GAOTH DOBHAIR are the new Donegal Under-21 Champions after defeating Aodh Ruadh in an absorbing final this afternoon.
Gaoth Dobhair 2-19 Aodh Ruadh 3-10
The only disappointment here was that the game had to end and someone had to lose.
For Aodh Ruadh, and in particular David McGurrin, scorer of 1-7, it was rough justice, but for Gaoth Dobhair it was sheer elation after one of the games of the year.
It was certainly a fine advertisement for a much-maligned competition and certainly an hour from which Declan Bonner, the watching Donegal Under-21 manager, will draw confidence.
[adrotate group=”86″]Micheál Carroll was outstanding for Sean ‘Nancy’ Gallagher’s team, a joy to watch on the break, with the pace of the likes of Naoise Ó Baoill, Carroll and Odhrán Ferry-McFadden giving them real edge.
All of Gaoth Dobhair’s scores came from play with Carroll goaling in the first half and Ferry-McFadden putting the cherry on top with a breakway goal in added time.
Carroll’s deft flick on sent Ferry-McFadden on his way. After surging forward he clipped a glorious finish past Sean Taylor, the Aodh Ruadh netminder.
Aodh Ruadh had first-half goals by Colm Kelly and David McGurrin, but the Ernesiders only managed one point in the final 14 minutes after Eamonn McGrath’s goal.
That was six minutes into the second half, after points from Gavin McBride and Micheál Carroll reduced Gaoth Dobhair’s arrears to the minimum.
Centre-back McGrath showed superb strength to run the gauntlet of the Gaoth Dobhair defence and arrowed a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
It was just what Aodh Ruadh needed and at just the right time.
But it didn’t kick them for home and Gaoth Dobhair reeled off the next six points with James Boyle, Gavin McBride (2), Carroll, Ferry-McFadden and Cian Mulligan on the mark.
Sub Aidan Ferry scored just after coming on and Conor Boyle hit the target before that magnificent break resulted in a second Gaoth Dobhair goal that came after Daire Ó Baoill blocked from Calum O’Halloran’s shot at the other end.
It was a game for the ages and one that left a disappointingly small attendance gushing at the entertainment.
All of Gaoth Dobhair’s 2-19 came from play with just four of the Aodh Ruadh points coming from placed balls.
Aodh Ruadh led for the first time when Kelly took a pass from David McGurrin before finishing to the net in the 13th minute.
Kelly, cutting in from wide, finished well with his left foot past Charles John Doherty.
The lead was short-lived, though as Gaoth Dobhair broke down the other end for a goal within ninety seconds as Carroll applied the finish from close range after Cian Mulligan hit the crossbar.
The ball flew back off Aodh Ruadh goalkeeper Sean Taylor after coming down from the barr and Carroll reacted well to hit the net.
[adrotate group=”85″]It was in keeping with a whirlwind start that saw nine points scored in the opening 12 minutes, Gaoth Dobhair in front 0-5 to 0-4 at that juncture.
It took Eamonn Collum only 12 seconds to get Gaoth Dobhair off the mark and Collum doubled the lead soon after before David McGurrin’s brace leveled it up for Aodh Ruadh.
Carroll (2) and Mulligan had Gaoth Dobhair in front, but Aodh Ruadh could have netted only for Philip Patton shooting over after Eamon and Sean McGrath combined in a fine move.
Kelly and Carroll exchanged goals and Niall Friel swung Gaoth Dobhair two ahead with a fabulous kick from distance.
The Magheragallon men were denied a second goal in the 25th minute. Kieran Gillespie powered through only to be denied by Taylor with Gavin McBride flicking the follow-up goalwards only to be blocked and Collum snapped wide on the rebound.
When the in-form McGurrin fisted home a second goal, Aodh Ruadh were two in front. Former Donegal minor captain Niall Harley made the play, setting McGurrin on his way and the centre-forward’s finish was cool, fisting over Doherty and into the net.
Aodh Ruadh soared to a 3-16 to 2-6 win over Naomh Conaill on Friday night in the semi-final. McGurrin hit 1-5 in that semi-final and he managed to better that tally here in the opening half.
Two points late in the half helped his men to lead by 2-8 to 1-9 at the end of a blistering period.
[adrotate group=”38″]The game was on a knife edge throughout, but the scores dried up for Aodh Ruadh after McGrath netted and Gaoth Dobhair scored 1-8 in the same period to take receipt of the Cunningham Cup.
Both sides finished with 14 men as Mulligan and Nathan Boyle both received second yellow cards, Gaoth Dobhair making light of Mulligan’s dismissal nine minutes from the end.
Once more that distinctive west Donegal Gaeltacht brogue rang around Sean MacCumhaill Park as Niall Friel, the Gaoth Dobhair captain, hoisted the silverware.
Glory to Gaoth Dobhair and, after a barren spell at senior level, a day that really injects hope and optimism around the winds of Magheragallon.
Gaoth Dobhair: Charles John Doherty; Ryan Kelly, Gary McFadden, James Boyle (0-1); Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde, Niall Friel (0-1), Odhrán Ferry-McFadden (1-1); Kieran Gillespie, Micheál Carroll (1-4); Daire Ó Baoill, Cian Mulligan (0-4), Naoise Ó Baoill (0-1); Gavin McBride (0-3), Eamonn Collum (0-2), Conor Boyle (0-1). Subs: Conor McCafferty for Kelly (30), Aidan Ferry (0-1) for Collum (58).
Aodh Ruadh: Sean Taylor; Calum O’Halloran, Colm Kelly (1-1), Cian McGloin; Jason Granaghan, Eamonn McGrath (1-0), Paddy Gillespie; Niall Harley, Darren Gethins; Philip Patton (0-2), David McGurrin (1-7, 4f), Nathan Boyle; Sean McGrath, Oisin Rooney, Daniel Warnock. Sub: Eddie Lych for Gillespie (23).
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
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