Ardara are worthy winners over Aodh Ruadh in Pearse Memorial Park

Ardara were worthy winners of this game in Pearse Memorial Park. They did the spadework in the opening half and early in the second half even though Aodh Ruadh finished well.

Two CJ Molloy goals in the first ten minutes of the second half put the game to bed after Ardara led by 1-9 to 0-4 at the break.

Ardara had the advantage of the slight breeze and Kyle McHugh had them on the board on two minutes. A turnover from the kick-out saw Kevin Whyte double their lead.

Whyte added a second and Johnny McHugh converted a '45'. In between Shane Delahunty was denied by Ardara 'keeper  Paddy Gallagher and he fisted the rebound off a post.

Kyle McHugh hit a magnificent two pointer from outside the '45' before Aodh Ruadh were denied a second time, this time Nathan Boyle's effort for goal was blocked by Paul Walsh.

Kyle McHugh added Ardara's seventh point on 15 minutes before Jack Gallagher eventually got Aodh Ruadh on the board. The visitors then enjoyed a brief spell of possession with Diarmaid McInerney pointing twice (one free) and then setting up Eamonn McGrath for a fourth point.

Jack Gallagher saw a two point free come back off an upright before Ardara finished the half strongly. CJ Molloy did well to get the ball away to John Ross Molloy and he found the Aodh Ruadh net on 27 minutes.  Josh Malley was dened by Peter Boyle at the expense of a '45' from the next attack while John Ross Molloy and Kyle McHugh added points to leave it Ardara 1-9, Aodh Ruadh 0-4 at the break.

CJ Molloy had the opening point of the second half from a free while Nathan Boyle hit a brilliant two pointer in reply. Then came the clinching second goal. Shane Whyte's effort for a point came back off a post to CJ Molloy to bundle over the line.

CJ almost had a second goal 30 seconds later but Peter Boyle denied him. Cian Dolan had a point at the other end but Aodh Ruadh needed much more.

It got worse for Aodh Ruadh as a toe poked effort from Johnny McHugh found CJ Molloy to find the roof of the Aodh Ruadh net on 42 minutes for a 3-10 to 0-7 lead.

Diarmaid McInerney converted an Aodh Ruadh free but Cailum Malley cancelled that. Shane McGrath had a two pointer with 10 minutes left and Nathan Boyle lofted a long ball which the Ardara 'keeper deflected just over the bar.

Eamonn McGrath lofted another from well outside the arc but just one point was awarded. But linesman Paul Hardy intervened to give the extra point.

Aodh Ruadh started to launch high ball and Eoghan Kelly fired low to the net to cut the lead to four points but Joe Melly added the last point for Ardara to steady the ship. Ardara lost CJ Molloy in the final minutes to a second yellow card. There was brief hope for Aodh Ruadh when Shane McGrath landed another two pointer, but it was too late.

Ardara scorers: CJ Molloy 2-1,1f; John Ross Molloy 1-1; Kyle McHugh 0-5,1tp; Kevin Whyte 0-2; Johnny McHugh 0-1 (45); Joe Melly 0-1; Cailum Malley 0-1.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Shane McGrath 0-4,2tp; Eamon McGrath 0-3,1tp; Nathan Boyle 0-3,1tp; Eoghan Kelly 1-0; Diarmaid McInerney 0-3,2f; Cian Dolan, Jack Gallagher 0-1 each.

Ardara: Paddy Gallagher; Johnny McGonigle, Shane Mooney, Danny Walsh; Darragh Hennigan, Paddy McGrath, Shane Whyte; John Ross Molloy, Conor Classon; Cailum Malley, Kyle McHugh, Josh Malley; Kevin Whyte, CJ Molloy, Johnny McHugh.

Sub: Karl Joseph Molloy for C Malley (52); Niall McCrossan for K Whyte (55); Joe Melly for McGonigle (57)

Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Kyle Murray, Conor Patton,  Eoghan Kelly; Eddie Lynch, Johnny Gethins, Shane Delahunty; Eamonn McGrath, Matt Gillespie; Niall Murray, Shane McGrath, Cian Dolan; Nathan Boyle, Diarmaid McInerney, Jack Gallagher.

Subs: Darragh Dolan for N Murray (ht); Cian Rooney for C Dolan (42); David Dolan for McInerney (49); Ryan Keenaghan for Delahunty (53)

Referee:  Martin McCormack (Glenfin)