Promotion eludes Aodh Ruadh
Division 3 Football League
9 March 2012
Aodh Ruadh 0-9
Naomh Bríd 0-16
Chris McNulty reports from MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
Given the manner that 2011's Division 3 has dragged, it seemed strangely apt that it was close to 10.30pm on Friday night before Naomh Brid's place in Division 2 was finally confirmed. The Ballintra men were deserving seven-point winners over Aodh Ruadh in Ballybofey. A combination of college and work commitments meant that the game was down for a 9pm start - though that was hardly a worry for the players and supporters who were just glad to be finally getting the contest played. With Donegal player David Walsh at the hub, Naomh Brid made full use of Aodh Ruadh's slow opening and they raced into a six-point lead by the 17th minute. Walsh hit three points in that period as Naomh Brid gained a 0-7 to 0-1 advantage with a free from Diarmuid McInerney the sole Aodh Ruadh response. A second McInerney free started a mini comeback for the Ballyshannon brigade and with Michael 'Sticky' Ward and Ronan McGurrin also on the mark they reduced the arrears to three points - only for frees by Shane Walsh and Pauric McDaid to give Naomh Brid a five-point advantage by the break. The second-half was a more even contest, but Aodh Ruadh could never quite come close enough to reeling in their south Donegal neighbours. They were within four points briefly inside the last ten minutes, but Naomh Brid closed like they'd opened - explosively with Dermot Langan, Paul McGroary and Sean Gormley finding the range.
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Paul Kane; David Finnerty, Ciron Whoriskey, Michael Dolan; Ronan McGurrin (0-2), Ronan Drummond, PJ McGee; Kerry Ryan, James O'Donnell; David Dolan, Peter Boyle, Donagh McIntyre; Diarmuid McInerney (0-3, 3f), Michael 'Sticky' Ward (0-3), Anthony Boyle. Substitutes: Johnny Gallagher for Dolan (21); Ryan Granaghan for P Boyle (24); Pauric Loughlin (0-1) for Ryan (50 mins); Johnny Gethins for McIntyre (51 mins). |
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Naomh Bríd Stephen Doherty; Jamie Timoney, Clint Walsh, Maurice Quinn; Ross Gallagher, Gary McCafferty, Sean Gormley (0-1); Thomas Gallagher, Dermot Langan (0-2); Stephen Quinn, David Walsh (0-5), Darragh Brogan; Shane Walsh (0-5, 4f), Paul McGroary (0-2), Pauric McDaid (0-1, 1f). Substitutes: Calum Gallagher for McDaid (45 mins) |
| Referee: Robbie O'Donnell (Naomh Mhuire) |
Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 1:11pm