St Eunan's ease past Aodh Ruadh in Donegal SFC opener

Two goals from James Kelly and six points from the returning Conor O’Donnell Jnr helped St Eunan’s to a comfortable opening round win over Aodh Ruadh in the Donegal SFC.

O’Donnell was a notable absentee last year as St Eunan’s fell to Termon in the preliminary quarter-finals and having been out through an ankle injury for the guts of 11 months, was in the groove right from the off.

Kelly scored two second half goals for the home team, with a slapped goal courtesy of Donagh McIntyre and the game’s only two-pointer coming from Nathan Boyle the Aodh Ruadh highlights.

Having hit two early with points in the opening quarter, O’Donnell was joined on then scoreboard by Eoin McGeehin, and Colm McGloin was worked in around the outside the open the visitors’ account, before O’Donnell added two more from play.

Ciaran Moore soon got in on the act and so, after 20 minutes, it was 0-6 to 0-1 for the Letterkenny side. A minute later, he was in front of his own goal blocking a shot from Damian Weber.

Philip Patton pulled one back for the Ballyshannon team, as did McGloin, again, with an effort that deflected over Shaun Patton’s crossbar. However, McGeehin and Conor O’Donnell Snr, kept the St Eunan’s scores ticking at the other end and at the break, they led 0-8 to 0-3.

St Eunan’s will take to the road for their second fixture, when they face Sean MacCumhaill’s and for Aodh Ruadh, things couldn’t be tougher as they take on manager Seosamh Mac Ceallabhuí’s native Naomh Conaill.

Kieran Tobin and O’Donnell Jnr scored the opening two points of the second half, pushing the St Eunan’s lead out to 0-10 to 0-3.

Shane Delahunty, for Aodh Ruadh, popped over a nice point at the Town End, only for St Eunan’s to spin off a series of points at the other end.

Brian MacIntyre, Eoin Dowling, McGeehin, Moore and Josh Hay were the ones who did the damage and by three-quarters through, it meant they were 0-15 to 0-4 ahead.

Conor O’Donnell’s free on 47 minutes was the first either team would score all day, although Aodh Ruadh’s Boyle was accurate with a 45.

Then, the opening goal came with 11 to play when Kelly was picked up by Luke McGuinness to shoot into the bottom corner.

Aodh Ruadh managed a goal of their own when McIntyre was on hand to slap past Shaun Patton following good play by Shane McGrath on 55 minutes. Boyle was then on the money with a two-pointer, to bring the Ernesiders back to 1-17 to 1-9 behind.

However, St Eunan’s finished in style, with Kelly bagging a second goal on 59 minutes, with the ball hitting the net following swift play by Shane O’Donnell and then Oran Winston rounded off the scoring with a late point.

St Eunan’s scorers: Conor O’Donnell Jnr 0-6, 1f; James Kelly 2-0; Eoin McGeehin 0-3; Ciaran Moore 0-2, Conor O’Donnell Snr 0-2; Kieran Tobin, Brian MacIntyre, Eoin Dowling, John Hay and Oran Winston 0-1

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Colm McGloin 0-3; Donagh McIntyre 1-0; Nathan Boyle 0-3, tp, 45; Philip Patton, Shane Delahunty and David Dolan 0-1.

St Eunan’s: Shaun Patton; Noah Barrett, Caolan Ward, Josh Hay; Kieran Tobin, Conor O’Donnell Snr, Oran Winston; Ciaran Moore, Eoin Dowling; Luke McGuinness, Shane O’Donnell, James Kelly; Brian MacIntyre, Eoin McGeehin, Conor O’Donnell Jnr. Subs: Jordan O’Dowd for McGeehin (52), Dylan Doogan for MacIntyre (54)

Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Senan Rooney, Michael Ward, Kyle Murray; Darragh Dolan, Shane Delahunty, Eddie Lynch; Colm McGloin, Eamonn McGrath; Shane McGrath, Damian Weber, Niall Murray; Nathan Boyle, Eoin Cassidy, Philip Patton. Subs: Donagh McIntyre for Cassidy (42), David Dolan for Murray (44), Joseph Gibbions for Delahunty (47)

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhanáda)