Mixed fortunes in 2005 for the Reserves

By Sean Perry

While the reserve team showed marginally better league form than the senior side, when championship came, they were also to fall at the first hurdle. In his second year in charge, Jim Kane enlisted the help of Teddy Kane and Josie Boyle in an attempt to recapture the success of 2002.

However, following defeat to Four Masters in Tir Chonaill Park, Aodh Ruadh looked to have done enough to force a play-off in the home leg. Diarmuid McIntyre came on to hit a great goal and send the Aodh Ruadh boys into the lead with full-time approaching. However, a penalty was conceded in the dying seconds and Rory O'Donnell stepped up to convert and send Ballyshannon out of the championship.

It would have been expected that a struggle would have ensued to assemble a team for the sizeable amount of away fixtures but the club's young players came up trumps and in minor players, Aagon Merrifield, Stephen McGrath, PJ McGee, Aiden Murray, Donagh McIntyre and Eunan McCosker, several new players were blooded and afforded a chance to impress.

Thanks to all who contributed to the reserves in any shape or form during the year, in particular, Barry Travers and Stephen Ward who guided the team in a caretaker capacity late in the season.

Report Filed: 16 December 2005