By Matthew Wilson
Ardara 2-13
Aodh Ruadh 2-9
Ardara earned their first win of this year’s championship courtesy of a four-point victory over Aodh Ruadh at Pearse Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.
The sides were level as we entered the closing stages of Sunday’s encounter however, four points without reply secured the win for Clint Walsh’s outfit.
Aodh Ruadh suffered an early blow in this meeting, with Shane McGrath being forced off through injury in the opening minutes of play.
On the four minute mark, Ardara got the afternoon’s scoring underway through a Cailum Malley point.
A minute later, the hosts were awarded a penalty after Danny Walsh was taken to ground as he headed towards goal.
Shane Sweeney stepped up to the spot and made no mistake, giving his side an early four-point lead.
However, the visitors replied with a major of their own down the other end of the field.
A good team move concluded with wing-back Darragh Dolan slotting the ball low and into the net to reduce the arrears to the minimum.
Clint Walsh’s men responded well to the Aodh Ruadh goal, kicking the contest’s next four scores.
This period was commenced by a fantastic two-pointed free from Eoghan Ban McNelis, striking it over with the outside of his boot.
Further points courtesy of Cailum Malley and Kian McCabe gave the hosts a five-point cushion at the 17 minute mark.
The Ballyshannon men replied with their first white flag of the afternoon, with Eddie Lynch finding the target.
On 25 minutes, Ardara came close to finding their second goal of the game as Cailum Malley went on a driving run before playing a one-two with Shane Sweeney but his effort rattled the crossbar.
Shortly afterwards, it was the away side who found the back of the net as Colm McGloin powered a brilliant strike past Paddy Gallagher and into the net.
The Fr Tierney Park residents began to find their groove, with a fisted point from Nathan Boyle and a superb effort from Philip Patton giving them a slender one-point advantage at the break.
The first four scores of the second stanza were shared two-apiece, with Senan Rooney and Damian Weber (free) pointing for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Eoghan Ban McNelis (free) and Paddy McGrath found the target for the hosts to leave us as we were at the interval.
But nine minutes into Act Two, Clint Walsh’s outfit landed a very important score in the form of a major.
Ardara substitute Kian McCabe won possession from a Peter Boyle kickout, they worked it forward and it was Shane Sweeney who slotted it into the bottom corner of the net.
This was closely followed by a fine effort from Cailum Malley to give the home side a three-point cushion with twenty minutes left on the clock.
Aodh Ruadh’s Nathan Boyle and Ardara’s Eoghan Gallagher exchanged efforts before the away outfit landed three successive scores in quick succession.
Jack Gallagher, Philip Patton and Senan Rooney all saw white flags raised for their attempts to leave us all-square as we entered the closing eight minutes.
However, the Pearse Memorial Park residents rallied back once again and three quick fire points through Cailum Malley, Josh Malley and John Ross Molloy saw them regain the advantage.
Ardara had two goal chances to secure the victory but they were unable to find the back of the net, with Eoghan Ban McNelis hitting the post and Cailum Malley rattling the crossbar for a second time.
The Ballyshannon men searched for a score that would earn them something from the encounter in the closing stages.
But a fine effort from Ban McNelis deep into stoppage time sealed the win for the hosts.
Teams
Ardara: Paddy Gallagher; Shane Mooney, Shane Whyte, Joe Melly; Kevin Whyte, Paddy McGrath (0-1), Darragh Hennigan; John Ross Molloy (0-1), Eoghan Gallagher (0-1) Eoghan Ban McNelis (0-4,1tp,0-2f), Josh Malley (0-1), Cailum Malley (0-4); Shane Sweeney (2-0), CJ Molloy, Danny Walsh. Subs: Kian McCabe (0-1) for John Ross Molloy (6 mins, temporary substitute), Kian McCabe for Kevin Whyte (37 mins), KJ Molloy for KJ Molloy (40 mins).
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle; Senan Rooney (0-2), Michael Ward, Shane Delahunty; Kyle Murray, Eddie Lynch (0-1), Darragh Dolan (1-0); Matt Gillespie, Eamonn McGrath; Philip Patton (0-2), Shane McGrath, Colm McGloin (1-0); Nathan Boyle (0-2), Darren Drummond. Subs: Damian Weber (0-1,0-1f) for Shane McGrath (6 mins), Eoin Cassidy for Murray (27 mins), Eoghan Kelly for Cassidy (40 mins), Jack Gallagher (0-1) for Weber (45 mins).
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s).