Naomh Columba fought back from a 0-7 to 0-2 half-time deficit to take a share of the spoils in a nail bitting finish in Pairc na nGael this afternoon.
Naomh Columba 0-11 Aodh Ruadh 0-11
The Ballyshannon men got off to a flying start through the boot of Nathan Boyle in the first eight minutes before Ryan Gillespie popped over a fine score.
Back came Aodh Ruadh with four more unanswered points from Nathan Boyle and two from Shane McGrath.
A fine score from half back Pauric Ward got Naomh Columba’s second point on the stroke of half time.
Points were exchanged between Padraig Byrne and Daniel Warnock before Naomh Columba took control from the inspired Michael McGuire driving forward as Pauric Ward, Ryan Gillespie (2) and Padraig Byrne free got it back to the bare minimum.
Aodh Ruadh refused to buckle with points from Diarmuid McInerney and a fisted effort from full-forward Darren Drummond.
Pauric Ward got his third point from play with six minutes left but with three minutes left Nathan Boyle looked to have secured the points for the visitors from a free for his sixth point of the afternoon.
Paddy Byrne put over a 45 on the 60th minute mark. A minute into added time a Padraig Byrne free dropped in short was won by Christopher Byrne, who fisted to Gavin McGinley and he made no mistake to level the contest 11 points each.
Aodh Ruadh had a chance from a free as Peter Boyle effort just drifted wide as the final whistle sounded.
Naomh Columba: Shane O’Gara; Philip McNern, Phillip Doherty, Barry Carr; Pauric Ward (0-3), Michael Maguire, Stephen Jones; Padraig Byrne (0-3, 2f,1’ 45), Fionn Gallagher; Ryan McNern, Declan McGuire Ryan Gillespie (0-3, 2f); Ronan Gillespie (0-1), Pauric O’Neill, Kieran McBrearty. Subs: Gavin McGinley (0-1) for McGuire Martin Cunningham for Jones, Christopher Byrne for O’Neill
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Calum O’Halloran, Colm Kelly, Michael Ward; Daniel Warnock (0-1), Johnny Gallagher, Johnny Gethins; Cian Dolan, Eammon McGrath; Diarmuid McInerney (0-1), Niall Murray, Nathan Boyle (0-6, 3f,1 ‘45); Michael McKenna, Darren Drummond (0-1), Shane McGrath (0-2). Subs: Patrick Gillespie for N Murray
Referee: Mark Brown (Four Masters)
