Things worked out in our favour: John Ross Molloy on Ardara win over Aodh Ruadh

Ardara got their first win of the senior championship on Sunday against Aodh Ruadh, scoring four goals but midfielder John Ross Molloy revealed afterwards that they went out trying to stop goals in the first place.

“The wind was blowing straight down the field so it was a game of two halves. And even from last week, we let in four goals, so we kinda went out today and said we are going to try and stop the goals. We tried to do that as best we could.”

The Ardara men had veteran Conor Classon back for his first start in the championship and he was the anchor man at the back, especially after they lost Paddy McGrath to injury early on.

But when the goals arrived in the game, they were at the Aodh Ruadh end, although a couple of them were unfortunate errors.

“Going forward, we got a wee bit of luck in the wind and the rain with slippy balls and it worked out in our favour a bit.

“That goal in the first half from KJ (Molloy) when he chipped the ‘keeper. That did probably keep us in it. I think we only had three shots in the first half and we got 1-2 out of it. We were happy with that and I suppose that says a lot about the day.”

Just two points down at half-time after playing against the gale and rain was a very good position for the Ardara men.

“We wanted to just stay in the game when we were against that wind and then come out and push on a bit.

“(Niall) McCrossan just came on at half-time and it was a direct ball in. It was probably for KJ or CJ but Niall ended up getting it and he finished it well. There was a wee bit of luck too with it. That put us a point up right at the start of the second half.

Molloy agreed that his own goal, Ardara’s third, was a big turning point in the second half. “It was a lot for them to fight back after that, especially against that wind,” said Molloy.

Ardara's John Ross Molloy claims this kick-out in Fr Tierney Park on Sunday Pic Brian O Droma

The decisive goal came when CJ Molloy fielded a long delivery and declined the mark to send John Ross clear to fire home.

“We had a lot of conversations about that during the week. He is a dangerous man around the square and there’s a good chance he will hold on to it. I chanced my arm and left when the ball was kicked and it worked out.

“The day suited CJ and a lot of high ball caused a lot of chaos and I supposed we played off that.

“The last goal came when they pushed up and I think it was Callum (Malley) who was away and I just booted it over the top. And then wee Charlie Bennett, he made some run. He wouldn’t be known for his scoring, but in  fairness he kept that low and finished it well.”

The Donegal senior panel member said it was a do-or-die game for Ardara. “We were saying that in the dressing room. It was knock-out football for us from here on in. If you lose you were looking at a relegation bottom four. We were backed into a corner and had to come out swinging.

“It was a good game and even during the week in conversations I was saying it was a 50-50 game. Aodh Ruadh weren’t going great and we weren’t going great ourselves. Then with that weather today, it was going to be a dogfight and whoever wanted it more was going to come out on top,” said Molloy.