Deserved win for dominant reserves

Senior Reserve Football Division 3
4 May 2013
Aodh Ruadh 1-13
Red Hughs 0-6
Father Tierney Park

Aodh Ruadh reserves dug out a well deserved 1-13 to 0-6 win over Red Hugh's in the Park on Saturday evening. The Killygordon men were tough opponents, and didn't allow themselves to lose touch, but on the day a young, athletic Ballyshannon side had too much running for them.

Jamie McDonald started the game well and his scoring helped the homesters into an early lead which they were to retain for the remainder of the game. Ciaran Slevin and Gerard McIntyre were both also on the score sheet in the early stages. Red Hugh's battled back in the second quarter and the sides went in with Aodh Ruadh leading 0-8 to 0-4 and the homester's contemplating the prospect of playing into the wind in the second moiety.

To their credit Aodh Ruadh managed the breeze splendidly in the second half and a 19 man performance, the four second half subsitutes all making pronounced contributions, saw the Ernesiders play a well-controlled game.

Ryan Patton was immense at full back, with David McLoone providing reliable support as ever. Daniel Kelly stretched his man more in the second half and pressed on for a fine point. The partnership of Ciron Whoriskey and Darren Gethins in the middle of the field dominated in the second half and Red Hugh's could get little traction in this area.

The engine room of the Aodh Ruadh win was the half forward line where minor Michael McNeely was assertive and influential, his two points were both fine scores, but he set up many more. Alongside him Niall Murray was in excellent form and although he didn't make the score sheet his creativity played a big role in the Ernesider's win.

Good and all as Ballyshannon were in the second half, the moment of the game was produced by Red Hugh's in the 43rd minute when an Aodh Ruadh shot on goal was acrobatically denied by a bicycle kick from the Killygordon net minder, Warren Scanlon, to cheers and applause from all present.

The Aodh Ruadh goal did eventually come though when Anthony Coughlan, sprung from the bench to sow some havoc in a tiring Crossroads rearguard, duly delivered with an accomplished finish to the net which saw any chances of the visitor's robbing the points definitely snuffed out. A morale boosting win for an Aodh Ruadh side growing in stature as the season progresses.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh Karl O'Brien; David McLoone, Ryan Patton, Pauric Storey; Paddy Gillespie (0-1), Kieran Keown, Daniel Kelly (0-1); Ciron Whoriskey, Darren Gethins (0-1); Ciaran Slevin (0-1), Niall Murray, Michael McNeely (0-2); Gerard McIntyre (0-2), James Barron (0-1), Jamie McDonald (0-3, 1f). Substitutes: Dermot Slevin (0-1), Raymond Granaghan, Anthony Coughlan (1-0), Sylvester Maguire. Manager: Gregory Sweeney
Red Hugh's Warren Scanlon, Martin O'Brien, Darren McCeery, Patrick O'Brien; Fintan Muldoon, Ronan Gallen, Michael Sweeney; Alan Mongan, Stephen Doherty; Martin Byrne, Christopher Bonner, Damien Wilson; Shaun Dooher, James McMenamin, Alan McConnell. Substitutes: Martin Wilson (0-1), Pauric McMenamin (0-1f), Dan O'Brien, Patrick Callaghan. Manager: Ciaran Neeson
Referee: Lee Jordan (Four Masters)

Last modified: Thursday, 29 November 2018 at 8:50pm