Aodh Ruadh cling on to defeat Ardara in low-scoring affair

Aodh Ruadh stuttered to hang on for a two-point victory over a much-improved Ardara at Pearse Memorial Park in a match that wasn’t for the purists. 

Ardara 0-7
Aodh Ruadh 0-9 

However, it’s two from two for the Ballyshannon side and Ardara are still looking for a chink of light at the end of the tunnell having lost out to Gaoth Dobhair six days beforehand.

It looked like John McNulty’s men were cruising to victory when three rapid fire points from Darren Drummond, Matthew Gillespie and David Dolan had pushed them to a 0-9 to 0-4 lead five minutes into the second half. 

But they failed to score for the rest of the match as Ardara finally made some inroad themselves with three points of their own from Tony Harkin, Conor Gallagher and Lorcan O’Donnell in a slightly wind-assisted second half. 

Naomh Conaill come good in second half to see off Killyegs in Donegal SFC

Martin Regan's side were two down towards the end of the first half but regrouped and used the breeze and their experience to post a six-point win in the end

The home side pressed hard for a winner as 37 minutes were played in the second half but were just not able to get the goal they would have needed for victory in a second half where we had a scoring famine of 20 minutes. 

Both sides lost men towards the end with Conor Gallagher getting a black card for the home side and Aodh Ruadh’s Nathan Boyle getting two yellow cards at the death. The opening 10 minutes were tepid, with Aodh Ruadh having the breeze but seemed happy to sit back and let the home side do their worst. Ardara looked far more enterprising but hit three wides before Paul Walsh got them off the mark with a well struck point from 43 metres. 

That score seemed to stir Aodh Ruadh and big midfielder Eamon McGrath hoisted over a fine point for the visitors from almost 40 metres. A minute later their corner forward Eddie Lynch angled over a well taken point from an acute angle to put the Ballyshannon boys in front. 

But, instead of Aodh Ruadh building on this slim advantage, they remained content to sit back. Ardara continued to press, inspired by midfielder Conor Classon, and were rewarded when Walsh stayed ice cool to steer a 30-metre free over the bar to level matters in the 15th minute. 

The visitors had a great chance of a goal three minutes later but two Ardara defenders dived at the feet of Nathan Boyle to smother his point-blank effort. Aodh Ruadh upped the pace as half time beckoned and they quickly doubled their tally with a pointed free and a good effort from play put them into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the 27th minute. 

McInerney added another point from a close range just before the break and Paul Watters converted a mark into the breeze to leave the visitors ahead by 0-5 to 0-4. And it was McInerney who had the final say when he pointed another free as Ardara’s discipline fell to put Aodh Ruadh ahead by 0-6 to 0-4 by the break. 

But this turgid affair was effectively decided by those early well taken points early in the second half from Aodh Ruadh. They were 0-9 to 0-4 up but did not press home their advantage and Ardara, who looked a beaten team, took the initiative and set up a fairly tense finish. 

Ardara scorers: Paul Walsh 0-2, 2; Paul Watters, John Ross Molloy, Tony Harkin, Conor Gallagher and Lorcan O’Donnell 0-1 each.  
Aodh Ruadh scorers: Diarmaid McInerney 0-4, 3f; Eamon McGrath,  Eddie Lynch, David Dolan, Darren Drummond 0-1 each; Matthew Gillespie 0-1, 1m.

Ardara: Matthew McGlynn; Conor Gallagher, Joe Melly, Paddy McGrath; Tony Harkin, Shane Whyte, Nicholas Breslin; Conor Classon, John Ross Molloy; Robbie Adair, Paul Walsh, Matthew Sweeney; Oisin O’Donnell, Lorcan O’Donnell, Paul Watters. Subs Tomás Boyle for Sweeney (52); Nicholas Maguire for Watters (57).    

Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Mark McGynn, Conor Patton, Kyle Murray; Michael McKenna, Colm Kelly, Niall Murray; Eamon McGrath,Darren Drummond; Diarmaid McInerney; David Dolan, Shane McGrath; Eddie Lynch, Matthew Gillespie, Nathan Boyle. Subs: Cian Rooney for Dolan (47). 

Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill)