Aodh Ruadh win again against Naomh Columba to stay top of Division 2

Aodh Ruadh continued their undefeated start to 2025 with a convincing win over Naomh Columba on a sun-splashed Saturday evening in Father Tierney Park. The Ernesiders looked a limber and dangerous outfit here, although Glen didn't help their cause with some errant shooting at times.

Naomh Columba did go into an early lead, but Ballyshannon got in front in the sixth minute and from there to the finish they dominated this fixture.

Four minutes in Kevin McNern rode the challenges to get the opening score of the game, but Aodh Ruadh went straight up the pitch and Jack Gallagher made no mistake to level it.

Two minutes later Diarmaid McInerney sent over a free to give Ballyshannon the lead for the first time. 

They extended that in the eighth minute when brothers McGrath constructed the game's first goal, Eamonn with the defence splitting pass and Shane with the vicious shot to the net. Not long after Senan Rooney popped over after another smooth move from the Ernesiders.

Naomh Columba came back with a bang though, Shane Callaghan being clumsily upended for a penalty which Alex Cunnea dispatched with a minimum of fuss.

The visitors didn't get much time to celebrate though with Ballyshannon racing up the pitch and getting the ball to Jack Gallagher who showed his  intelligence to find Shane McGrath with a reverse pass which he flicked to the open net. 

Diarmaid McInerney then tagged on two point free with the assistance of the following breeze. 

And Naomh Columba's cause took another blow just before the water break when Cian Rooney stabbed the ball to the net after a spill by Padraig Byrne.

Alex Cunnea got the first score following the resumption with the aid of upright to make it 3-5 to 1-2. Five minutes later keeper Padraig Byrne came up to power over a 30 metre free to cut the deficit further.

Four minutes from the interval came one of the scores of the game, Shane McGrath turning over Glen on the way out and running the ball through the defence in a mesmerising passing move before banging over a sumptuous point. That was followed shortly after by a majestic two pointer from play by Diarmaid McInerney.

That proved to be the last scoring action of the half as the homesters headed to the dressing room the happier on a scoreline of Aodh Ruadh 3-8 Naomh Columba 1-3.

It took five minutes of the second half for the first score to arrive, when it did it was from an unexpected source, Darragh Flood Dolan taking advantage of Greg McGroary's raised arm to chance a free shot which he caught sweetly to raise the white flag. Over the next few minutes Jack Gallagher (2) and Cian Rooney found the mark before Naomh Columba raided for their second goal of the game, a great pass from Paul O'Hare to Ronan Gillespie being finished to the net by Gillespie despite the best efforts of the home defence.

In the 43rd minute Jack Gallagher, Kevin McNern and David Dolan exchanged scores to make it 3-14 to 2-4 as Greg McGroary called for the water break.

An Alex Cunnea free was the first score following the hydration halt, following that up with one from play a minute later. 

Five minutes from time Jack Gallagher broke the run of Cunnea scores, but a towering two pointer from Ryan McNern repaid that with interest. That was followed by another Glen two pointer, this time from Kevin McNern from a dead ball to leave eight points between them with two minutes remaining.

A tap and go point from Alex Cunnea cut the margin further, but Aodh Ruadh young guns Eoin Cassidy and Eoghan Kelly combined for Kelly to send over an answering point. 

Final say in the game went to Diarmaid McInerney with 20 metre free as the hosts put the seal on a ten point win.

A fully merited win by an Aodh Ruadh side playing fluent, direct football. The pace of Darragh Flood Dolan and Eoghan Kelly was a big threat, while in the attack Shane McGrath was in electric form, taking and creating scores with brio. After a quiet first half Jack Gallagher cut loose in the second giving the Glen rearguard a torrid time.

For the visitors Paul O'Hare covered a lot of ground and contributed well, while Padraig Ward and Kevin McNern soldiered hard around the middle of the field. Up front Alex Cunnea was his side's most dangerous outlet with good support from Ryan McNern.

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Aodh Ruadh scorers: Shane McGrath 2-2,1f; Diarmaid McInerney 0-6,1tpf,1tp,2f; Jack Gallagher 0-5; Cian Rooney 1-1; Darragh Flood Dolan, Eoghan Kelly, Senan Rooney, David Dolan 0-1 each.

Naomh Columba scorers: Alex Cunnea 1-4,pen,1f; Kevin McNern 0-4,1tpf; Ronan Gillespie 1-0; Ryan McNern 0-2,tp; Padraig Byrne 0-1,f.

Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Callum O'Halloran, Conor Patton, Kyle Murray; Darragh Flood Dolan, Eddie Lynch, Eoghan Kelly; Eamonn McGrath, Matt Gillespie; Senan Rooney, Shane McGrath, Diarmaid McInerney; Cian Rooney, Cian Dolan, Jack Gallagher.

Subs: David Dolan for Senan Rooney (inj, 36); Shane Delahunty for Callum O'Halloran (46); Eoin Cassidy for Eamonn McGrath (49); Damian Weber for Cian Rooney (60).

Naomh Columba: Padraig Byrne; Stephen Callaghan, Eric Carr, Enda Gallagher; Darragh Cunnigham, Paul O'Hare, Padraig Hegarty; Padraig Ward, Kevin McNern; Ronan Gillespie, Alex Cunnea, Ryan McNern; Eoghan Hegarty, Shane Callaghan, Ronan O'Hare.

Subs: Declan Maguire for Eoghan Hegarty (35); Alex Gallagher for Darragh Cunningham (35); Adrian Breslin for Enda Gallagher (54); Adam Cunningham for Ronan Gillespie (56).

Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters).