Mac Cumhaills played their second game of this year’s Hurling Championship with their first home game against Ballyshannon this evening.
Sean Mac Cumhaills 5-12 Aodh Ruadh 2-11
In the opening two minutes the home side were two points in the lead with scores from Lee Henderson and Sean Curran. Ballyshannon had an effort on goal with a low swerving shot from range but it was collected safely by keeper Del Laverty.
The home side were exerting dominance early in the game and Paddy Hannigan added a further two points before the visitors responded with two points themselves, one from play and the other from a free in a scoring packed opening five minutes. The next period saw the home side shift a gear and Lee Henderson from a free and Oliver Mc Groarty went on to stretch the lead to four points.
Paddy Hannigan in possession for Sean MacCumhaill’s against Aodh Ruadh on Monday evening. Photos: Christopher Doherty
With confidence oozing Mac Cumhaills got the first goal of the game on 20 minutes from Paddy Hannigan after he was in the right position from a Ciaran Matthewson long range effort in to slot past the goalkeeper. Ballyshannon added a point from a free soon after. Jamsie Donnelly responded with a point also and the home side had another effort go wide.
The second goal of the game came on 23 minutes when Sean Curran beat the visiting goalkeeper after a fierce battle to break through the opposition’s defence and picked up a knock for his troubles. With Lee Henderson’s expert marksmanship from frees he added another one to stretch the lead before Sean Curran who had a taste for goals added his second goal.
With the visiting team on the ropes and Mac Cumhaills gaining from almost every attack Paddy Hannigan added his second goal of the game and Mac Cumhaill’s fourth of the half just before half time to take a comfortable lead into half time.
Half-time Score: Sean Mac Cumhaills 4-8 Aodh Ruadh 0-3
Mac Cumhaills continued how they left the first half by adding a point from play from Sean Curran from the restart. The visitors, clearly in need of adding scores recorded a point from a free after one minute and quickly added their first goal coupled with another point from a free soon after, all of their points so far coming from frees.
Aaron Mc Auley got on the scoring spree himself with a remarkably well-taken goal to reaffirm the home side’s lead. Ballyshannon played the best hurling of the second half from a game chasing position and added another point from a free before going on to hit a vein of fortune themselves. Two more points were added along with a goal which resulted from some indecision in the Mac Cumhaill’s backline.
Lee Henderson added two more points to his tally from frees with Ballyshannon adding two points of their own in quick succession but it was Paddy Hannigan with the final say of the game to point over and to close out the game for a very important win to keep pace in the Championship.
Sean Mac Cumhaills: Del Laverty, Oliver Mc Groarty (0-1), Justin McGhee, Conor Griffin, Ogilvy Mc Groary, Gavin Browne, Barney Mc Menamin, Jamsie Donnelly (0-1), Lee Henderson (0-5), Aaron McAuley (1-0), Ciaran Matthewson, David White, John Chambers, Paddy Hannigan (2-3), Sean Curran (2-2). Subs: Jamie De Ward for John Chambers, Eoghan Wright for David White
