Search the site >

Reserves sustain second loss of the season

Senior Reserve Football Division 3
14 June 2014
Aodh Ruadh 0-14
Naomh Columba 1-14
John Hughes reports from Father Tierney Park

With David Finnerty away getting married Aodh Ruadh were a little understrength for this game. However, while they gave a decent showing for most of this game, they could have few complaints about the final scoreline. 16 different players got their names on the scoresheet which gives an indication of the end-to-end action served up to the patrons in Father Tierney Park.

Naomh Columba got the first point of the game with a couple of minutes gone, Colm Mac Niallais popping over from a close range free. However the next action saw Francis Curran get a black card for a body check on Ronan Matthews after just three minutes.

Aodh Ruadh then got in on the scoring act, first with Dermot Slevin, then good combination play from Ryan Granaghan and James Kelly created an opportunity which Anthony Coughlan converted. Ryan Patton then extended the lead further, firing over a screamer from 40 metres.

The visitors then reclaimed the initiative with another point from Mac Niallais and a fine effort from the boot of midfielder Brian McGinley.

Naomh Columba edged back in front on 11 minutes with a point from Eddie Curran making 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of the visitors.

Ronan Matthews then went off himself shortly after that score for a black card offence, Ruairí Drummond coming on in his place.

A Michael 'Sticky' Ward point on 20 minutes brought the sides level, but a minutes later Aidan Gillespie put the visitors back in front with a close range point from play. A minute later and Ryan Granaghan found Nicky Sheerin in space and he finished his chance well.

Sheerin turned provider shortly after for Anthony Coughlan who hoisted over a magnificent effort, followed shortly after by a point from Sticky Ward.

Brian McGinley got a point back for Glen after a driving run. Then with three minutes left in the half Clement O'Gara brought the sides level after some hesitancy in the Ballyshannon defence.

It was Aodh Ruadh corner back Calum O'Halloran who was to have the last say of the half, curling over a beauty from 30 metres out to send the homesters in at the break with the slimmest of advantages, 0-8 to 0-7.

Sticky Ward opened the scoring the second half for the homesters, however David Gillespie was able to chalk up a response for Naomh Columba almost straight away. Then on 34 minutes Paul Doherty leveled the game driving over from out on the right.

Brian McGinley then booted Glen into the lead with an up and under effort from beyond the 40. Aodh Ruadh responded rapidly with Sticky Ward showing great strength to hold up possession and feed Michael McNeely to slice over the leveler at ten points apiece.

A point for Brendan Doherty put Naomh Columba back in the lead before Sticky Ward won and converted a close range free to equalise things once more.

Then as the game moved into the final quarter came the match's critical score. Patrick McShane got on the end of a good move and goaled for Glencolumbcille. Then from the kick-out Naomh Columba won the ball and got a point of the boot of Brian McGinley.

Sticky Ward put a goal in it with seven minutes left with another point from a short range free. However Brian McGinley was once again able to push the margin out to five a with a point from play followed by a point from placed ball.

Sticky Ward fired over point with two minutes left, followed a minute later by a decent shot from Joe Watson to put a goal between the sides again. However time had run out for the Ernesiders and it was Naomh Columba who took the points on a final scoreline of 1-14 to 0-14.

Best for Aodh Ruadh on the day were the full back line of Cookie O'Halloran, Ryan Patton and Chris McCabe. Further out the pitch Niall Thomas got on a lot of ball, while up front James Kelly and Sticky Ward worked hard and Nicky Sheerin got himself a nice point.

The shift put in by Naomh Columba's Brian McGinley was worth saluting, the midfielders shooting and creativity probably proving the difference between the sides in the final analysis.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh
Daniel Kelly; Calum 'Cookie' O'Halloran (0-1), Ryan Patton (0-1), Chris McCabe; Christopher Goan, Ronan Matthews, Michael McNeely (0-1); Darren Gethins, Niall Thomas; Ryan Granaghan, Anthony Coughlan (0-2), James Kelly; Michael 'Sticky' Ward (0-6, 2f), Dermot Slevin (0-1), Nicky Sheerin (0-1).
Substitutes: Ruairí Drummond for Ronan Matthews (BC): 11 minutes; Joe Watson (0-1) on for Ruairi Drummond: 46 minutes.
Naomh Columba
John Kelly; Stephen Gallagher, Hugh Doherty, Jason McGill; Clement O'Gara (0-1), Conor Kennedy, Rory Jones; Colm Mac Niallais (0-2), Brian McGinley (0-6, 1f); Paul Doherty (0-1), David Gillespie (0-1), Francis Curran; Ronan Jones, Aidan Gillespie (0-1), Eddie Curran (0-1). Substitutes: Patrick McShane (0-1) for Francis Curran (BC): 3 minutes; Brendan Doherty (0-1).
Referee: Mark Brown

Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 1:11pm