A PENALTY SAVE from Caolan McGettigan took Milford to a first Intermediate Championship final since 1992 in the most dramatic of finishes in Convoy today.
Milford 2-10 Aodh Ruadh 0-12
Milford were three points up when Aodh Ruadh’s Philip Patton, in the last minute, worked some space in front of the Milford square and his shot to level the tie thundered off the crossbar.
In the follow-up, referee James Connors awarded a penalty to Aodh Ruadh when Seamus Kane was upended. Up stepped David McGurrin for the penalty. The game had just entered the 61st minute.
McGurrin’s penalty wasn’t close enough to the corner and McGettigan got down to save. The ball ran back to McGuirrin who scuffed the rebounded effort towards the corner.
In almost theatrical style, the ball bounced off the inside of the post and rolled across the goalline. Amid the scramble it was the Milford goalkeeper who emerged with the ball to the roars of those in light blue and navy on the terraces.
Cathal McGettigan’s point in the depth sealed it.
The side managed by Danny O’Donnell, who won Division 2 of the All-County football League this season already, started competently in the October sunshine at St Mary’s Park.
[adrotate group=”38″]After Anthony Fisher had opened the scoring with a point from an acute angle, Milford fashioned a goal on eight minutes when TJ Evesson clipped a ball into Cathal McGettigan, who spun and drove the ball into the far bottom corner of Peter Boyle’s goal.
Then, in the second half with the scores level, Milford 1-6 to Aodh Ruadh’s 0-9, Milford fashioned a second goal. A quickly-taken free-kick from Gary Merritt set Luke Barrett away and he in turn played in Pauric Curley, who clinically dispatched right into the top corner on 39 minutes.
[adrotate group=”53″]That McGettigan goal to begin with, made the score 1-1 to no score, with Aodh Ruadh taking time to get into gear. Boyle, their goalkeeper, got them off the mark with a free from just inside the 45-metre line on 12 minutes.
And that acted as the first of four points in succession for the Ballyshannon team to get them on terms. The next three arrived courtesy of David Dolan, David McGurrin and Diarmuid McInerney to level the contest.
Whilst finding their rage, both teams did pass up on a lot of chances. Milford had four first half wides to Aodh Ruadh’s five.
Milford, though, posted two scores with Christopher Barrett and McGettigan on target, to go 1-3 to 0-4 up. Aodh Ruadh hit back with McInerney and Dolan scoring.
Between those scores, Darragh Black got a momentary sight of goal but his dink from the ground was over Boyle, although just wide of the post.
[adrotate group=”86″]At half-time there was nothing to choose between the sides as Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward’s point in injury time levelled out McGettigan’s to make it Aodh Ruadh 1-4 Milford 0-7.
Dolan, 18 seconds into part two, put Aodh Ruadh into the lead for the first time. Gary Merritt equalised a minute later. But with Aodh Ruadh putting the Milford backline under increasing pressure, Dolan scored again but once more, the teams were all square when McGettigan popped over a 45.
But Curley’s goal put daylight between the sides on 39 minutes. Milford were 2-6 to 0-9 in front and there were a few eyebrows raised when Dolan was then taken off by Peter Gallagher, the Aodh Ruadh manager. However the forward did take a bump to the ankle early in the second half.
[adrotate group=”37″]After 10 minutes of scorelessness, McGurrin’s point for Aodh Ruadh brought his team back to just two down with just over 10 minutes left.
Merritt put over a monster free and then Kane Barrett, with his first touch, almost adding a third Milford goal, only for Boyle to save at his feet and the ball to squirm over the crossbar.
McGurrin pulled one back for Aodh Ruadh but Luke Barrett then joined his bother on the scoreboard when Milford broke effectively. McGurrin again replied with a short range free but it was goals that were needed then, not points, for Ernesiders.
[adrotate group=”46″]Milford: Caolan McGettigan; Gavin Grier, Barry McNulty, TJ Evesson; Gary Merritt (0-2, 1f), Johnny Logue, Anthony Fisher (0-1); Luke Barrett (0-1), Joey Cullen; Darragh Black, Pauric Curley (1-0), Cathal McGettigan (1-4, 2f, 45); David Curley, Christopher Barrett (0-1), Kyle Black. Subs: Brandon Toye for Grier (35), Sean Black and Conor McNulty for B McNulty and Logue (50), Kane Barrett (0-1) for Curley (52), P Curley for D Curley (60, black card).
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle (0-1, 1f); Calum O’Halloran, Colm Kelly, Michael Ward; Conor Patton, Eamonn McGrath, Niall Murray; Niall Harley, Damien Cleary; David McGurrin (0-4, 2f), Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward (0-1), Diarmuid McInerney (0-2, 1f); Shane McGrath, David Dolan (0-4), Philip Patton. Subs: Nathan Boyle for Harley (25), Jason Granaghan for O’Halloran (half-time), Oisin Rooney for Dolan (43), Seamus Kane for McInerney (45), Paddy Gillespie for Murray (53)
Referee:Â Michael McShane (Kilcar)
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