Ardara pick up further momentum with fine victory over Red Hughs

Buoyant Ardara built further on last week’s big win over Four Masters, with this comprehensive victory over Red Hughs in Pearse Memorial Park. 

Ardara  2-12 Red Hugh’s 0-6 

Paddy McGrath and Lorcan O’Donnell, who is off to Australia in the coming days, grabbed the goals in each half in a tie where they were never really tested. 

And outstanding teenage talent Karl Joseph Molloy had a great first half while a revitalised Conor Classon was a driving force at midfield. Cailum Malley and Niall McCrossan were also key figures against a Red Hughs side who struggled throughout. 

And the loss of their marksman Jack Gillespie through injury early in the second half was a big blow. But the winners were well worth their half-time lead of 1-8 to 0-3. 

The game was only 20 seconds old when Classon fed Molloy who hit a fine point. The lively corner forward then had a great chance of a goal, but he blazed over the bar from 10 metres after a stunning Ardara move had carved open the Red Hugh’s rearguard. 

Red Hughs responded through Shane Gillespie with a soaring point. The influential Classon extended his side’s lead in the fifth minute, and this was added to by Malley. 

The home side had the benefit of a big breeze and continued to press hard when Molloy made a mark and hoofed over a great point. 

It was all Ardara as McCrossan (free) and Molloy who hit two points, the second a left-footed classic, put them into a 0-8 to 0-1 lead. Red Hughs midfielder Gillespie converted a free before Ardara retorted with the crucial score of the half. 

A long ball from Malley broke in the Red Hughs square to Paddy McGrath who slammed the ball to the net. McGrath’s strike put Ardara into a 1-8 to 0-2 as half time approached. Gillespie had the final score of the half with a pointed free. 

Red Hughs threw on Tiernan Kelly for Gareth McGill and Gillespie added another point from a free which was quickly cancelled by a Molloy mark which he confidently pointed. 

A wind assisted Gillespie landed another free for Red Hughs on the 43rd minute. But the elegant midfielder was forced to go off injured which was a huge blow to the Killygordon men. 

They could only manage another single score - a late point from Jack Bradley in the final quarter. Meanwhile, McCrossan kicked some excellent points into the breeze, and they had another goal when O’Donnell palmed a Danny Walsh cross to the Red Hughs net to put the home side into a 2-11 to 0-5 lead. 

And McCrossan and Bradley swapped points as Ardara eased home to a most comfortable victory. 

Ardara scorers: Karl Joseph Molloy 0-6,4f; Paddy McGrath 1-0; Lorcan O’Donnell 1-0; Niall McCrossan 0-4,4f; Cailum Malley 0-1; Conor Classon 0-1. 

Red Hugh’s scorers; Jack Gillespie 0-4,4f; Shane Gillespie 0-1; Jack Bradley 0-1.  

Matthew McGlynn; Shane Mooney, Joe Melly, Oisin O’Donnell; Tony Harkin, Paddy McGrath, Eoghan Gallagher; Conor Classon, Kevin Whyte; Danny Walsh, Lorcan O’Donnell, Callum Melly; Niall McCrossan, Paul Walsh, K J Molloy. 

Subs: Gareth Concarr for Kevin Whyte (51), Ronan Breslin for Callum Melly; Nicholas Breslin for Joe Melly (57). 

Red Hughs: Luke Kelly; James Callaghan; Thomas McMenamin, Luke Browne; James Gallagher, Daniel McMenamin, Aaron McGlinchey; James Doherty, Jack Gillespie; Cian Gallagher, Gerard Melaugh, Gareth McGill; James Carlin, Jack Bradley, Shane Gillespie. 

Subs: Tiernan Kelly for Gareth McGill (ht), Calvin Bradley for Jack Gillespie (45).  

Referee: Michael McShane (Kilcar)