Enthralling finish as Aodh Ruadh hold out for victory against impressive Naomh Muire

Naomh Muire may feel they were ‘robbed’ at The Banks on Saturday night, which is not entirely fair to a tenacious Aodh Ruadh, but had the hosts shown a little more finesse in their finishing, a draw, perhaps more, was certainly within their grasp.

Naomh Muire …… 0-10

Aodh Ruadh ……… 1-9

With two minutes to play Naomh Muire, through Jack O’Donnell, had pegged Aodh Ruadh back to a one point lead and were doing all the pressing. The home support was growing ever more vocal, they sensed an upset was on the cards.

Aodh Ruadh, looking decidely nervous, but to their credit, held their composure in the face of a serious challenge. An inability to ‘close out’ certain games in the league has been a recurring issue for them, but on Saturday night they rectified that.

It was fitting one of their more dangerous players, the lithe and always lively Shane McGrath, slipped the Naomh Muire shackles to fist an important late point over the bar to calm the visitor’s nerves and give them that winning two point cushion.

With the floodlights on from half-time, this game was played in always testing conditions, steady to heavy drizzle making handling tricky. Both sides, Naomh Muire more so, missed some good scoring chances at times, kicking wides, and while I accept some allowance has to be made for the weather, it can’t be blamed entirely.

Aodh Ruadh started well, leading 0-3 to 0-2 after eight minutes, Nathan Boyle and David McGurrin snappy and sharp for them in those opening exchanges, Naomh Muire losing steady corner back Cian Boyle to injury after just six minutes,

Naomh Muire were well in it when they made a mistake from a kickout and Nathan Boyle was on the wayward kickout like a flash, his quick hands finding Niall Murray on the 13 metre line and his deft lay-off under pressure put Shane McGrath through for the game’s only goal, and how vital it would prove.

There were some great old fashioned shoulders executed by both teams throughout this game, and for once we didn’t hear an incessant whistle as shoulders are not fouls. It was a manly game and there were no Neymars to be seen anywhere as both sides got stuck in. It felt like championship football and while conditions resulted in errors, there was no one moaning about lack of commitment or effort from either side. On a wet, dirty night, it was a tenner well spent.

Naomh Muire packed their defence but were breaking at pace, Sean Boyle at full forward a first half  scoring menace, finishing with 0-4, but his influence in the second half faded as he failed to score again (denied a goal by a brilliant save to be fair) with Damien Cleary warming to the marking task on the Naomh Muire talisman.

Aodh Ruadh struggled to make any major inroads in that crowded defence, although their centre half back, Darren Drummond, gave a hint of the best way to do so, when he finished with the poise of a forward for a fine 35 metre point.

Leading 1-5 to 0-6 at half time, Aodh Ruadh scored two early points David McGurrin from play and a free but were held scoreless for the next 18 minutes as Naomh Muire came at Aodh Ruadh in waves. In this purple patch the home side looked hugely impressive, but they missed key point scoring chances and were denied twice by truly superb saves from Aodh ruadh keeper Peter Boyle, his 50th minute stop from Sean Boyle who was clear on goal, a turning point. Add to that two important high ball punched clearances from Boyle and one gets a sense of the siege.

But, as sure as rain ruins your notes, Naomh Muire were asking questions, Harry Harden and Dan Devlin pointing and a well struck 45 from their keeper Declan Ward, brought them to within a point 1-7 to 0-9. McGurrin pushed that out to two for Aodh Ruadh but a superb score from Jack O’Donnell had the hosts within a point again.

In the final two minutes of normal and three minutes of additional time, Aodh Ruadh battled hard to contain a surging Naomh Muire, Darren Drummond, Damien Cleary and Eamon McGrath were brave in the tackle as they stood strong, while the canny sub, vastly experienced Johnny Gallagher, was the smartest player on the pitch picking up vital ball and never wasting it; if only others would study what he doesn’t do as much as what he does do.

Naomh Muire were game and battled to the long whistle but Aodh Ruadh made it to the finish line with a win. They kept their heads and made much from the scant chances they created, which ultimately was the key difference between winning and losing what was a very decent championship match.

Naomh Muire: Declan Ward 0-1, 45; Pat Rodgers, Hugh Martin, Cian Boyle; James Ferry, Brian Gillespie, Jack Boyle; Aiden O’brian, Daniel Devlin 0-1, Harry Harden 0-2, Jack O’Donnell 0-2, Aidy O’Gara; Thomas McHugh, Sean Boyle 0-4, 1f, Jack O’Brien. Subs: Martin Boyle for C Boyle Injd (6); Darren Gallagher for Ferry (50); Thomas O’Donnell for J O’Donnell (54).

Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Callum O’Halloran, Damien Cleary, Eddie Lynch; Johnny Gettins, Darren Drummond 0-1, Eamonn McGrath;  CP Patton, Oisin Rooney; Darren Gettins, Shane McGrath 1-1, David McGurrin 0-5, one f; Nathan Boyle 0-1, 45, Diarmaid McInerney 0-1, f, Niall Murray. Subs: Sean Taylor for Murray 39;  David Dolan for McInenrney 48; Johnny Gallagher for Lynch 50; Michael Ward for O’Halloran 51.

Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters).