Opening loss to Burt ‘kick in backside’ Ardara needed insists Paddy McGrath

Paddy McGrath was just happy that Ardara picked up two valuable Division 2 league points following last Saturday night’s comfortable win over Red Hughs at the Crossroads.

The 2012 All-Ireland winner and team centre half-back marshalled the visitors’ defence so well over the hour and was also a cool head in a very young and inexperienced outfit as they outscored their Killygordon hosts 2-14 to 1-9.

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“We are happy to get out of here with the win and the league points,” he said. “We spoke about it on the way up here, the importance of winning regardless of the margin.

“We got off to a great start with the two early goals from Shane Sweeney and we went six points up.

“We needed that because we had a bit of a breeze in our favour in the first half. We wanted to make hay when the sun was shining and we kicked on and we were eight up at half-time.”

Ardara led 2-6 to 0-4 at the break but what pleased McGrath most was that they kept Red Hughs’ attempt to stir at a reasonable arm’s length in the second period.

“It was a matter of keeping them in check on the restart, and we did. It is a good two points to have on the board and we can now move on to the next game.

“For us, it is a matter of taking it one game at a time and hoping for the best. The aim is to keep winning and see where it will take us.

“We would love to go back up to Division 1. But this is a very competitive division as well and it is a matter of going out and putting our best foot forward every day we play.

“Hopefully, we will be in the shake-up at the end of the league. But you have to find a real level of consistency to be in that shake-up.

“It is early days - it is only our third game and our second win after losing the first day out to Burt in Pearse Park”.

Clint Walsh’s charges went into that clash off the back of a rousing Comórtas Peile win over fierce rivals Naomh Conaill the week prior so that subsequent flat effort against the Inishowen men was hard to fathom.

“I’m not sure if that defeat to Burt was the kick up the backside we needed but in fairness to them, they came with a game plan, won the game fair and square and were the better team on the day.

“It probably did focus minds and made us realise this division is not going to be a walk in the park after dropping down from the top division.”

Ardara head to Carndonagh on Saturday evening.