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Division one, here we come!

Senior Division 2
1 October 2017
Aodh Ruadh 4-13
Malin 1-9
Father Tierney Park

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Senior Division 2 - Aodh Ruadh v Malin
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When PJ Buggy was inducted into the Aodh Ruadh Hall of Fame back in 2008, he said his most earnest hope was to see the club back playing division 1 football. There's been plenty of water under the bridge since that night in Dorrian's but on Sunday, 1st October 2017, James O'Donnell and his men made that dream come true. They did it in a bit of style too in Father Tierney Park, winning 4-13 to 1-9. Star of the show was David McGurrin, only 13-years-old back in 2008, the Abbey Isle ace finishing with 2-4 to his credit. Jason Granaghan got things going with an early score with McGurrin hitting two quick points in succession. Conor Patton was next on the mark before Shane McGrath tapped home Aodh Ruadh's first goal of the game. There were further points from McGurrin and Seamus Kane before Malin got themselves a lifeline with a Brendan McLaughlin goal. That left made it 1-7 to 1-3 in favour of the homesters. Damian Cleary and Seamus Cleary combined to set up McGurrin for the Ernesiders second goal and not long after Philip Patton and Conor Patton were the creators as Michael 'Sticky' Ward palmed in Aodh Ruadh's third to make it 3-7 to 1-5 at the turnover. McGurrin's second goal and a brace of Philip Patton points made it 4-9 to 1-7 five minutes into the new half. Patton then added two more to his tally to help kill the game as a contest. The last word went to Peter Boyle who thumped over a 45 to give Aodh Ruadh a 13 point win, but more importantly, promotion back to the top tier of Donegal football for the first time since 2007. It is a great achievement by James O'Donnell, his back room team and everyone who lined out for the seniors this season. It is a credit to the team that they have managed to put us back in the big time with back-to-back promotions after a number of hard years for the town, on and off the pitch. Top level football has been away from Ballyshannon for so long, and the team have given us real reason to be proud. Congratulations once again.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh
Peter Boyle (0-1,f); Conor Kelly, Damien Cleary, Michael Ward; Eamonn McGrath, Johnny Gallagher, Jason Granaghan (0-1); Darren Drummond, David Dolan; Philip Patton (0-4,3), Michael Sticky Ward (1-0), David McGurrin (2-4); Shane McGrath (1-0), Seamus Kane (0-2), Conor Patton (0-1).
Subs, Nathan Boyle for M Ward ht; Diarmuid McInerney for M Sticky Ward 44; Daniel Warnock for McInerney 54; Callum O'Halloran for D Dolan 58
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).

Last modified: Sunday, 31 May 2020 at 1:16pm