Ardara U-21s off the mark with comfortable St Eunan’s win

Ardara 4-9 St Eunan’s 1-4

In atrocious conditions, and at the tail end of Storm Boelo, it was Adrian Brennan’s side that seized an early upper hand they would not relinquish throughout in Kentucky.

Against a gale-force breeze, the hosts got off to a lightning start with two early goals helping put them five points clear just four minutes in.

Michael Mulreany bundled home just two minutes in after Josh Malley had his initial effort saved.

Eoghan Doherty responded for the Black and Amber but with Ardara again running the ball into the final third, Cian Sweeney rounded off a brilliant move to leave it 2-0 to 0-1.

Sam Harvey fired back for the visitors and when David Horgan raised a green flag for St Eunan’s, it seemed like the Lettekrenny lads had now found gear.

Harvey then notched his second to square the game up exiting the first quarter. Still, both sides found it extremely difficult to make any inroads in the prevailing 15 or so minutes.

However, nearing the midpoint Ardara again took advantage of a porous Eunan’s defence as Ross Diver and Mulreany combined to send Shane Sweeney through to rattle in a third goal for the hosts.

Karl Joseph Molloy made sure Ardara kept their goal momentum going on the resumption as he hit the net for a fourth time.

Josh Malley and Shane Sweeney finally kicked some points for the home charges as they went 4-2 to 1-3 clear.

Anthony Farren and Johnny Scanlon’s side grabbed their first and only score of the second period on 42 minutes through Eoghan Doherty.

But Ardara kept ticking away. Eoghan Ban McNelis lobbed over a two-point free and with Mulreany adding another, the gap was now out to double figures.

Before the end, and down the stretch, McNelis registered another two-point free while substitute Kyle McHugh brought the curtain down with another strike from outside the arc.

Ardara scorers: Eoghan Ban McNelis 0-4, 2tpf; Cian Sweeney 1-0; Shane Sweeney 1-1; Karl Joseph Molloy 1-0; Michael Mulreany 1-1; Kyle McHugh 0-2, 1tp; Josh Malley 0-1.

St Eunan’s scorers: David Horgan 1-0; Eoghan Doherty 0-2,1f; Sam Harvey 0-1,2, 1f.

Ardara: Cian McConnell; Adam McGill, Kian McCabe, Charlie Bennett; Callum Cassidy, Darragh Hennigan, Jack Elliott; Josh Malley, Eoghan Gallagher; Michael Mulreany, Eoghan McNelis, Ross Diver; Shane Sweeney, KJ Molloy, Cian Sweeney.

Subs: Kyle McHugh for Diver (ht), Niall Boyle for Cassidy (47), Aaron McHugh for C Sweeney (54),

St Eunan’s: Callum Crampsie; Conor Doherty, Senan Martin, Harry Blake; Evan Hickey, John Kealy, Bryan Drum; Padraig Hughes, David Horgan; Odhran Ryan, Eoghan Doherty, Phillip Doherty; Oisn Scanlon, Sam Harvey, Jack Gallagher.

Subs: Harry Shields for C Doherty (50).

Referee: Kenneth Byrne (Naomh Columba).