Donnelly the key player as MacCumhaill’s overcome Aodh Ruadh in SHL

A superb exhibition of marksmanship from MacCumhaill’s rising star Dan Donnelly was the main takeaway in their win over Aodh Ruadh in Ballybofey.

Donnelly hit 1-12 with 0-8 coming from frees as a strong second-half display from Sean MacCumhaill’s saw them pull well clear of a battling Aodh Ruadh side.

The first half was much more evenly contested, with Aodh Ruadh matching their opponents, boosted by a goal in the first minute when Aaron Cullen’s high lob seemed to get lost in the sun and deceived MacCumhaill’s keeper Fionn McNulty.

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The Ballyshannon boys were 1-2 to 0-0 up after seven minutes. But MacCumhaill’s recovered well and led by 1-9 to 1-4 at the break - mainly inspired by Donnelly, who found the net as did Rory Doherty in the second half And they tacked on 1-6 in that half to their opponents 0-3.

But Aodh Ruadh lost their discipline with defender Stephen Connolly getting lined and MacCumhaill’s finished strongly for a comfortable win in the end-with Donnelly proving to be the main difference between the teams.

Sean MacCumhaill’s scorers: Dan Donnelly 1-12, 8f; Rory Doherty 1-1; Dean Hannigan, Fintan Griffin, Sean Bradley-Devenney 0-1.
Aodh Ruadh scorers: Aaron Cullen 1-1; Gareth Sheerin 0-3f; Senan Rooney 0-1f; Kieran KIgannon and Caelan Drummond 0-1.
Sean MacCumhaill’s; Fionn McNulty; Davitt Bradley Flynn, Aaron Toner, Conor Murphy; John Anthony Chambers, Sean Brady/Devenney; Fintan Griffin, Jacob Malone; Jamie De Ward, Darren McGowan, Riain McBrearty; Dan Donnelly, Rory Doherty, Dean Hannigan. Subs: Lee Henderson for McBrearty (31).
Aodh Ruadh: Ryan O’Brien; Martin Larkin, Ciaran Rami, Aaron Neilan; Cian McDonald, Adam Rami, Stephen Connolly; Senan Rooney, Stephen Anderson; Aaron Cullen, Caelan Drummond, Gareth Sheerin; ‘Bicky’ McKenna, Kieran Kilgannon, Danny Breen.