Under 12s come through rugged encounter with a win
Under 12 football
Aodh Ruadh 4-7
Killybegs 3-2
7 May 2012
John Hughes reports from Father Tierney Park
The under 12 league started with the visit of Ardara to Father Tierney Park on Bank Holiday Monday. Aodh Ruadh dominated the opening moment and had a goal and a point on the board within 30 seconds Evan McTiernan putting the ball in the net and Tom Geraghty following up with a point.
With five minutes gone Ardara finally got settled and fashioned a goal, taken by Caolan Malley. Aodh Ruadh's response was instant. Evan McTiernan's shot on was goal bound, but Nathan McNeely got the final touch to take it home and restore the homesters four point lead. McTiernan did manage to get back on the score sheet shortly after with a point. The final 12 minutes of the half were fractious with a lot of pulling and dragging going on and their was a definite edge to the game. Points from Tom Geraghty and Peter Bennett made the half time score 2-3 to 1-1 in favour of Ballyshannon, but it took an outstanding block on the line from Pauric Keenaghan to ensure the Ernesiders didn't ship a goal just before the break.
Aodh Ruadh were first on to the score sheet in the second half too with Dylan Gallagher getting his first point of the game. Gallagher had a fine match and was unlucky not to finish with a higher tally, two rasping efforts from him coming back off the cross bar in the 41st and 48th minutes. Aodh Ruadh were piling on the pressure, but the scores just didn't seem to be coming, particularly with Gallagher repeatedly testing the metalwork. Eventually, following Gallagher's second near miss Aodh Ruadh caught a break. Michael McKenna won the ball in midfield and delivered it into Tom Geraghty who took his goal well. Peter Bennett responded with a goal two minutes later, but it was very much against the run of play. As the game went into the final ten minutes Evan McTiernan won a free which Dylan Gallagher crisply converted. Gallagher won the kick out and rampaged through the Ardara defence and made no mistake with his shot, finally getting a well-deserved goal to take the scores to 4-5 to 2-1.
Dylan Gallagher knocked over another free with six minutes remaining. Aodh Ruadh ran a few subs after that and Ardara got a slight bit more joy in their attacking endeavours. First Peter Bennett hit a fine point and then Jonathan McHugh dropped a ball into the net from a free. Fittingly enough it was midfielder Dylan Gallagher who had the last say, hitting a free to take his tally for the day to 1-4.
Aodh Ruadh delivered a good performance to take the points in trying circumstances. The full back line were excellent with Ciaran Meehan constantly out in front and Pauric Keenaghan very secure under the high ball and Caolan Dolan treating every ball like a prisoner. Shane Gillespie at centre half back was another who had a good 60 minutes. The midfield pairing of Dylan Gallagher and Michael McKenna were excellent. Gallagher in particular covered every inch of the park.
Up front Evan McTiernan proved a difficult presence for Ardara to deal with, as was the industrious Nathan McNeely.
| Vital Statistics |
|---|
| Aodh Ruadh |
|
JJ Goan; Ciaran Meehan, Pauric Keenaghan, Caolan Dolan; Shane Gillespie, Darragh Ward; Dylan Gallagher, Michael McKenna; Evan McTiernan, Tom Geraghty; Odhran Kennedy, Odhran McGarrigle, Nathan McNeely. Substitutes: Ben Hunter for Odhran McGarrigle; Mark Gettins for Odhran Kennedy; Tiarnan Dolan for Tom Geraghty. |
| Ardara |
|
Kieran Gavigan; Eoin Ketterick, Zack Gallagher, Eimear Boyle; Matthew Sweeney, Finn Gallagher; Eoin Harkin, Ronan White; Caolan Malley, Stephen Bennett; Jonathan McHugh, Emmett Byrne, Peter Bennett. |
Last modified: Friday, 22 May 2020 at 2:31pm