JOHN ROSS MOLLOY was the Ardara goalscorer as they made it back to back wins in the Donegal SFC – this time at Burt’s expense.
Burt 0-11 Ardara 1-12
Buoyed by last Sunday’s 2-6 to 0-10 win over Glenswilly, Ardara top Group A with a home fixture against Bundoran to come. However, a place in the last eight will only be confirmed should a two-point reversal be avoided next weekend.
Ardara finished with 14 men after substitute Brian White was sent off for an off-the-ball incident in the closing stages, while Burt lost two players to red cards. Firstly, on 36 minutes, Darren Gallagher was shown to the line for a second yellow card offence and then Dara Grant saw red flash his way for lashing out at Conor Classon in injury time.
Molloy’s goal, which came on 21 minutes, gave the visitors something to hold onto and by and large, they managed just that. The goal came about when Danny Walsh played Molloy into space down the Ardara left and as he cut inside, a squared ball might’ve been expected.
But Molloy had other ideas and dragged the ball low into the net, past Kevin Glenn to put Ardara 1-5 to 0-2 ahead.
Before that, Ardara had started brightly – going 0-4 to 0-1 ahead – with Brendan Boyle, McGrath, Gareth Concarr and Tomas Boyle all pointing after Christy McDermott had put Burt ahead in the first minute.
Burt did finish the half strongly and Joe Boyle – who would score five frees in all – popped over the first two of those to leave it Ardara 1-6 Burt 0-5 at the break.
Joe Boyle continued where he left off at the start of the second half – despite Gallagher 36th minute dismissal – and by the 45th minute, the home team missed a golden chance to move within a point when Ciaran Gildea in the Ardara goal saved from Conor Harkin.
It was still a four-point game – 1-9 to 0-8 – with 15 to go and Classon and Concarr’s brace left Ardara seven ahead and home and hosed.
Burt, who battled throughout, managed to score the final three points of the match and although they still have a mathematical chance of progression – needing to win at Glenswilly, Ardara to defeat Bundoran and a huge points swing – it looks like their season is done.
Ardara are right in the mix.
Burt: Kevin Glenn; Tom Doherty, Stephen O’Donnell, Seamus O’Donnell (0-1); Sean McHugh (0-1), Ciaran Finn, Martin Donaghy; Ronan McDermott, Conor Harkin; Dara Grant (0-1), Joe Boyle (0-5, 5f), Darren Gallagher; Christy McDermott (0-2), Ciaran Dowds, Calvin Gallagher. Subs: Mark Coyle (0-1) for Gallagher (half-time), Michael McHugh for Donaghy (60).
Ardara: Ciaran Gildea; Joe Melly, Tony Harkin, John Ross Molloy (1-0); Nicolas Maguire (0-1), Paddy McGrath (0-2), Danny Walsh; Conor Classon (0-1), Brendan Boyle (0-1); Tomás Boyle, Brendan McNelis (0-2, 2f), Johnny Herron; Tomas Boyle (0-1), Gareth Concarr (0-4, 4f), Lorcan O’Donnell. Subs: Johnny Sweeney and Peter McHugh for Watters and Walsh (46), Brian Whyte for Herron (52), Daniel Bishop for Boyle (58).
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s)
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