Honours even after N15 derby
Senior Division 3
17 October 2015
Naomh Bríd 0-12
Aodh Ruadh 0-12
Páirc Naomh Bríd
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Aodh Ruadh needed to get the win against their neighbours in this game, but come the final whistle the visitors would have been happy to grab a share of the spoils.
Declan McCafferty got Naomh Bríd off the mark with the first score the game, with Michael 'Sticky' Ward opening Aodh Ruadh's account shortly after.
A Shane Walsh free edged the Ballintra men back in front, but a great run from Pauric Patton was finished with a fine score to level matters once again.
The hosts then went in to a double scores lead with two further points from Shane Walsh, one from a placed ball.
Again Aodh Ruadh responded well. First Sticky Ward split the posts with a super left foot shot from out on the wing. Then a Diarmaid McInerney free restored parity at 0-4 apiece.
However, from there to the break momentum swung to Naomh Bríd. Declan McCafferty restored their advantage before Shane Walsh converted a free after an incident which saw Shane McGrath booked.
Then, just before the half-time whistle the Ballintra corner back raided up and slipped over to give the hosts a one goal advantage at the turnover.
Naomh Bríd reclaimed their double scores margin shortly after the break thanks to yet another Shane Walsh free.
However it was at this point Nathan Boyle started to make his presence felt. He started with a fabulous effort off the outside of the boot. Then he rode four tough tackles before punting over again and added another shortly after to put the minimum between the sides.
The Ballintra corner forward volleyed over before a big turning point arrived in the game with Diarmaid McInerney being dismissed on the word of the umpire.
With 15 minutes left Sticky Ward steadied the ship with a free after that shock to the system. Not long after though it required a super goal line save from Mickey Dolan to prevent Aodh Ruadh shipping a goal to compound the loss of McInerney.
Ward tied the game up with nine minutes left, but Callum Gallagher once again pressed the hosts back out into the lead.
Then with three minutes left in the game Sean Gormley saw red as the game headed for a fiery finish with both sides down to 14 men.
Naomh Bríd brought their keeper up to pop over a short range free and put two in it. Sticky Ward hit back again, but Shane Walsh responded and it was looking bleak for the visitors.
Ballyshannon kept pressing though and got a deserved share of the spoils. A free from Sticky Ward brought Ballintra back within striking distance and Damian Cleary hit the levelling point to ensure Aodh Ruadh got something from the game.
With Burt winning against Downings, the draw won't be much addition to Aodh Ruadh's fading promotion hopes, but the tenacity exhitited to get a share of the points is an encouraging sign for Packie McGrath's men.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Peter Boyle; Mickey Dolan, Conor Patton, Callum O'Halloran; Nathan Boyle, Eamonn McGrath, Pauric Patton; Damian Cleary, Johnny Gethins; David Dolan, Diarmaid McInerney, Philip Patton; Seamus Kane, Michael 'Sticky' Ward, Shane McGrath. Subs: Johnny Gallagher for David Dolan, Niall Murray for Philip Patton, Niall Harley for Seamus Kane, David Dolan for Pauric Patton. |
Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 1:11pm