Rampant Cloughaneely soar past Aodh Ruadh in U-15 Division 2 final

Cloughaneely were runaway winners in the County U-15 Division 2 League final against Aodh Ruadh on Wednesday at the Donegal Training Centre.

Cloughaneely 5-12
Aodh Ruadh 1-9

The Ballyshannon side had shown form to get to the decider but their opponents from Falcarragh hit the ground running with incredible pace and in captain Donnachadh Ó Baoighill had a free-scoring full-forward, who kicked a fantastic 2-8 on his own.

He was willingly supported by dominant midfield pairing in Carragher Friel and Jeaic Gallagher, with full-back Séimi Mac Iomhar getting forward to join the party with two points himself.

The damage was done in a one-sided first half, following which Denis Boyle’s team had built up an unassailable lead of 3-8 to 0-1, with Ó Baoighill hitting 2-5.

U-15 Division 1 League crown for Gaoth Dobhair after win over Four Masters

The side from Magheragallon were always the ones forcing the issue in the County U-15 Division 1 League final in Convoy and got their just rewards with two second half goals

On 17 minutes, Friel got possession out wide on the left and made his way in by the touchline before working an angle to shoot past Bobby Melly in the Aodh Ruadh goal with a superb finish. That made for a 1-4 to 0-1 lead, with Dara McGloin scoring Aodh Ruadh’s point. A second goal followed eight minutes later; this time it was Ó Baoighill who applied the finish when Gallagher had laid on the chance.

Cloughaneely were awarded a penalty on 27 minutes as Gareth Brennan fouled Gallagher and although Ó Baoighill pulled the spot kick wide, he was afforded a second chance when referee Paul Hardy spotted some Aodh Ruadh encroachment. Ó Baoighill didn’t miss the second time and Cloughaneely went into a 3-7 to 0-1 lead.

In the second half, a fourth goal came when a shot from David Geaney went in over Melly for a scoreline of 4-11 to 0-3. Aodh Ruadh improved later in the match and hit 1-4 on the bounce, although their goal by McGloin was initially waved wide before the referee consulted an umpire who waved the green flag. 

However, the last significant act saw Gallagher drive from the centre of the field and net, following a give-and-go with substitute Padraig Quigg. 

Cloughaneely scorers: Donnachadh Ó Baoighill 2-8, 1-0 pen, 4f; Jeaic Gallagher 1-1; Carragher Friel and David Geaney 1-0 each; Séimi Mac Iomhar 0-2; Caolán McNulty 0-1.
Aodh Ruadh scorers: Dara McGloin 1-2, 1m; Barry Campbell 0-2, 2f; Killian McPhelim, Ted O’Donnell, Eoin Cassidy, and Gary Meade 0-1 each; Corey Sheridan 0-1, 1f.

Cloughaneely: Christóir Ryder; Dylan Boyce, Séimi Mac Iomhar, Padraig Boyle; Seimi McGee, Séan Boyce, Caolán McNulty; Carragher Friel, Jeaic Gallagher; Manus O’Brien, Fionán Coyle, David Geaney; Niall McGee, Donnachadh Ó Baoighill, Séan Ó Cuireain. Subs: Padraig Quigg for Geaney (42), Ben O’Donnell for S McGee (52), Tomás Doogan for Boyle (57), Ronan McGee for N McGee (59).

Aodh Ruadh: Bobby Melly; Liam Doogan, Gareth Brennan, Johnny Hui Linn; Killian McPhelim, Ted O’Donnell, Rian McCauley; Eoin Cassidy, Garvey Meade; Eoin Gallagher, Barry Campbell, Corey Sheridan; Joseph Gibbons, Dara McGloin, Oran Gillespie. Subs: Daithi Sheerin for McCauley (41), Dara O’Mahoney for Gallagher (44), Anton O’Loughlin for Cassidy (50), Donagh Kelly for Gillespie.

Referee: Paul Hardy (Naomh Columba)