Aodh Ruadh chalk up first league victory

DIVISION 1A
Dungloe 1-07
Aodh Ruadh 2-09
Sean Perry reports.

Aodh Ruadh bounced back from a mauling in week one to St. Eunan's to record an honest and workmanlike victory over Dungloe in the Rosses on Saturday, April 2nd.

Minus several first-team regulars, a number of new players were given an opportunity to impress as the visitors, sporting a new-look strip, stormed into a seemingly unassailable eleven point lead.

However, Aodh Ruadh played "down the hill" and with a breeze on their backs in the opening half hour. With Niall McCready still suffering from a groin injury and Brian Roper "NFL tied", manager Ciaran Keon recalled veteran defender, Martin McGlynn, and thrust Jonathan Gallagher and Philip O'Reilly into the action.

Pauric Buggy fired the opening scores of the game from placed balls before Seamus Kane shook the back of the Dungloe net after only 11 minutes.

The Ernesiders then lost forward, Barry Ward to a jaw injury, in came Kerry Ryan who had played the full hour for the reserves before the senior contest.

Dungloe, minus the Sweeney brothers lacked real penetration and having drawn with Ardara away from home the previous week, they struggled to hit the target and were outplayed in practically all departments.

Midfielder, Martin Gallagher struck a rare goal before James Boyle hit two frees just before the interval to leave the half-time score 2-5 v 0-2 in favour of the visitors.

Kane continued to torture the Dungloe rearguard early in the second half with a splendid solo point but then came a real purple patch for the Rosses men. Boyle again, Mark Clerkin and substitute Tony Boyle all raised white flags before the wily Tony won a penalty following a tangle with Martin McGlynn off-the-ball. Aodh Ruadh's response to the introduction of Tony Boyle being to introduce their own seasoned frontman, Val Murray to the attack. In the words of Val himself, "two All-Stars in the action."

Tony's younger brother James found the net with the spot kick and Dungloe were right back in the match. When Adrian Sweeney was sprung from the Dungloe bench late on, Brian Roper was brought into the Ballyshannon side to stem the Dungloe tide and play possession football in the crucial closing stages.

Late points from Buggy and Gallagher put the matter beyond doubt as Aodh Ruadh head into a free weekend before entertaining Gweedore the following week.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh David Greene; Jonathan Gallagher, Conor Gurn, Patrick McGrath; Martin McGlynn, Thomas McPhelim, Micheal Gurn; John Muldoon, Martin Gallagher (1-1), Shane McShea (0-1, 1 free), Damien Conlon (0-1), Pauric Buggy (0-5, 5 frees), Philip O'Reilly, Seamus Kane (1-1), Barry Ward. Subs Kerry Ryan for Ward (injury) Val Murray for Kane, Shane Ward for McShea, Anthony Boyle for O'Reilly, Brian Roper for Ryan.
Dungloe Ciaran Sharkey; Mark Boyle, James Sweeney, Colm McCarron; Dolty Boyle (0-1), Paul McGarvey, Noel McBride; Cathal Brennan, Martin McGarvey; Mark Clerkin (0-1), Sean Sharkey, Brendan McGee; James Boyle (1-4, 3 frees, 1 penalty), Paul Ferry, Adrian Hanlon. Subs Tony Boyle (0-1) for Ferry, Adrian Sweeney for McGee.
Referee
Hughie McGarvey (Cloughaneely)

Report Filed: 4 April 2005