Gaoth Dobhair edge out Aodh Ruadh
Senior Football Division 1A
22 September 2007
Aodh Ruadh 1-08
Gaoth Dobhair 0-12
John Hughes reports from Father Tierney Park.
Gaoth Dobhair were almost made to rue a host of spurned goal chances after a superbly converted penalty by Aodh Ruadh's Michael 'Sticky' Ward left only a point between the sides with a minute remaining on the clock. Only a robust rearguard action in the remaining minutes spared the west coast side's blushes and secured the two points.
It had been Aodh Ruadh who were fastest out of the blocks last Saturday night with Barry Mulligan chipping over a free in the third minute followed by two further frees from Pauric Buggy in the fifth and seventh minutes. It wasn't until the eighth minute that Gaoth Dobhair had a meaningful attack with James Gallagher scavenging well to shoot a high, dropping ball over the bar after Aodh Ruadh had failed to deal with a free that had fallen short. Noel Kelly pointed for Gaoth Dobhair before James Gallagher blazed an equalising effort over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Gaoth Dobhair began to get on top at midfield and won an Aodh Ruadh kick out in the 17th minute which was fed to Brian McGee to slot over neatly from just outside the 20 metre line to give Gaoth Dobhair the lead. A minute later Cornelius Gallagher held off his tackler long enough to get off a shot which sailed over the bar.
The introduction of PJ McGee at 20 minutes injected some life back into Aodh Ruadh and a long ball found Val Murray on the edge of the box. His first shot came back off a defender but he claimed the rebound and pointed. Moments later Kerry Ryan was dragged down while closing ominously on goal and Pauric Buggy was able to chip over an easy free.
Gaoth Dobhair rallied and points from Sean Diver and James Gallagher gave them a two point cushion with the break looming. There was still time for more action though. Barry Mulligan burst through the Gaoth Dobhair defence and blasted a shot goalwards only to see it blocked brilliantly on line by Sean Gallagher's boot. Gaoth Dobhair responded with a cracking effort of their own with James Carroll collecting a Sean Diver delivery and shooting a blistering effort at the Aodh Ruadh goal only to see it tipped wide by David Greene at full stretch.
Right after the half time break Gaoth Dobhair were again guilty of wasting a gilt-edge goal chance with Sean Diver driving the ball over the bar with a goal chance on. Aodh Ruadh's took their time getting back up to the pace of the game after the break with their approach play lacking urgency. It took a sustained period of Aodh Ruadh pressure before Pauric Buggy was able to point a free in the 36th minute.
After that hard won effort Gaoth Dobhair assumed dominance in the middle of the park. Brian McGee scored a point before James Gallagher was unceremoniously hauled down for a penalty. Oddly Gallagher elected to take the point to put four between the sides with 14 minutes still remaining. Good work from a busy Brian McGee allowed Sean Diver to push the gap to five shortly after.
The prospect of impending defeat galvanised Aodh Ruadh somewhat and Pauric Buggy scored a free from the 45 metre line to reduce the deficit. Shortly after, Donagh McIntyre claimed a great ball at midfield which found its way to Barry Ward who fired over for Aodh Ruadh's best point of the match. Gaoth Dobhair repaid in kind though, and some great direct football was concluded by a fine point from James Gallagher with three minutes left to play.
Aodh Ruadh piled on the pressure in the closing minutes and won a free on the edge of the Gaoth Dobhair area. Sticky Ward was alert to the possibilities and took a quick free, chipping the ball to an Aodh Ruadh player who was wrestled to the ground before he could get his shot away. The referee pointed to the spot and Sticky Ward duly rifled the ball into the net to the right of the stationary 'keeper. Gaoth Dobhair endured a frantic few minutes before the final whistle, but Aodh Ruadh were unable to find the point that would have earned them a share of the spoils.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh David Greene; Darren Drummond, Martin Gallagher, Kyron Whoriskey; Niall McCready, Thomas McPhelim, Philip O'Reilly; Stephen Ward, Barry Ward (0-1); Donagh McIntyre, John Duffy, Pauric Buggy (0-5, all frees); Barry Mulligan (0-1), Kerry Ryan, Val Murray (0-1). Subsitutes P. J. McGee for O'Reilly, Michael Ward (1-0 pen.) for Mulligan, Diarmuid McInerney for Duffy, Conor Gurn for Ryan. |
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Gaoth Dobhair Christopher Sweeney; Sean Gallagher, Donal McBride, Colman McCool; Danny Curran, Joe Duffy, Noel Kelly (0-1); Micheal McCafferty, Peter McGee; Gary Whoriskey; Cornelius Gallagher (0-1), Brian McGee (0-2); Sean Diver (0-3), James Gallagher (0-5, 0-1 pen.), James Carroll. Subsitutes Kevin Cassidy for McCafferty, Colin Ferry for Carroll, Neil McGee for McBride, Michael McKelvey, Sean McGarvey. |
| Referee |
| Jimmy White (Killybegs) |
Report Filed: 23 September 2007