Comfortable win for Aodh Ruadh

RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta senior football championship first round
8 June 2008
Aodh Ruadh 2-11
Dungloe 1-07
Martina Reilly reports from Father Tierney Park.

It was the home side who took the victory in glorious sunshine in Father Tierney Park, Ballyshannon with a seven point win over Tony Boyle's Dungloe side.

Dungloe started the hungrier side, but had too watch their efforts fall either side of the post or into the hands of 'keeper Buddy Greene.

There were six minutes gone before Mark Clerkin pointed for Dungloe, but Shane Ward pointed for the home side a minute later.

Noel McBride put the visitors in front but Brian Roper equalised for the home side with 11 minutes on the clock and then points by Shane Ward and Pauric Buggy put Aodh Ruadh tow to the good as the game passed the quarter-of-the-hour mark.

Dungloe had a goal chance cleared by Conor Gurn and Adrian Sweeney's shot feel into Greene's hands in the Aodh Ruadh goal. Aodh Ruadh broke down the field and Pauric Buggy finished to the back of the Dungloe net and now it was very much advantage Aodh Ruadh.

On 22 minutes he stepped up again to hit a free over the bar. Shortly after Brian Roper watched his shot come off the post, but referee Liam Brown adjudged a foul to have been committed in the goal mouth and awarded a penalty to the home side seven minutes from the break.

Michael Ward lined up the penalty but Dungloe keeper had it covered and made a fine save to keep the visitors in the game. Pauric Buggy had the final say of the first half with a point from a free to leave the half time score Aodh Ruadh 1-5, Dungloe 0-2.

Aodh Ruadh started the second half as they finished the first and after just four minutes were awarded another penalty after Colin McCarron challenged Shane Ward. Pauric Buggy stepped up and pointed from the spot for the home side and then the Ballyshannon side powered clear as Michael Lawless goaled eight minutes in.

Dungloe knew they had to step up a gear and their determination was beginning to bring their attacks together. Mark Clerkin and Adrian Sweeney pointed from frees while Adrian Hanlon's goal change went wide.

Brian Roper pointed for Aodh Ruadh, but James Boyle was on the end of the Dungloe attack to fire home his side's first goal after 18 minutes of the second half.

Gavin Ward was next on the mark, but Aodh Ruadh were quick to reply with a pair of points from Michael Ward. Brian Roper and Pauric Buggy had the final say for the home side to run out comfortable winners in this first round, first leg game.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh David Greene; Darren Drummond, Eamon O'Donnell, Conor Gurn; Michael Gurn, Martin Gallagher, Philip O'Reilly; Stephen Ward, Barry Ward; Shane Ward (0-2), Brian Roper (0-2), Michael Lawless (1-0); Pauric Buggy (1-5), Michael Ward (0-2), Anthony Boyle
Dungloe Ciaran Sharkey; Mark McPaul, Jamie Sweeney, Colin McCarron; Doalty Boyle, Sean Sharkey, Gavin Ward (0-1); Raymond Sweeney, Cathal Brennan; Mark Clerkin (0-2), Adrian Sweeney (0-2), Noel McBride (0-2); Adrian Hamilton, James Boyle (1-0), Cory Gallagher Subsitutes Martin McGlynn for Cathal Brennan, Tommy Brennan for Cory Gallagher, Mark Sweeney for Mark Clerkin.
Referee:
Liam Browne (Four Masters)

Report courtesy of Donegal News. Filed: 26 June 2008