Stirring second half sees Aodh Ruadh topple Dungloe in County Under-21 quarter-final

AODH RUADH completed their semi-final line-up for the County U-21 Championship with victory over Dungloe in Donegal town this afternoon.

Aodh Ruadh 1-19 Dungloe 1-11

Report courtesy of John Hughes, aodhruadh.org

A much-improved second half performance from the Ballyshannon side (pictured above by Brian Drummond) saw them turn the contest on its head.

Aodh Ruadh weren’t particularly poor in that opening half but level at 0-10 to 1-7 at the break having had the elements at their backs meant the bookies would’ve listed Dungloe at the shorter odds on the live betting.

Dungloe led 0-4 to 0-1 after only seven minutes but a goal for Aodh Ruadh, when work from David McGurrin and Shane McGrath created the chance for Eamonn McGrath, who finished well past Danny Rodgers, showed the battling spirit.

A Nathan Boyle long-ranger meant that Aodh Ruadh were three up by 15 minutes.

But the Rosses Park outfit wouldn’t lie down and a couple of points apiece from Sean Wallace and Adam Neely made for interval parity.

Aodh Ruadh’s re-positioning of Oisin Roper at full-forward provided a fulcrum for their attacks in the second half.

David McGurrin and Eamonn McGrath pointed but when Adam Neely goaled for Dungloe on 39 minutes it was still up in the air.

Caolan Ward also knocked over for Dungloe but that score, on 44 minutes, was their last of the afternoon.

McGurrin, who scored five points in all, kept Aodh Ruadh’s lead and Philip Patton and Roper also scored in the closing stages to complete a win that sets Aodh Ruadh up nicely for a crack and reigning champions St Eunan’s, who won 1-16 to 1-5 in Termon today.

Aodh Ruadh: Daniel Kelly; Ryan Granaghan (0-1), Eugene Drummond, Ryan Patton; Callum O’Halloran, Eamonn McGrath (1-1), Eddie Lynch; Nathan Boyle (0-2), Niall Harley; Oisin Roper (0-2), Philip Patton (0-2), Jamie McDonald (0-2); Pauric Patton (0-1), Shane McGrath (0-2), David McGurrin (0-5, 3f). Subs: Jason Granaghan for Ryan Patton (29); Ryan McKenna for Ryan Granaghan (39); Paddy Gillespie for Jamie McDonald (60).

Dungloe: Danny Rodgers; Daragh McGee (0-3), Ryan Rodgers, Jack Scally; James McCole (0-1f), Eoin Scally, Hugh Moy; Darren Curran, Eoin Redmond (0-1); Barry Curran, Sean Wallace (0-3, 1f), Ryan Connors; Adam Neely (1-2), Luke Neely, Ryan Greene. Subs: Caolan Ward (0-1) for Ryan Rodgers (42); Matthew Ward for Sean Wallace (58).