Glenfin survive in senior championship after titanic struggle with Aodh Ruadh

Glenfin survived in the senior ranks after a titanic battle with Aodh Ruadh in the relegatoini semi-final at Donegal GAA Centre, Convoy on Saturday.

Aodh Ruadh came from 1-9 to 0-4 down at half-time to draw level with two minutes left and then they went ahead and Glenfin needed a last gasp point from Odhran O'Connor to secure extra-time.

Aodh Ruadh had to play much of the first period of extra time with 13 due to picking up two black cards and Glenfin hit their second goal from Karl McGlynn in that period and in the end that was the difference between the sides.

Glenfin had the  use of the breeze in the opening half and made good use of it in the opening 10 minutes. Ciaran Brady opened their account before David Dolan replied with a free for Aodh Ruadh.

Then  came three Glenfin two pointers in 90 seconds to open a gap of six. Luke McGlynn, Jason Morrow and Shaun Ward were the players that found the range with Ward's effort from well outside the '45'.

Diarmaid McInerney (free) and Odhran O'Connor traded scores and Eamonn McGrath hit a good score to leave it 0-8 to 0-3.

Then disaster struck for Aodh Ruadh when a Jason Morrow two point effort dropped short and Aodh Ruadh were not able to clear their lines. Jack Long got his toe to it and it ended in the net.

39-year-old Frank McGlynn went forward  to hit a good point for Glenfin while Nathan Boyle completed the first half scoring to leave Glenfin ahead by 1-9 to 0-4 at the break.

Frank McGlynn had the opening point of the second half but Aodh Ruadh were given a lifeline when Shane Delahunty sent Shane McGrath through. The referee adjudged that he was stopping from scoring with a foot block and Diarmaid McInerney fired the penalty to the top corner.

Glenfin opened the gap back to eight (1-12 to 1-4) when Shaun Ward (free) and Odhran O'Connor struck for points on 53 minutes.

It was then that Aodh Ruadh came to life with Diarmaid McInerney hitting a two pointer from play and another from a free to cut the lead to four. Matt Gillespie went in to the edge of the square and added two more points and then with two minutes left on the clock Nathan Boyle nailed another two pointer to draw the sides level at 1-12 each.

Jack Gallagher put Aodh Ruadh in front on 60 minutes but in the third minute Aodh Ruadh almost had another point with Shane McGrath's fisted effort going wide. Glenfin worked the kick-out and were lucky to get a free in the middle of the field. Aodh Ruadh had already lost Johnny Gethins to a black card and Conor Patton also picked up a black for contesting the decision.

Glenfin worked the ball forward and Odhran O'Connor showed great nerve to hit the equaliser and send the tie to extra-time.

Playing with 13 Aodh Ruadh were under pressure but Nathan Boyle from a free pushed them ahead. Odhran O'Connor equalised and then the killer score came when Karl McGlynn burst through the defence to fire home a second goal. Aaron McGlynn pushed Glenfin four clear but Shane McGrath with a two pointer left just two in it at the end of the first period of extra-time.

Eamonn McGrath almost had a two pointer into the breeze before Damian Weber left the minimum between the sides with five minutes left.

Luke McGlynn eased Glenfin's worries with a late point as Aodh Ruadh pushed hard to get a two point equaliser but they just came up short.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Diarmaid McInerney 1-6,1-0pen,1tpf,1f; Shane McGrath 0-4,2tp; Nathan Boyle 0-3.1tp; Matt Gillespie 0-2; Eamonn McGrath, David Dolan (f), Jack Gallagher 0-1 each.

Glenfin scorers: Karl McGlynn, Jack Long 1-0 each; Shaun Ward 0-3,1tp,1f; Luke McGlynn 0-3,1tp; Odhran O’Connor 0-4; Frank McGlynn 0-2; Jason Morrow 0-2,tp; Ciaran Brady, Aaron McGlynn 0-1

Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Kyle Murray, Conor Patton, Ryan Keenaghan; Eddie Lynch, Mark McGlynn, Shane Delahunty; Eamonn McGrath, Matt Gillespie; Darragh Flood Dolan, Shane McGrath, Nathan Boyle; Diarmaid McInerney, David Dolan, Jack Gallagher.

Subs: Damian Weber for D Flood Dolan 37; Eoin Cassidy for David Dolan 50; Johnny Gethins for McGlynn 58. Extra-time: Mark McGlynn for Keenaghan.

Glenfin: Andrew Walsh; Ross Marley, John Harkin, Frank McGlynn; Daniel McGlynn, Jack Long, Karl McGlynn; Jason Morrow, Stephen Ward; Daniel Marley, Shaun Ward, Daire Quigley; Odhran O'Connor, Ciaran Brady, Luke McGlynn.

Subs: Aaron McGlynn and Gerard Ward for Brady and S Ward, both 41; Tommy McNulty for D Marley 50; Odhran McGlynn for D McGlynn 55.

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)