Aodh Ruadh impress against Downings
Senior Division 3
18 April 2015
Aodh Ruadh 2-13
Downings 1-11
John Hughes reports from Father Tierney Park
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Aodh Ruadh saw off a dogged Downings outfit to climb to third place in the division three table, just two points behind the early pace-setters Milford
Despite playing against a considerable breeze in the first half, Aodh Ruadh found themselves through on goal with a certain regularity, converting two.
Minor star Shane McGrath got the scoring slipping over a point from out on right from the throw in. Diarmaid McInerney doubled the advantage three minutes late before Downing first threatened the posts.
A ball over the top beats the last the last Aodh Ruadh man back and Gary Ban McClafferty was one on one with Peter Boyle, but his shot comes back off the crossbar
McLafferty finally opened the scoring for the visitors with a free eight minutes in, an effort which was quickly followed by a point from play by Colin Gallagher to level matters.
Aodh Ruadh responded well with a great ball from David McGurrin to pick out Philip Patton. Patton was through on goal and might have have had the chance off raising a green flag, but he settled for a white one to restore the Ernesiders' lead.
Then Diarmaid McInerney fielded the kick out and it was sped in to McGurrin who buried it in the back of the net.
Downings had the backing of the wind though and they began to use it more effectively over the next ten minutes. Points from Gary Ban Gallagher (2) Aaron McClafferty and Oisin Boyce restored parity, but with 22 minutes gone that good work was unravelled.
Johnny Gethins collected possession in the penalty area, but wasn't in a shooting position. He was needlessly dragged down in and Diarmaid McInerney duly smashed the spot kick past Brendan McGee to make it 2-3 to 0-6
The next score was created and finished by Mickey Dolan. The corner back surged forward to such good effect he found himself through on goal, but his shot blazed over.
McInerney added a super free two minutes later, Colin Gallagher answered with another placed ball to make the scores 2-5 to 0-7 in favour of Aodh Ruadh at the interval. The last action of the half almost saw the hosts going in with an even more handsome lead, but Philip Patton's goal shot came off the crossbar.
Downings resumed the initiative at the start of the second half with only a swerving point from Kerry Ryan interrupting a flow of points from the boots of Gary Ban Gallagher and Colin Gallagher (2).
An excellent free from Diarmaid McInerney marked a switch in the balance of power on the 42nd minute, with Downing confined to just one further score over the last 22 minutes. Shane McGrath did well to turn the kick out and Downings were forced to concede a dangerous free. It still took excellent technique from McInerney to convert the effort. There was great skill again from Peter Boyle six minutes later to land a long range score to put a four points between the sides.
That margin however was reduced to the minimum a minute later when Downings worked the ball well to Patrick McGruddy who fisted emphatically home. And when Kerry Ryan got the line with seven minutes looked like the momentum might just be swinging back towards the visitors.
However cometh the hour, cometh Nathan Boyle. Boyle collected possession under the stand and drove at the Downing defence before hoisting over a spectacular effort put some daylight between the sides and. Brother Peter got in on the act three minutes later with another marvellous long range free.
Aodh Ruadh added two further points, one from Shane McGrath, then from Ronan McGurrin who won the kick out and drove over to leave the final scores at 2-13 to 1-11. However there was still time for Peter Boyle to pull off a magnificent goal from Gary McClafferty.
Two well-earned points for Aodh Ruadh and still unbeaten at Father Tierney Park this season. The young guns, Shane McGrath and Nathan Boyle, were among Ballyshannon's best performers on the day Johnny Gethins, Conor Patton and Michael Dolan all put in eye-catching shifts while David Dolan made a welcome return to senior football, helping steady the ship in the closing stages. Man of the match was Diarmaid McInerney who contributed well from open play and showed great polish from placed ball.
Best for the visitors were Gary Ban McClafferty who was sharp in attack and productive when he roamed out deeper in the second half and Colin Gallagher.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Peter Boyle (0-2f); Michael Dolan, Damien Cleary, Michael Ward; Eamonn McGrath, Conor Patton, Colm Kelly; Kerry Ryan (0-1), Johnny Gethins; Philip Patton (0-1), Diarmaid McInerney (1-4, 3f), Shane McGrath (0-2); Ronan McGurrin (0-1), Michael 'Sticky' Ward, Davie McGurrin (1-0). Anthony Boyle for Johnny Gethins 23m; Calum 'Cookie' O'Halloran for Colm Kelly 41m; Nathan Boyle (0-1) for Michael Ward 47m; David Dolan for David McGurrin 55m; Ronan Drummond for Diarmaid McInerney (BC) 55m; Colm Kelly on for Damian Cleary (BC) 60. |
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Downings Brendan McGee; Ben McBride, Kevin McGee, Matthew Coyle; Oisin Boyce (0-2, 1f), Shay Coyle, Kevin Doherty; Patrick McGroddy, Brian McGinley; Aaron McClafferty (0-1), Colin Gallagher (0-4, 2f), James Lee McBride; Finnian McClafferty, Gary Ban McClafferty (0-4, 3f), Lorcan Connor. Shane Boyce for Finnian McClafferty HT; Seamus Gallagher for Ben McBride HT; Brian McNutt for Matthew Coyle 58m; Sean McGinley for Brian McGinley 64m. |
| Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs). |
Last modified: Friday, 29 May 2020 at 1:10pm