Aodh Ruadh bridge 14 year gap
Under 16 Football Championship
31 August 2011
Aodh Ruadh 2-18
Dungloe 1-5
Chris McNulty reports from MacCumhaill Park
Aodh Ruadh took a first U16 A Championship title since 1997 back to Ballyshannon on Wednesday night after demolishing Naomh Mhuire in a one-sided final in MacCumhaill Park.
The Ernesiders had 16 points to spare at the end, with all bar three of their points coming from play and they had eight different scorers on the night. Excellent corner-forward David McGurrin inflicted the bulk of the pain, tallying an impressive 1-7 on the night to steer his team to victory.
This was a polished performance by an Aodh Ruadh side that is well drilled and an excellent team performance saw them take the title at the expense of Naomh Mhuire, who were appearing in their first county final at this level.
The game was effectively over as a contest in the 17th minute when McGurrin fired home the game's opening goal to put 12 points between the teams and a second goal from Johnny Gethins ten minutes into the second-half ended any hopes of a Naomh Mhuire comeback.
Aodh Ruadh got off to a whirlwind start and had five points on the board inside the first six minutes of the tie, with McGurrin bagging three and Jamie McDonald (2) and James Kelly also on the mark.
McGurrin turned provider to tee up Johnny Gethins and another lethal incision by Michael McNeely put them eight up before a majestic McGurrin point made it a nine-point game.
In the 17th minute, the Ballyshannon boys bagged the game's first goal. Captain Eamonn McGrath was a key man in the build-up with James Kelly laying on the pass for McGurrin, who stepped round 'keeper Gerard Boyle to slot home from close range.
A brilliant score from distance by Jamie McDonald followed before the tide was finally stemmed somewhat with the arrival of Naomh Mhuire's first point, through a Shaun McCafferty free on 25 minutes.
Aodh Ruadh came agonisingly close to a second goal late in the half, McDonald palming wide after an excellent move involving Johnny Gethins and McGurrin and at the other end a brilliant rob by Pauric Patton denied Cameron Harley when he seemed set to rifle to the net from close range.
Naomh Mhuire came out fighting at the start of the second-half and 59 seconds in they had a goal when Harley shot home after McCafferty had an effort saved by Kelly. A magnificent 45-metre free by McCafferty added to their tally, but if there were any lingering doubts about the end result Aodh Ruadh put those to bed blasting 1-3 in the next four minutes.
Colm Kelly, McGurrin and Pauric Patton hit the points and on 40 minutes Johnny Gethins struck gold when he fired home to the bottom corner with his left foot after making a surging burst from deep right into the heart of the Naomh Mhuire rearguard. After McCafferty and Kelly registered for the Lower Rosses boys, Gillespie, McGurrin (2) and McDonald stretched the Aodh Ruadh advantage.
A third goal was harshly ruled out for a square ball infringement, though McGurrin was in the square when he offloaded a brilliant ball to Kelly who crashed home.
Naomh Mhuire's McCafferty was denied a goal at the other end, Daniel Kelly saving well with his legs. McCafferty did point a free soon after, but the final say of the day came from corner-back Colm Kelly, an excellent score rounding off a memorable evening for his side.
THE GAME AT A GLANCE
Man of the Match
David McGurrin (Aodh Ruadh): All the contenders were in the green and white of a superb Aodh Ruadh team. Star of the show was classy corner- forward David McGurrin, whose 1-7 tally did the bulk of the damage. McGurrin delivered a top-drawer display and showed just why he's so highly rated by the Erne. He was ably assisted on the night by Colm Kelly, Pauric Patton, Jamie McDonald and the stylish Johnny Gethins.
Turning Point
Aodh Ruadh stamped early authority on this contest and never looked back. After hitting nine points in the first fifteen minutes, David McGurrin rattled the net with the opening goal in the 17th minute and the Ballyshannon brigade were in total control.
The Whistler
Such was the dominance of Aodh Ruadh, Ronan Kennedy's performance was never going to have a big bearing on the game. The Naomh Ultan official ruled out a third Aodh Ruadh goal on 56 minutes with a harsh square ball call against James Kelly.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Daniel Kelly; Matthew Maguire, Ryan Patton, Colm Kelly (0-2); Patrick Gillespie (0-1), Pauric Patton (0-1), Niall Harley; Eamonn McGrath, Darren Gethins; Johnny Gethins (1-1), Michael McNeely (0-1), James Kelly (0-1); Eddie Lynch, Jamie McDonald (0-4), David McGurrin (1-7, 3f). Substitutes: Gareth Ferguson, Colm O'Halloran, Matthew Gettins, Conor Kennedy. |
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Naomh Mhuire Gerard Boyle; Alan O'Brien, Patrick Rodgers, Shaun Burns; Conor Boyle, Jack O'Brien, Patrick Delap; Jamie Boyle, Patrick Gillespie; Shaun McCafferty (0-4, 4f), Jack Boyle, Darren Sweeney; Hugh Boyle, Cameron Harley (1-0), James Ferry (0-1). Substitutes: Jack McDevitt, Ciaran Harden, Conor White, Michael McBride, Ryan O'Donnell, Ronan Duffy, Cathal McBride, Cian Boyle. |
| Referee: Ronan Kennedy (Naomh Ultan) |
Last modified: Friday, 22 May 2020 at 2:31pm