Sean MacCumhaills defeat Aodh Ruadh to complete Minor Hurling hat-trick

Aodh Ruadh 0-12

Sean MacCumhaills 1-20

Sean MacCumhaills continued their dominance at underage hurling in the county with a convincing 11 point win over a battling Aodh Ruadh in the Minor Hurling Final at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy.

The Twin-Towns side were led by the scoring power of Jacob Malone, Pauric Kelly and Dylan Patton who all got a couple of points each in the first half before exploding into life after the restart.

For Aodh Ruadh, Eoghan McCadden, Joe Gibbions and Liam Doogan led the fight in front of goal, and they trailed by just three at the break.

But a 41st minute goal from Rory Doherty put seven in it and MacCumhaills really kicked on from there.

It was a lightning start with each side getting going quickly, first as Pauric Kelly found Jacob Malone to point inside ten seconds, but Eoghan McCadden responded less than a minute later at the other end.

Malone got his and MacCumhaills’ second score after a good move, and Kelly got his first point soon after.

Dylan Patton and McCadden then traded frees, before Kelly got his second in space and Patton made it 0-6 to 0-2 from a tight angle on the right.

But Aodh Ruadh responded well and while Patton replied with a free after a Liam Doogan point, Doogan and a classy score from Joe Gibbions made it a two point game.

Rory Doherty finished off a quick break away after an Aodh Ruadh wide and it almost crept into the net, while McCadden got his third score from another free.

And MacCumhaills threatened the goal again as Doherty scooped the ball up for Daimhin Byrne but he just couldn’t connect to find the net as the ball trickled wide.

But they did take a three point lead at the break as Kelly made it 0-9 to 0-6.

And while Daimhin Byrne got the first score of the second half for the leaders, the Ballyshannon side hit back with a Gibbions ‘65 and a McCadden free, the ‘65 coming after a McCadden free was clawed away from the top corner by Fionn McNulty.

But MacCumhaills dominated in the third quarter, a Patton free and a good score under pressure from two men by Malone, before he helped set up their goal.

Falling to ground, he got the pass away to Jamie Gallen, whose shot dropped short and as the sliotar bounced, Rory Doherty rifled it into the net.

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Kelly could have went for goal himself a minute later but opted for a point, while Gibbions eased the pressure with a free.

Malone blasted over a super point and Kelly got his fifth from play, before another Gibbions free, which came after a super block from McNulty to deny Johnny Lin twice going for goal.

And they were beginning to need those chances to fall into the net, as Patton added two more frees to make it a ten point game with five to play.

They did hit back with a McCadden free and one from Doogan from play, but the Twin-Towns men were deserving winners and their stars ended in style, Malone and two from Kelly sealing an 11 point win.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Eoghan McCadden 0-5,4f; Joe Gibbions 0-4,2f,1’65; Liam Doogan 0-3.

Sean MacCumhaill scorers: Pauric Kelly 0-7; Dylan Patton 0-6,5f; Jacob Malone 0-5; Rory Doherty 1-1; Daimhin Byrne 0-1.

Aodh Ruadh: Jayden McGrath Clyne; Joey Daly, Antoine O’Loughlin, William Ryan; Dara O’Mahoney, Garreth Brennan, Oisin McCadden; Antoine Duffy, Daithi Sheerin; Shay Winters, Joe Gibbions, Liam Doogan; Johnny Lin, Eoghan McCadden, Lennon Canny.

Subs: Finn Doogan for Gibbions (61).

Sean MacCumhaill: Fionn McNulty; Conor Gallen, Adam Byrne, Ultan Coyle; Patrick McElhinney, Oisin Mullen, Shay Bradley; Pauric Kelly, Tomas McNulty; Dylan Patton, Jacob Malone, Rory Doherty; Daimhin Byrne, Liam Gallen, Jamie Gallen.

Subs: Sean Óg Hannigan for L Gallen (53), Ultan Ó Giollagáin and Shay McNulty for J Gallen and D Byrne (62).

Referee: Aidan McAleer (Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin).