Ardara found the net twice as they saw off Killybegs at Eamonn Byrne Park on Sunday afternoon as one of the worse ill-disciplined local derbies took place in recent times.
Killybegs 0-8 Ardara 2-5
Johnny Sweeney and CJ Molloy secured the goals for the visitors as they proved too much for a youthful Killybegs defence on the day.
Ardara had a three-point lead at the break as they led 1-02 to 0-03 as Molloy scored Ardara’s first goal after 34 minutes.
And if it was an uphill battle for Killybegs at the start of the second half, it went from bad too worse as Sweeney superbly found the netting again just after the break.
Nine yellow cards, seven to Ardara and two to Killybegs, were dished out by referee Seamus McGonagle.
And Ardara substitute Stefan Boyle was shown a second yellow card close to the finish.
For all of Ardara’s attacking prowess, it was the performance of the defence that marked this performance.
Especially from the goalkeeper, Ciaran Gildea, who was called into action in the second half when Killybegs were awarded a penalty following the upending of Ryan Cunningham.
The well-struck effort was brilliantly saved by Gildea, which just about summed up the day for the home side despite them trying valiantly to reduce the deficit for most of the contest.
Killybegs: Kevin Martin; Cillian Gildea, Ciaran Conaghan, Christopher Cunningham; John Ban Gallagher, Jack McSherry, Ryan Carr; Christopher Murrin (0-1), Jack Statham; Shaun Gorrell, Daniel Breslin, Michael Gallagher (0-4, 1f); Ryan Cunningham (0-1), Paul Cunningham, Conor Cunningham (0-1).
Subs: Brendan McGuire (0-1), for Shaun Gorrell (49), David McGuinness for Christopher Cunningham (53), Eoin Gallagher for Jack McSherry (58).
Ardara: Ciaran Gildea; John Ross Molloy, Brendan Boyle, Tony Harkin; Joe Melly, Matthew Maher, Danny Walsh; Conor Classon, Robbie Adair; Lorcan O’Donnell (0-3), Jack Brennan, Paul Watters; Johnny Sweeney (1-1), C J Molloy (1-1), Tomas Boyle.
Subs: Stefan Boyle for Tomas Boyle (48), Peter McHugh for C J Molloy (59).
Referee: Seamus McGonagle (Aodh Ruadh)
