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Third win on the bounce for Ballyshannon

Senior Division 3
17 April 2016
Downings 0-12
Aodh Ruadh 3-17
Páirc Na nDunaibh.

Aodh Ruadh made it three wins on the trot with a convincing 14 point victory in Downings to remain joint top of Division 3 with a game in hand on fellow table toppers Buncrana.

It was tit for tat in the opening stages with points for the Rosguill men matched by white flags from Niall Harley and Michael 'Sticky' Ward.

But the Ernesiders have shown a decided eye for goal this year and they struck for one early in Páirc Na nDunaibh, David McGurrin hitting the back of the net to give Aodh Ruadh a three point cushion.

Downings hit back with a free, but that was answered in kind by McGurrin. David Dolan sent over a dead ball, but the homester's number 15 was able to claw that back with yet another free.

Gary 'Ban' McClafferty cut the deficit to two with a nice effort from play, but Aodh Ruadh then reeled off three points to push further away with the interval closing in.

First Johnny Gethins guided over before a classy left foot shot from Seamus Kane restored the four point lead. Then Niall Harley won a superb turn over before feeding the ball to Gethins who punished Dowings with another fine point.

Garry 'Ban' McClafferty arrowed over a free, but David Dolan replied just before the break to send the sides in with Aodh Ruadh leading by 1-8 to 0-6.

Ryan McKenna drew first blood of the new half to give the visitors a two goal lead, but Downings full forward tagged on two points, one a free, to keep his side in touch.

That lifeline was to be short-lived though, as Aodh Ruadh pummelled the hosts with an unanswered 2-3 to effectively end the game as a contest.

The assault started with Seamus Kane raising a green flag with a neat finish past the Downings keeper.

David McGurrin added another point before Kane showed quite incredible hang time to fist home a high dropping ball for his second goal in a matter of minutes.

Substitute Eamonn McGrath and Niall Harly added further points and with 13 points between the sides it was all over bar the shouting.

Two points from Gary 'Ban' McClafferty added to a point from the wing forward took Downings up to 0-11, but Aodh Ruadh repaid that run of scores for the hosts with interest

Ryan McKenna slotted over his second of the game before a David McGurrin free was followed by points for Seamus Kane and Damian Cleary.

McClafferty and Philip Patton then swapped points to draw proceedings to a close as Aodh Ruadh secured a well-deserved two points with no fewer than ten Aodh Ruadh players making the score sheet.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh
Peter Boyle; Michael Ward, Damian Cleary (0-1), Calum O'Halloran; Paddy Gillespie, Colm Kelly, Johnny Gettins (0-2); Niall Harley (0-2), Conor Patton; David McGurrin (1-3, 2f), Seamus Kane (2-2), Ryan McKenna (0-2); Philip Patton (0-1), David Dolan (0-2, 1f), Michael 'Sticky' Ward (0-1).
Subs: Eamonn McGrath (0-1) for Paddy Gillespie; Gary Carty for Eamonn McGrath; PJ Gillespie for Gary Carty.

Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 12:13pm