Aodh Ruadh topple Setanta in tempestuous U-21 B hurling decider  

A superb exhibition of free-taking from Aodh Ruadh marksman Danny Breen was sadly overshadowed by an ugly brawl that erupted in the final minutes of this scrappy affair against 12-man Setanta at the Donegal GAA Centre, Convoy.

Players and mentors from both sides were involved in an outbreak that resulted in Setanta’s Ruairi McLaughlin getting a red card and Aed McLaughlin, who was  already substituted, also dismissed after referee Noel Mullaney brandished the card in the Setanta dug out.

Prior to that Setanta lost Caolan McClintock to a straight red card early in the second half and the impressive Ryan Coyle who was lined for a second yellow card eight minutes from time.

Aodh Ruadh had a few individuals whose behaviour also merited a few cards as well.

Setanta finished the game with 12 men as Aed McLaughlin was already off the field when he was given the red card.

But Aodh Ruadh were worthy winners as they had a physical edge and Breen ruthlessly punished all of Setanta’s indiscretions and Kyle McNuly, Johnny Lin and Aaron Cullen were all major figures for the Ballyshannon men.

For Setanta, who badly missed the suspended Oisin Marley and Ryan Callaghan who is abroad, had solid performers in Coyle, Fionn Farren and Ruairí McLaughlin.

Aodh Ruadh were quickly out of the blocks with points from a Breen free and the wristy Aaron Cullen.Sean Darcey got a point in response for Setanta.

Breen and Cullen made it 0-4 to 0-1 as the Finn Valley lads struggled for scores.

Ryan Coyle landed a free for Setanta which was in response to two more points from Breen as Aodh Ruadh led by 0-7 to 0-2 after 20 minutes.

But then a Coyle attempt for a point fell to Setants’s Shay McMenamin and he lobbed over the head of Aodh Ruadh keeper Cian McDonald as Aodh Ruadh led by 0-8 to 1-2 at the break.

Ruairi McLaughlin narrowed the gap with a well-taken 65’ for Setanta on the restart. It got even better for Setanta when Coyle torqued through the Aodh Ruadh defence and cracked home a great goal from 20 metres.

Coyle’s corker put Setanta ahead for the first time on a score of 2-3 to 0-8 in the 34th minute. But Ballyhannon hit back with a levelling point from Cian McKenna.

Breen struck over a sweet long-range point to put Ballyshannon back into the lead.

It was then things began to unravel for Setanta as Caolan McClintock was given a red card for an off the ball incident in the 39th minute

Breen kept tapping over the points as Aodh Ruadh stretched their lead to 0-13 to 2-3 entering the final ten minutes. Ryan Coyle was also lined for Setanta for a second yellow card in the 52nd minute.

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An outnumbered Setana could only manage one more point from Fionn Farren as Aodh Ruadh tacked on two more points from Breen to seal victory. But sadly, the ending of this match was most unsavoury.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Danny Breen 0-10,10f; Aaron Cullen 0-2; Cian McKenna 0-1; Aaron Wyness 0-1; Kyle McNulty 0-1.

Setanta scorers: Ryan Coyle 1-1; Shea McMenamin 1-0 Fionn Farren 0-1; Ruairi McLaughlin 0-1; Sean Darcey 0-1.

Aodh Ruadh: Cian McDonald; Dara O’Mahoney, Kyle McCaffrey, Lennon Canny; Callum Ayres, Maitiu Tierney, James Gallagher; Kyle McNulty, Johnny Lin; Cian McKenna, Aaron Cullen, Aaron Wyness; Liam Doogan, Damien Weber, Danny Breen. 

Subs: Daire McDevitt for Liam Doogan (49). Jack McCadden for Damian Weber (57).

Setanta: Oisin Coyle; Harry Gallagher, Daire Galvin, Aed McLaughlin; Conor Galvin, Ruairi McLaughlin, Cathal McMenamin; Sean Darcey, Fionn Farren; Shea McMenamin, Ryan Coyle, Caolan McClintock; Ronan McLaughlin, Thomas McMenamin, Daire McMenamin. 

Subs: Shaun Gallagher for Aed McLaughlin (47) Daire McMenamin for Shaun Gallagher (54).

Referee: Noel Mullaney (Gaeil Fhánada)