Red Hughs 5-11 Milford 2-18
TIM Callaghan netted a hat-trick as Red Hughs got the better of Milford in a scorefest in Páirc Aodh Rua on Sunday.
The pressure was on after both sides had lost their opening two games but Stephen McMenamin was back for Red Hughs and they deserved their win.
Tim Callaghan and Finn Coll swapped points in the opening six minutes.
Red Hughs then scored a fine goal in the seventh minute when Jack Gillespie palmed home from a flowing team move.
Cathal McGettigan curled over a point for Milford but they conceded a second goal in the 11th minute.
Gillespie won a penalty and while Tim Callaghan’ s effort was saved by Killian Hagan he made no mistake with the rebound.
Red Hughs were dominating and Liam Carlin, Cathair Browne, and Conor Gallagher all kicked scores.
Darragh Black and Browne traded points before Kane Barrett drilled over for Milford.
Red Hughs then grabbed a third goal in the 24th when Callaghan slotted to the net.
McGettigan struck a brace of two-point frees for Milford to reduce their deficit to five at the break.
Kane Barrett gave Milford a good start to the second half with a two-pointer.
Red Hughs had the perfect response as Callaghan swooped for his hat-trick in the 34th minute.
Gillespie boomed over a two-point free to move the gap back out to eight.
Kane Barrett responded with a two-point free but Gillespie notched a placed ball at the other end.
Paul Ryan gave Milford some hope with a goal in the 47th minute.
However, Liam Carlin cancelled that out with a fifth Red Hughs goal and Gillespie added a two-pointer as they chased after improving their score difference.
To their credit, Milford didn’t throw in the towel.
McGettigan notched a brace of two-pointers while Shane Black tapped over and Finn Coll then scored a great goal in the 62nd minute and suddenly the deficit was back to one.
Red Hughs were under pressure but they then won a pressure kick-out and worked the ball to Gillespie, who held his nerve to fire over.
That left two points between the sides in the dying seconds and Milford went for a goal but Red Hughs goalkeeper Luke Kelly stood firm.
The win gives Red Hughs a fighting chance of making the quarter-finals while Milford have lost three on the spin and will have to contend with the relegation play-offs.
Red Hughs: Luke Kelly; Shane Gallagher, Steven McBride, Jason Callaghan; James Doherty, Stephen McMenamin, Aaron McGlinchey; Darragh McMenamin, Thomas McMenamin; Liam Carlin (1-1), Jack Gillespie (1-6, 1tp, 1tpf, 1f), Gareth McGill; Tim Callaghan (3-1), Conor Gallagher (0-1), Cathair Browne (0-2). Subs: Pauric McMenamin, Calvin Bradley, Adam Doherty, Colm Melaugh.
Milford: Killian Hagan; Conor Coll, Peter Curran, Anthony Curran; Ronan Docherty, Conor McHugh, Dylan Dorrian; Lorcan Friel, Rory O’Donnell; Kane Barrett (0-5, 1tp, 1tpf), Cathal McGettigan (0-10, 1tp, 3tpfs, 1f), Finn Coll (1-1); Shane Black (0-1), Darragh Black (0-1), Eoin O’Donnell. Subs: Shaun Coffey, Paul Ryan (1-0), Ryan McElhinney.
Referee: Trevor Maloney (Buncrana)