Aodh Ruadh come good in the second half to go three from three in SFC at Killybegs

Aodh Ruadh shook off a lethargic first-half display to eventually go three from three in the Donegal SFC having done enough to see off a youthful Killybegs side at Fintra.

Killybegs 1-6 Aodh Ruadh 0-12

John McNulty’s side emerged as a different team on the restart and used their pace and physique to impose their will in a game where Eamonn McGrath really walked tall in the second half.

They can also thank the accuracy of wing forward Philip Patton who landed 0-7, with six from frees.

Killybegs had a very good opening 20 minutes where they dominated possession and hit a fine goal from Paul Cunningham and probably could have had another, but Jack McSharry decided to take on a tricky one-on-one from an angle with Aodh Ruadh keeper Peter Boyle, which was saved

While there was much to admire about Killybegs in the opening half, they will be disappointed with some of their decision-making in the second half.

When Christopher Murrin gave away a free and the accurate Patton punished for a vital two- point turnaround, Aodh Ruadh were leading by 0-10 to 1-4 five minutes from the end of normal time.

Killybegs sprang swiftly from the traps, moving the ball at pace against a somewhat subdued looking Aodh Ruadh. Midfielder Evan Broderick opened the scoring for the hosts into the breeze in the third minute.

But this was quickly cancelled by a pointed free for Aodh Ruadh from Patton. However, Killybegs were making all the moves and were rewarded with a neatly arrowed point from Ryan Cunningham to regain the lead.

Cunningham was also involved in a neat move that saw his blasted shot parried by Boyle.

But, the ball broke to Paul Cunningham who blasted the ball to the roof of the Aodh Ruadh net to put Killybegs into a 1-2 to 0-3 lead after 14 minutes.

Aodh Ruadh eventually shook themselves, and hit two rapid-fire points in the space of 60 seconds from Eddie Lynch and Shane McGrath.

But Killybegs kept on the pressure and Donal McGuire’s point put three points between the sides in the run up to the break. Patton converted a 45 for Aodh Ruadh as the home side deservedly led by 1-3 to 0-4 at the break.

But, it was a totally different Aodh Ruadh that came out on the restart. Cian Rooney used his explosive pace to hammer over a fine point and a Patton free levelled matters a 0-6 to 1-3

Patton then struck a fine effort from play to put the visitors into the lead for the first time.

Hugh McFadden levelled matters from a pointed free and then got involved in a tangle with Eamon McGrath right beside the Aodh Ruadh dug-out and the latter ended up on the ground.

It probably merited a yellow card, but referee Kevin McGinley only had a word with the parties amid some strong protests from the dugout.

But it was pacy Aodh Ruadh who were dictating the tempo on the field and Patton and McFadden exchanged points.

Killybegs tried hard, but never really looked like penetrating a very well-organised Ballyshannon side, who are now looking forward to their next match in their spiritual home in Fr Tierney Park.

Killybegs scorers: Paul Cunningham 1-0; Hugh McFadden 0-3f; Evan Broderick 0-1; Ryan Cunningham 0-1; Donal McGuire 0-1;
Aodh Ruadh scorers: Philip Patton 0-7,6f; Shane McGrath 0-2; Cian Rooney, Eamon McGrath and Eddie Lynch 0-1.

Killybegs: Corey Byrne; Michael Callaghan, Cillian Gildea, Christopher Cunningham, Ryan Carr, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, John Ban Gallagher; Evan Broderick, Rory Colyer; Charlie Breslin, Ryan Cunningham, Donal McGuire; Paul Cunningham, Hugh McFadden, Jack McSharry. Subs: Christopher Murrin for Charlie Breslin (49), Timmy Gorrell for Michael Callaghan (51).
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Kyle Murray, Conor Patton, Niall Murray; Michael McKenna, Eamon McGrath, Colm Kelly; Cian Dolan, Shane McGrath; Philip Patton, Cian Rooney, Eoghan Kelly; Eddie Lynch, David Dolan, Callum O’Halloran. Subs; Diarmaid McInerney for Callum O’Halloran (48), Matthew Gillespie for Shane McGrath (59).
Referee: Kevin McGinley (Naomh Columba)