. Without the services of injured Paul Hughes (who broke his collar bone in the Ulster under 16 hurling final), and missing the services of Damian Cleary and Cillian Doyle this was always going to be a difficult match and so it proved!
It was a low scoring match and only the scoring class of Liam Cullen and the dogged determination of Kieran Kilgannon kept the Ballyshannon lads in the game as they accounted for 2-4 of the Aodh Ruadh total of 2-8. With 8 minutes left in the match, Liam Cullen scored a great goal from out near the sideline when his rasper of a shot went all the way to the net and which effectively finished the game. Setanta were unlucky in that they were a physically smaller and younger team but nevertheless they had much better skills and scored some great points. They're lack of power in the full forward line in addition to missing some relatively easy frees became their undoing. The next Under 16 match is against McCumhaills on Monday next.
Best for Aodh Ruadh were Brian Fox, Darren Gillespie, Liam Cullen, Cian Dolan, Kieran Kilgannon and Liam Gallagher. Best for Setanta was their full back (marking Kieran Kilgannon) - He had a great game with a commanding presence and only in the last few minutes when he moved out the field in search of goals to win the match did the Setanta back line open up.
In other news, Aodh Ruadh are through to the final of the Under 18 Hurling 'A' Championship after beating McCumhaills (twice) and Burt (twice). They are due to play Burt in the final, who beat McCumhaill's in the playoff, in the final within the next two weeks or so! Unfortunately Paul Hughes will most likely miss the match due to injury.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Ryan O'Brien, Declan Downey, Ashley Mulhern, Brian Fox; Liam Gallagher; Cian Dolan; Stephen Ryan; Darren Gillespie (1 point); David Dolan; Peader O'Keefe; Richard McDevitt; Gavin Croghan (2 points); Liam Cullen (2-2); Kieran Kilgannon (3 points); Jack Matthews. Substitutions Donal O'Keefe; Gerard Kelly and Patrick Faherty for J. Matthews. |
Report Filed: 21 August 2006