Goals make the difference as Aodh Ruadh edge out St Michael's in Fr Tierney Park

Aodh Ruadh's eye for goal made the difference at a blustery Father Tierney Park as they got the better of a game St Michael's outfit.

The first half got off to a barn-storming start with Aodh Ruadh winning the throw-in and lacing it into the square where David Dolan collected and blasted to the net as he was being upended.

The impressive Eoghan Kelly opened St Michael’s account a couple of minutes later, but Ballyshannon responded in style, racing the ball up the pitch where Shane McGrath was picked out in the square with a lateral kick pass and he scrambled the ball to the net.

Eoghan Kelly answered that with another booming shot, Michael McGinley following with another score to put four between them.

Jack Gallagher replied with his side's first point of the game, but points from Paddy McGinley and Michael McGinley had the visitors back to within two points with the game moving into the second quarter.

Shane McGrath notched a point in the 20th minute, probably his side's best move of the game to that stage. The last three scores of the half went the way of the Gaeltacht men though, with Michael Connor, Colin McFadden and Eoghan all finding the range to make it honours even 2-2 to 0-8 at the turn around.

Martin McElhinney edged his side in front for the first time with the opening score of the second half. There was an eight minute wait for the next score, but it was worth the wait, Shane McGrath's dancing feet taking him through the St Michael's rearguard before he guided it to the net.

The Ernesiders could have had a fourth goal two minutes later, but Johnny Gethins thundering shot could only rattle the crossbar.

Jack Gallagher did send over a graceful shot from play, but a Michael McGinley free kept the visitors well in it at 3-3 to 0-10 with 46 minutes played.

Gallagher then stepped up to land the score of the game, a tremendous free from the deck by the terrace sideline behind the 45.

Another McGinley free kept his side in the hunt, but David Dolan thumped over a point three minutes from time to give his side some breathing space with the clock running down.

The final say went the way of the Reds, Eoghan Kelly converting a free, but the homesters had done enough to secure their first win of the season.

In Shane McGrath and Jack Gallagher Aodh Ruadh had the difference-makers, with David Dolan, Darragh Flood Dolan and Eamonn McGrath getting through a lot of hard yards.

Eoghan Kelly and Michael McGinley made every chance count for St Michael's while Colin McFadden and Kyle McGarvey probably had the better of matters in the middle third.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Shane McGrath 2-1; David Dolan 1-1; Jack Gallagher 0-3,1f.

St Michael's scorers: Eoghan Kelly 0-4,2f; Michael McGinley 0-4,2f; Paddy McGinley, Michael Connor, Colin McFadden, Martin McElhinney 0-1 each.

Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Aidan Sweeny, Ryan Keenaghan, Calum O'Halloran; Michael McKenna, Niall Murray, Darragh Dolan; Shane McGrath, Eamon McGrath; Johnny Gethins, David Dolan, Kyle Murray; Eddie Lynch, Jack Gallagher, Nathan Boyle.

Sub: Donagh McIntyre for Nathan Boyle 46 minutes.

St Michael's: Packie O'Neill; Seamus Ó Fiachra, Paddy McGinley, Anton McFadden; Michael Connor, Ciaran Kelly, Chris McElhinney; Kyle McGarvey, Colin McFadden; Eoghan Kelly, Martin McElhinney, Ethan Ferry; Calvin Murray, Michael McGinley, Max Roarty.