Honours even in Páirc Naomh Bríd
Intermediate Football Championship
6 October 2014
Naomh Bríd 1-7
Aodh Ruadh 1-7
David McLoone reports from Páirc Naomh Bríd
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Both teams came into this game on the back of winning their opening intermediate fixtures, Aodh Ruadh having beaten Downings, whilst Naomh Bríd took the points at Fanad. A win for either team would ensure progression to the quarter final stage, but the draw result does little for either team. Playing with the wind, the visitors got off to a blistering start, with Barry Mulligan putting over a free early in the game, before being played in to hammer a powerful shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, to open up a four point lead. The lead was halved by points from Shane and David Walsh. David McGurrin and Shane Walsh exchanged points, before Mulligan and a fine David McGurrin point just before the break restored the visitors to four points, the half time score reading 0-3 to 1-4.
With the hosts enjoying the strong wind in the second half, they set about clawing their way back into the game. Both teams exchanged points, with Dermot Langan, Darragh Brogan and another from Shane Walsh scoring for the home team, with Mulligan and McGurrin pointing for Aodh Ruadh.
The big turning point came for Naomh Bríd came in the middle of the second half, when Clint Walsh beat Peter Boyle in the Aodh Ruadh goal to set up a grand finale. Another Mulligan point had Aodh Ruadh leading by a single point in the closing stages of the game. Just as it looked like the visitors would hold out for a win, the hosts were awarded a free in injury time after a strong tackle by O'Donnell was judged to be a foul and saw the Ernesider pick up a second yellow card. Under serious pressure with the last kick of the game, substitute Pauric McDaid did the business for the hosts, with a well placed free from the left outside the 21, to level the game at 1-7 apiece to great cheers from the big home support.
There were some very good performances from both sides in a game where both teams seemed more concerned about not losing the game rather than going out to win. Eamon McGrath was the stand out man for Aodh Ruadh, with Ciron Whoriskey also having a good shift at the back. Johnny Gethins and Barry Mulligan were the pick of the forwards on the day. For the Ballintra men, Thomas Gallagher made the biggest impression on the game.
With Fanad Geals winning at Downings, the Erne men have the tougher of the final round of games in what will be a winner take all affair in Fanad next weekend, whilst Naomh Bríd will entertain a Downings team who are already knocked out of this year's championship.
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Peter Boyle, Ciron Whoriskey, Damien Cleary, Mickey Dolan, Johnny Gallager, Eamon McGrath, Colm Kelly, James O'Donnell, Kerry Ryan, Johnny Gethins, Anthoney Boyle, Ronan Drummond, David McGurrin (0-3 (2f)), Barry Mulligan (1-4 (2f)), Diarmaid McInerney. Subs: Conor Patton for Kerry Ryan, Niall Murray for Diarmaid McInerney, Niall Harley for Ronan Drummond. |
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Naomh Bríd Stephen Doherty, Donal Martin, Ross Gallagher, Sam Burgess, Gary McCafferty, Jamie Timoney, Stephen Quinn, Thomas Gallagher, Dermot Langan (0-1), Shane Walsh (0-3), David Walsh (0-1), Sean Gormley, Clint Walsh (1-0) Darragh Brogan, Cian Gallagher. Subs: Declan McCafferty for Cian Gallagher, Calum Gallagher for Sean Gormley, Pauric McDaid (0-1) for Donal Martin. |
| Referee: Michael McShane (Kilcar) |
Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 1:11pm