Workmanlike Aodh Ruadh see off Convoy

ACFL Division 2
Aodh Ruadh 1-12
Convoy 0-8
27 June 2021
John Hughes reports from Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh

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It wasn't the fireworks that Aodh Ruadh spectators have become accustomed too in recent times, but this workmanlike display from Barry Ward's men was sufficient to secure the points against Convoy.

Aodh Ruadh were hot favourites for this one, but struggled to rise to that tag on a sultry afternoon in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh with a good attendance present.

There was just two between the sides at the break, but Aodh Ruadh did up things somewhat in the second period to finish deserved winners, a smartly struck goal by Cian Rooney sealing the deal.

It was Convoy who opened the scoring though, with their most dangerous outlet, Joe McGill lofting over with just a minute on the clock. Aodh Ruadh were slow to get going and five minutes had elapsed by the time Nathan Boyle's kick pass was plucked out of the sky by Oisin Rooney for a mark, which he duly clipped over.

Three minutes later Philip Patton carved through the Convoy defence before laying off to Oisin Rooney to stroke over and send his side into a lead they would not relinquish.

On 14 minutes Rooney turned provider for Philip Patton, winning a long ball in before slipping off for Patton to tap over. Then just before the first water break a superb ball from Conor Patton picked out David Dolan for a mark which he split the posts with to make it 0-4 to 0-1.

Philip Patton kept the score board ticking over for Ballyshannon with a free on the resumption before Convoy broke a 26 minute scoreless run when Joe McGill went on a charging drive up the endline and guided over.

The St Mary's men also had the final say of the half when McGill teed up John Doherty to drive over from a central position to leave it Aodh Ruadh 0-5 Convoy 0-3 at the interval.

On the restart Convoy continued to manfully trade blows with the homesters for a good ten minutes. Aodh Ruadh had the first say though with Nathan Boyle teeing up Michael McKenna for a well-taken point.

Philip Patton then popped over a routine dead ball, but that was quickly cancelled out after Joe McGill was fouled for a close range free which was converted by Patrick Dolan.

Five minutes into the half the lively Joe McGill pulled his side back to within two points with a shot from mid-range.

A couple of minutes later sub Jack Blake left the minimum in it after taking in a quality pass from Packie Mailey and it was looking like game on.

That seemed to spark the Ernesiders to life though and they moved up a gear in the run up to the second half water break.

A Philip Patton free from the edge of the D got things going. That was followed by a point from Conor Patton after a fine flowing Ballyshannon move. Nathan Boyle then leathered over a trademark scorcher of a free from 45 metres.

The clinching score came on 44 minutes when Michael McKenna made an interception on the Convoy kick out and drove at the posts before flicking off for Cian Rooney to slot a low left-foot shot to the net.

Convoy did come back with a somewhat fortuitous point from Joe McGill, his shot taking a bounce before looping over the bar, but they were well off the pace going into the second water break with the scores 1-10 to 0-7 in favour of Aodh Ruadh.

Ballyshannon saw the game out in the final quarter with a couple of scores helping keep them in the comfort zone. The first came on 51 minutes when Kyle Murray turned the Convoy kick out and set up Niall Murray from 20 metres.

Convoy got a deserved consolation score when the impressive John Doherty sallied up from centre back again to finish a patient build up by the visitors. However the final say went to Aodh Ruadh with Diarmaid McInerney hoisting over a majestic score to put the game to bed.

Aodh Ruadh will know they didn't get out of third gear for much of the game, and that being the case they'll be happy with the two points ground out and a third successive victory.

Nathan Boyle was once again Aodh Ruadh's talisman around the centre, his spring-heeled stylings giving his side a dynamism and inventiveness in the middle third that Convoy had no answer for.

Philip Patton top scored and contributed well in open play too, while further back Kyle Murray is already looking very much at home in senior football.

Convoy were best served by Joe McGill and Peter Blake up front who did well on scraps, with centre back John Doherty also leaving it all on the pitch.

Vital Statistics
Teams
Aodh Ruadh Karl O'Brien; Jason Granaghan, Colm Kelly, Conor Patton (0-1); Johnny Gethins, Eddie Lynch, Kyle Murray; Eamonn McGrath, Nathan Boyle (0-1f); Philip Patton (0-4, 3f), Michael McKenna (0-1), Niall Murray (0-1); Oisin Rooney (0-2, 1m), David Dolan (0-1m), Senan Rooney. Substitutions: Diarmaid McInerney (0-1) for Senan Rooney HT; Cian Rooney (1-0) for David Dolan HT.
Convoy John Patton; Conall McDermott, Michael Patton, Matthew Coyle; Brian McNamee, John Doherty (0-2), Benny Bonner; Liam Toye, Packie Mailey; Ciaran Dolan, Anthony Browne, Peter Blake; Gavin Sweeney, Joe McGill (0-4) Patrick Dolan (0-1f). Substitutions: Jack Blake (0-1) for Ciaran Dolan 22m; Liam Prunty for Matthew Coyle 50m; Sean Browne for Benny Bonner 50m.
Referee: Siobhan Coyle (Gaeil Fhánada).

Last modified: Monday, 28 June 2021 at 9:07am