AODH RUADH PROGRESSED to the final of the County Under-21A championship with a powerful win over a Naomh Conaill side who finished with only 11 men.
Aodh Ruadh 3-16 Naomh Conaill 2-6
The Ballyshannon side will now await the winners of the second semi-final, which takes place tomorrow in Glenties at 2pm between St Eunan’s and Gaoth Dobhair.
Tonight, under the lights in Ardara, Aodh Ruadh laid down a significant marker.
Naomh Conaill lost goalkeeper Tony Byrne – who was re-positioned at centre-field – to two yellows. The same fate late on bestowed Charles McGuinness and Eoghan McGettigan, while Kevin McGettigan got a straight red for the Glenties side.
But that shouldn’t take away from the manner of the Aodh Ruadh victory.
David McGurrin would score 1-6 in all and his goal, following a pass from Shane McGrath, gave Aodh Ruadh a 1-4 to 0-3 lead on 13 minutes. Byrne, whilst in goal, made two fine stops from McGrath before that opening goal.
Aodh Ruadh’s second goal was outstanding; McGrath backheeled a centre from Philip Patton past Byrne.
[adrotate group=”38″]Then, on 22 minutes, Eamonn McGrath finished off a fine move and Aodh Ruadh were flying, 3-9 to 0-4 up at the break.
A goal and a point in the opening nine minutes of the second half from McGuinness did give Leo McLoone’s team some hope but they still faced into a cliff.
[adrotate group=”53″]And by the 54th minute Ethan O’Donnell had added a second goal for Naomh Conaill. However their deficit was too much, on the scoreboard and in terms of numbers on the field.
McGuinness and Byrne had already been shown the line by Jimmy White at that stage, with Eoghan and Kevin McGettigan following soon afterwards.
Aodh Ruadh: Sean Taylor; Callum O’Halloran, Colm Kelly, Cian McGloin; Jason Granaghan, Eamonn McGrath (1-0), Paddy Gillespie (0-1); Niall Harley (0-1), Darren Gethins (0-1); Philip Patton (0-2), David McGurrin (1-6,2f), Nathan Boyle (0-1); Shane McGrath (1-2), Oisin Rooney (0-1), Daniel Warnock (0-1). Subs: Conal Sweeny for Boyle (57); Caolan Drummond for Warnock (58); Michael McNeely for Gethins (60).
Naomh Conaill: Tony Byrne; Michael Doherty, Kevin McGettigan, Charlie McDonald; Ultan Doherty, Logan Quinn, JD Boyle (0-1), Ciaran Thompson, Ethan O’Donnell (1-0); Jeaic Mac Ceallabhi (0-1), Kieran Gallagher, Charles McGuinness (1-2); Jono Molloy, Eoghan McGettigan (0-1), David Keaney. Subs: James Boyle and Shane McDevitt (0-1) for U Doherty and M Doherty, (half-time); David Stanislawczk and Jamie Cranley for MacCeallabhui and J Molloy (56); Oliver Stanislawczk for JD Boyle (57, black card)
Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).
Tags: