CARNDONAGH were powered to victory over Aodh Ruadh in the Junior Hurling Championship by four-goal John O’Donnell.
Aodh Ruadh 0-10 Carndonagh 4-13
O’Donnell scored 4-2 and Cathal Doherty clipped six points to steer the Carndonagh side to victory.
Having lost to the same opposition in last year’s county final, Carn were determined to right a few wrongs and came out on fire.
Great battling from Cormac Monagle and Dermot McGonigle inside the first minute, set O’Donnell up for a goal from a tight angle and Cathal and Padraig Doherty both quickly followed up with points in a lightning start for Carn.
The game settled down with Carn keeping ahead while playing against the wind, with further points from Dara McCormick and Cathal keeping us 1-4 to 0-3 up midway through the half.
Aodh Ruadh were awarded a penalty, but Carndonagh goalkeeper Stephen Burns saved superbly from Senan Rooney. Carn went straight up the other end for O’Donnell again to finish to the net.
Before half-time, O’Donnell had his hat-trick and Carn led 3-6 to 0-6 at the short whistle.
Playing with a big lead and with a strong breeze, Carn needed to stay focused at the start of the second half and they stayed on top all over the field with O’Donnell showing he could score points as well with a great score after a fine catch and Cathal Doherty scoring from long range.
The supply kept going into the full forward line and O’Donnell and Dermot McGonigle both helped themselves to scores before O’Donnell scored his fourth goal of the contest to open a 4-10 to 0-9 advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
Aodh Ruadh: Ryan O’Brien; Peter Horan, Jack Matthews, Ciaran Rami; Conall Sweeny (0-1), Paul Sheridan, Stephen Connolly; Stephen Anderson, Brendan Gillespie; Pauric Keenaghan (0-2, 1f), Ciaran Kilgannon, Ryan Ayres; Senan Rooney (0-6, 5f), Gary Loughlin, Rory Cullen. Subs: Adam Rami for Horan, Martin Larkin for Keenaghan, Liam Fox for Sweeny.
Carndonagh: Stephen Burns, Michael Doherty, Mark Diver, Ryan Davenport, Conor McCormick, James Monagle, Donal Doherty, Anthony Doherty, Padraig Doherty(0-1) Cormac Monagle, Cathal Doherty (0-6), Eoghan Kelly, Darragh McCormick (0-2), Dermot McGonigle (0-1) John O’Donnell (4-2). Subs: Paddy Monagle, Conal Doogan, Joe McKinney (0-1), Aiden Kelly, Christopher McCormick, Liam Fox, Christopher Kelly, Conor Fagan.
