ARDARA overcame 14-man Four Masters at Pearse Park to leave the Donegal town outfit with the threat of relegation from the All-County Football League Division One hanging over them.
Ardara 1-9 Four Masters 0-5
Michael Doherty, so often Four Masters’ talisman, was given a straight red card by match referee Andrew Mullin on 20 minutes.
There didn’t seem too much untoward in an incident but either way, his departure was a huge blow for his team and Mullin was insistent Doherty had struck.
At that stage, John McConnell’s hosts were 0-3 to 0-1 in front, with Paddy McGrath having pointed in the first minute before Peter Oliver McNelis and a free from Tomás Boyle.
Four Masters’ shooting was poor but they did create a goal chance on 19 minutes when a free from Barry Monaghan eluded to Jason Duignan, who saw Declan Gallagher save his point-blank effort.
After Doherty’s dismissal, Ciaran McBride’s team finally broke their duck when Monaghan pointed in the 24th minute but it was the home team who went in at half-time 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.
Ardara, who had played against whatever breeze there was initially, started the second half just as they did with first – with a McGrath point. CJ Molloy then added a fine score on the turn and Ardara had edged out to 0-5 to 0-1 up.
Four Masters did make something of a fist of it, with Dillion Ward putting over a couple of frees either side of a second placed ball from Ardara’s Boyle. Sean O’Kennedy also pointed for Four Masters before a goal at the other end, Ardara essentially sealed the win when McGrath darted from his own half on 48 minutes.
The corner-back made his way to the edge of the Four Masters’ 20-metre line and his shot towards the bottom corner was headed for the net, only for Haughey to save. However, the visiting goalkeeper was out of luck as substitute Kevin Whyte was on hand to tuck home the rebound.
Ardara, 1-6 to 0-4, in front were all but home and hosed. Monaghan did land over a free for Four Masters but points from Kenneth Doherty, Whyte and Molloy wrapped up a home win.
Ardara: Declan Gallagher; Nicolas Maguire, Declan Gavigan, Paddy McGrath (0-2); Peter Oliver McNelis (0-1), Conor Classon, John Ross Molloy; Brendan Boyle, Kevin Byrne; Jack Brennan, Tomás Boyle (0-2, 2f), Ryan Melly, CJ Molloy (0-2); Kieran Breslin, Martin Shovlin.  Subs: Kevin Whyte (1-1) and Brendan McNelis for Brennan and Malley (half-time), Kenneth Doherty (0-1) for Byrne (37), Kevin Breslin for McGrath (52)
Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Daire Quinn, Kevin Breslin, Dylan Kennedy; Sean O’Kennedy (0-1), Josh Lacey, Barry Dunnion; Leo McHugh, Jason Duignan; Caolan Loughney, Dillon Ward (0-2, 2f), Emmet Doogan; Sean Meehan, Michael Doherty, Barry Monaghan (0-2, 1f). Sub: Patrick Reid for Doogan (52), Enda Bonner for Meehan (55), Shane Cannon for Ward (60).
Referee:Â Andrew Mullin (Killybegs)
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