Aodh Ruadh turn it around to eliminate Gaeil Fhánada

A sublime second-half showing from Aodh Ruadh U-21s saw them come from behind before running out impressive nine-point winners over Gaeil Fhánada. 

Aodh Ruadh 0-15
Gaeil Fhánada 0-6

The Ballyshannon cubs had departed 0-5 to 0-4 in arrears at the break. However, at a cold but calm Killygordon venue, Aodh Ruadh were a side transformed when things recommenced. 

Gaeil Fhánada’s best player, Liam McGrenaghan, had kicked three of the game’s opening four points, to push his side a goal to the good by the end of the first quarter. In between, Shane Delahunty had got Aodh Ruadh off the mark. 

Harry Howarth then cut the gap in two before the excellent Cian Rooney - who would finish with seven points to his name - squared matters up from a free. McGrenaghan once again nudged his side in front with a routine placed ball off the ground. 

And it looked like the sides would depart deadlocked at the midpoint thanks to Colm McGloin. But a late Ronan Sweeney strike up the other end made sure the Fanad lads held the slight upper hand at the break. 

McGrenaghan doubled his side’s advantage soon after the restart but that was as good as things got for Gaeil Fhánada as their challenge strangely wilted from that premature point on. 

In fact, Aodh Ruadh would be allowed to tag on 11 points on the trot as they cantered into the last four in the U-21 B championship. 

Another routine Rooney free started that blitz before Odhran McGarrigle and substitute Jack Gallagher, with his first touch, put Ballyshannon in front for the first time in the contest.  

The same player then doubled his own tally immediately after to leave it 0-8 to 0-6, on 40 minutes. Rooney, with a brace of frees, and Eoghan Kelly left five in it going into the last quarter. 

Rooney again, with his first from play, and a subsequent pair of frees from the hands increased the deficit even further. And, in the dying seconds, substitute Darragh Flood Dolan rounded off an excellent performance from the Fr Tierney Park youngsters.   

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Cian Rooney 0-7,6f, Jack Gallaher 0-2, Shane Delahunty 0-1, Harry Howarth 0-1, Colm McGloin 0-1, Odhran McGarrigle 0-1, Eoghan Kelly 0-1, Darragh Flood Dolan 0-1.

Gaeil Fhánada scorers: Liam McGrenaghan 0-5,4f, Ronan Sweeney 0-1. 

Aodh Ruadh: Aaron Horan; Ryan Keenaghan, Shane Gillespie, Mitchell McLaughlin; Shane Delahunty, Kyle Murray, Daire Gallagher; Odhran McGarrigle, Colm McGloin; Cian Rooney, Senan Rooney, Harry Howarth; Damian Weber, Matt Gillespie, Eoghan Kelly. 
Subs: Jack Gallagher for M Gillespie (34), Mark McGlynn for Weber (38), Eoin Doherty for Howarth (48), Darragh Flood Dolan for M McLaughlin, David Roper for C Rooney (57).

Gaeil Fhánada: Brian Gallagher; Cian Sweeney, Liam Sweeney, Peter Carre; Darren McAteer, Jonathan Gallagher, Pauric Clinton; Shaun Carr, Liam McGrenaghan; Brandon Friel, Eoin Logue, Joshua McAteer; Ronan Sweeney, Eoin McGonigle, Conor Heraghty. 
Subs: Ciaran Sweeney for D McAteer (13).

Referee: Stephen Doherty (Red Hughs).