ARDARA EVENTUALLY GOT to grips with St Naul’s to edge through what was, in the first-half in particular, a competitive enough Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta clash in Pearse Park.
Ardara 1-10 St Naul’s 1-5
By Frank Craig, Ardara PRO
The visitors, under the guidance of Ardara native Donnie McCole, led at the midpoint by 1-5 to 1-2. However, their challenge completely wilted after the turnaround and were held scoreless for the entire second period.
Tomás Boyle had clipped, new boss at Ardara, Seamus Gallagher’s men in front seconds in but a clumsy mix up at the back for the hosts allowed Cathal Charlton to bundle home a goal soon after when Des McGroarty’s speculative delivery into the area wasn’t dealt with.
The same player was in again soon after but could only hook the grounded ball over the bar with the whites of Patrick Gavigan’s eyes the only obstacle in front of him.
Danny McDyre stretched Naul’s lead to four on seven minutes before Ardara finally responded though a laboured Tomás Boyle free, brought forward by Jimmy White for overzealous remonstrations from the away rearguard.
Stephen Griffin posted a free for St. Naul’s but a well-worked three-pointer from Ryan Malley, after great spade work from Kevin Herron and Nicolas Maguire, dragged Ardara right back into matters.
But Naul’s dusted themselves off admirably to post the last two efforts of the first-half through two Griffin placed balls to exit with a deserving three-point upper hand, 1-5 to 1-2.
After the restart, Ardara eventually settled and their superior class showed. Eight uninterrupted overs followed in what was a completely lopsided second act. Kevin White got things under way once again before Conor Classon, the new captain in Ardara, hammered over a massive effort from distance.
Tomás Boyle (0-3,2f), a rare Nicolas Maguire over and Concarr (0-2,1f) were the men that did the damage in what was a dominant second-half display that also seen a welcomed return to action of Shane O’Donnell for the home charges.
Seamus Gallagher will be content to have got his reign off to a winning start while Donnie McCole will know if he can harness his team’s first-half efforts and spread them over the full 60 plus minutes, they’ll be able to hold their own in Division 2 of the All-County League.
Ardara: Patrick Gavigan; Oisin O’Donnell, Delcan Gavigan, Kevin Breslin; Nicolas Maguire (0-1), John Ross Molloy, Johnny Herron; Conor Classon (0-1), Brendan McNelis; Kevin Herron, Nicolas Breslin, Tomás Boyle (0- 5,3f); Kevin Whyte (0-1), Gareth Concarr (0-2,1f), Ryan Malley (1-0).Subs: Shane O’Donnell for K Herron (39), Joe Melly for Boyle (58).
St. Naul’s: Gavin Mulreaney; Conor McDevitt, Enda Lynch, Conor McBrearty; Mark Breslin, Edward O’Kane, Cathal Lowther; Brendan McCole, John Rose; Lee McBrearty, Stephen Griffin (0-3,3f), Barry Rose; Des McGroarty, Danny McDyre (0-1), Cathal Charlton (1-1). Subs: Liam McGroarty for McDyre (23), Ronan Lowther for McBrearty (50), Brian McCabe for McGroarty (58).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
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