Aodh Ruadh hit the road on Friday evening for their Intermediate Hurling Championship encounter against Letterkenny Gaels at a blustery Dave Gallaher Park.
Traveling with a skeleton squad of just 16 players—several still sidelined after last week's clash with Four Masters—the visitors knew they’d be up against it.
But like their 2-15 to 1-7 win at home to the Donegal Town side, they would come away with another big win.
For the Gaels, who lost by 5-22 to 0-12 in their opener with local rivals St Eunan's, they were going to be up against it but they kept it close in the first half.
Despite playing into the breeze, full-forward Kieran Kilgannon was found with an early ball and created the first real chance of the game, but his goal-bound effort was superbly saved by Gaels' keeper Stephen Doherty.
At the other end, Matthew Callaghan had a chance to open the scoring for the hosts, but his shot drifted wide.
It was the experienced Kilgannon who finally broke the deadlock in the fourth minute, slotting a well-taken point from play.
Moments later, he tested Doherty again with another goal attempt, which was parried away. The rebound fell to Cian McKenna, but he too was denied by the in-form keeper.
Danny Breen then stepped up, getting on the scoreboard with a neat point from play, quickly followed by a free after Kilgannon was fouled.
Letterkenny Gaels began to find some rhythm, with Joseph Patton bringing a physical presence to midfield and earning a point from a free after being fouled.
The home side had several other opportunities from placed balls in the first half, but a combination of pressure and swirling wind saw them fall just wide.
Aodh Ruadh continued to push, and Cian McKenna added a stylish over-the-shoulder point on 21 minutes.
Then came the game’s first major blow: Jack Matthews rifled a rocket into the top corner to give the visitors a deserved goal.
Letterkenny Gaels responded well before the break with three unanswered points—two from the lively Patton and one from Stephen Gallagher.
Aodh Ruadh led by 1-6 to 0-4 at the break.
The second half, however, was a completely one-sided affair and a wind-assisted Aodh Ruadh took full control and never looked back.
Jack Matthews bagged his second goal of the night with a brilliant solo run through the heart of the Gaels’ defence, finishing with composure.
Substitute Aaron Peach made an immediate impact after his introduction on 45 minutes, firing a well-placed shot to the net to extend Aodh Ruadh’s lead.
Danny Breen continued to punish the home side from placed balls, finishing with an impressive tally of 0-8, including seven frees.
Youthful talents Lennon Canny and Cian McDonald also impressed, each contributing a pair of well-taken points in the latter stages.
A late free from Breen rounded off a dominant performance from the Ballyshannon boys.
Aodh Ruadh scorers: Danny Breen 0-8,7f; Jack Matthews 2-0; Aaron Peach 1-0; Lennon Canny 0-2; Cian McDonald 0-2; Ryan O’Brien 0-1; Cian McKenna 0-1.
Letterkenny Gaels scorers; Joseph Patton 0-3; Stephen Gallagher 0-1.
Letterkenny Gaels: Stephen Doherty; Sean Mills, Cathair Doherty, Senan Nolan; Ruaidhri Gallagher, Ben Winters, Eunan Gallagher; Joseph Patton, Jamie Callaghan; Matthew Callaghan, Stephen Gallagher, Jack Winters; Ray Winters, Kyle Doherty, Vincent Farrelly.
Aodh Ruadh: Tommy Clyne; Martin Larkin, Kyle McCaffrey, Cillian Bradshaw; Ryan O’Brien, Ciaran Rami, Stephen Anderson; Ryan McCormack, Gareth Sheerin; Cian McDonald, Jack Matthew, Lennon Canny; Cian McKenna, Ciaran Kilgannon, Danny Breen.
Subs: Aaron Peach for Kilgannon (45).
