Seniors secure valuable away win
Senior Football Division 3
31 August 2013
Red Hugh's 0-8
Aodh Ruadh 1-13
Páirc Aodh Rua, Killygordon
This crunch relegation battle was won quite comfortably in the end by a resurgent Aodh Ruadh at The Cross on Saturday night.
However, the scoreline did not tell the full story as the Ernesiders trailed the homesters right up until the final ten minutes, when Diarmaid McInerney was the right man in the right place to punch home the ball following a goal mouth scramble.
At that stage Red Hugh's led their relegation rivals by two points, 0-9 to 0-7, and looked to be holding out for a hugely important win.
One of the highlights of this game was no doubt the impressive performance of Aodh Ruadh's Donegal under 21 keeper, Peter Boyle.
Not only did he convert a placed 30 metre sideline free with the outside of his boot, but he also pointed a 45 as well as scoring an equally impressive point from play.
Red Hugh's are now looking at a possible relegation play-off against Carndonagh, just two weeks after beating table toppers, St Nauls.
They went in to an early two point lead thanks to Marty Bonner before the visitors responded in the tenth minute. Two scores from young Calvin Bradley, one from each foot in the 20th and 21st minutes, were well taken.
However, a 45 from Peter Boyle as well as a point from play kept in the visitors in touching distance.
Boyle appeared to be coming up from goal to take a free, however, the ball was smartly kicked to him and he ran on to kick the ball over from almost 30 metres. A rare score from play from a goalkeeper.
The home side looked strong at the break when they went in 0-7 to 0-5 to the good, despite giving away a lot of possession while in scoreable positions.
However, they only scored twice in the second half, but led by 0-9 to 0-7 with ten minutes left.
Then McInerney showed his poacher's instinct to pounce and fist home from almost the goal line in the 50th minute.
This gave the visitors a lead which they were not to relinquish.
Red Hugh's heads went down and Aodh Ruadh went on to add seven more points without reply. Their final scores included one each from ex-Donegal stars Brian Roper and Niall McCready, who were introduced as subs, as well as the delightful sideline free from Boyle.
Aodh Ruadh now look almost certain to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off while Red Hugh's must win their last two games and hope that other results will go their way.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Red Hugh's Luke Kelly; Thomas McMenamin, Sean Sweeney, Aaron Bradley; Gary Kelly, Karl Gallen, Kevin Melaugh; Marty Bonner (0-3), Damien Browne (0-2, 1f); Ryan Kelly (0-1), Peader McGlinchey, Pauric McMenamin; Colm Melaugh (0-1), Shane Gallagher and Calvin Bradley (0-2). Substitutes: Mickey Sweeney for Ryan Kelly, Eugene Browne for McGlinchey, and Paul Byrne for Pauric McMenamin. |
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Aodh Ruadh Peter Boyle (0-3, 1f, 1 45); Ciron Whoriskey, Johnny Gallagher, Colm Kelly; Anthony Boyle (0-1), Conor Patton, Ronan McGurrin; Eamonn McGrath, Donagh McIntyre (0-1); David Dolan, Michael Ward (0-2), Ronan Drummond; Kerry Ryan (0-1), Diarmaid McInerney (1-0), David McGurrin (0-3). Substitutes: Brian Roper (0-1) and Niall McCready (0-1). |
| Referee: Mickey Mulhern (St Eunans) |
Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 12:13pm