Aodh Ruadh players all smiles after their win over Robert Emmets in Ballyshannon. PHOTO: BRIAN DRUMMOND
There was always going to be only one outcome to this one-sided affair as rampant Aodh Ruadh defeated Robert Emmets in miserable conditions in Munday’s Field in the Donegal LGFA Intermediate quarter-final.
Aodh Ruadh 4-14
Robert Emmets 2-3
Aodh Ruadh, who are even stronger than last year, are determined to go all the way in this competition after losing out to Gaeil Fhanada while their Castlefin opponents are just up from the junior ranks.
And the physically powerful, athletic and accurate Aodh Ruadh imposed themselves on this game from the off against opponents who had only one sub.
Powerful centre forward Cait Gillespie crashed the ball to the roof of the visitors net after just four minutes and they led by 1-2 to 0-2 by the 10th minute with the golden left boot of Eimear McMahon and Aoibhinn McGarrigle supplying the points.
The visitors replied through frees from Emma McCrory. But McMahon and McGarrigle stretched the home side’s lead to 1-4 to 0-2 before Gillespie found the net again with a lob that deceived Castlefin keeper Ellen McMenamin. It got even better for the south Donegal side when full-forward Terri Gallagher coolly picked her spot for another goal in the 15th minute.
Robert Emmets responded immediately with a goal of their own from Iona McDaid. But that did no halt Aodh Ruadh’s inexorable mark in the slightest as they piled on the scores in the run up to the break from the strong running Gillespie, Cara O’Loughlin, the accurate Aoibhinn McGarrigle and Gallagher as they led 3-9 to 1-2 at the break.
The home side had the benefit of the slope in the second half and the scoring rate dropped in very difficult conditions. Aodh Ruadh scored a total of 1-5 in this half and also hit five wides to their opponents reply of a solitary goal.
Gillespie opened the scoring for the home side with a well struck effort. And McMahon gave an exhibition of scoring with four expertly finished points in trying conditions. She added a goal for good measure in the 43rd minute.
But Robert Emmets were putting up no white flags and were rewarded for their efforts with a goal from Angie Gordon and a point from Sinead Lynch. It barely put a gloss on a most impressive win for this powerful Aodh Ruadh side who will certainly face tougher tests ahead.
But they are serious contenders and are very well balanced with a powerful midfield in the Keon sisters Oral and Caoimhe and Sara Gallagher and Tara Khan are also powerful performers. And, for the first time ever, they are also fielding a junior team that contains top class athlete Lucy McGlynn, who is just back playing.
Aodh Ruadh scorers: Eimear McMahon 1-8; Cait Gillespie 2-3; Terri Gallagher 1-1; Cara O’Loughlin 0-2.
Robert Emmets scorers: Iona McDaid 1-0; Angie Gordon 1-0; Emma McCrory 0-2, 2f; Sinead Lynch 0-1, 1f.
Aodh Ruadh: Roisin Maguire; Grainne Maguire, Sara Gallagher, Hanna Doherty; Maeve McCloskey, Caithlin McGarrigle, Anna Rafferty; Orla Keon, Caoimhe Keon; Cara O’Loughlin, Cait Gillespie; Aoibhinn McGarrigle, Eimear McMahon, Terri Gallagher, Tara Khan. Subs: Síofra Hughes for Cara O’Loughlin (37), Tia McFarlane for Maeve McCloskey (44), Donna Martin and Mary Flora Scott for Anna Rafferty and Cait Gillespie (54).
Robert Emmets: Ellen McMenamin; Cora Burns, Cara McKinney, Sarah McMenamin; Patricia Carlin, Angie Gordon, Sinead Lynch; Hannah McMenamin, Tory O’Hagan; Rachel Foy, Rebecca McMenamin, Abbie McGranaghan; Lisa McGinley, Emma McCrory, Iona McDaid. Subs: Leanne Lynch for Sarah McMenamin (half-time)
Referee: Mark Dorrian (St Naul’s)
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