Aodh Ruadh triumphant in a game of two halfs.

Under 16 Hurling Championship
28 August 2006
Setanta 1-8
Aodh Ruadh 3-7
Dennis Doherty reports

It was a game of 'two halves' played in Killygordon on Monday last (28th August), when the Aodh Ruadh under sixteen team eventually pulled away in the last quarter to win the match. Due to Setanta lacking players the game was played on a 13-a-side basis. Setanta's small but skilful team played an excellent first half, and with the slippy underfoot conditions they made light work of easily turning the Ballyshannon midfield and half-back line! Indeed, if it wasn't for the dominance of the Bundoran based, Aodh Ruadh full back Ashley Mulhern this game would have been as good as over at half-time! The half-time score was 1-5 to 0-1.

In the second half, a determined performance by the midfield player Darren Gillespie and the introductions of Damian Cleary and Shane McNulty together with the full forwards Liam Cullen and Kieran Kilgannon finally making their presence felt, meant that this game was turned around with five minutes to go. A final well taken goal by Darren Gillespie after soloing in from his midfield position resulted in five points separating the sides. The Setanta team had to be happy with a consolation point which was the last score of the match. The services of the injured Paul Hughes, Gavin Croghan and Liam Gallagher were much missed in this tight encounter. Best for Aodh Ruadh were Ashley Mulhern and Darren Gillespie.

Our next match, which was to be against McCumhaill's on Thursday 31st August, has been awarded to Aodh Ruadh, as McCumhaills have conceded the game points. This means that Aodh Ruadh top the southern county grouping and together with McCumhaills (who were placed second in the southern county group), go on to the Championship playoffs with the top two teams from the northern county group.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh Ryan O'Brien; Declan Downey, Ashley Mulhern, Brian Fox, Cian Dolan, Stephen Ryan, Darren Gillespie (1-1), David Dolan (0-1), Peader O'Keefe (0-1), Richard McDevitt, Liam Cullen (2-1), Kieran Kilgannon (0-2), Jack Matthews. Substitutes Thomas Gallagher, Spanny McGarrigle, John Larkin, Paul Cassidy, Kieran Kilgannon, Paul Gallagher.

Report Filed: 5 September 2006