First intermediate final for Aodh Ruadh
Intermediate Football Championship semi-final
21 October 2012
Aodh Ruadh 1-16
Naomh Colmcille 0-5
MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey
Aodh Ruadh reached their first intermediate championship final in their history with a convincing 1-16 to 0-5 replay win over Naomh Colmcille. It was a game where Michael 'Sticky' Ward and Brian Roper had the measure of the opposition defence and their promptings were at the heart of Aodh Ruadh's victory. Ballyshannon went into an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead before what proved the key incident of the game.
First Peter Boyle pulled off a save from Willie Gillespie, before the Ernesiders swiftly moved the ball up the park and Sticky Ward and Brian Roper exchanged passes before Ward finished with a fist to the back of the net. Two points rapidly followed the goal, taking the scores to 1-5 to 0-1 and seemed to knock the stuffing out out of the Inishowen challenge. Aodh Ruadh added a further four points to go in at the break with a well-earned 1-9 to 0-2 lead.
Naomh Colmcille needed the first score of the second half if they were to have any chance. That they managed to do, but Aodh Ruadh's response was a series of seven unanswered points which effectively ended the game as a contest. Naomh Colmcille rallied somewhat in the closing stages, but it was too little, too late.
While it was a bravura display by the Aodh Ruadh attack, the half back division deserve recognition for their punishing work ethic, while Stephen Ward and Kerry Ryan were utterly dominant in the middle of the pitch.
A county final now awaits against Termon this Friday. Aodh Ruadh will have to build on their strong semi-final performance if they are to bring county silverware back against a Termon outfit flying high in division three and who will be installed as firm title favourites.
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Peter Boyle; Johnny Gallagher (0-2), Ciron Whoriskey, Conor Patton; Michael Dolan, Anthony Boyle, Eamonn McGrath; Kerry Ryan (0-1), Stephen Ward; Barry Mulligan (0-4), David Dolan (0-2), Martin Gallagher (0-1); Brian Roper (0-2, 1f), Michael 'Sticky' Ward (1-3, 1f), Donagh McIntyre (0-1). Substitutes: Diarmuid McInerney for Sticky Ward: 50 minutes; James O’Donnell for Stephen Ward: 52 minutes; Niall McCready for Donagh McIntyre: 55 minutes. |
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Naomh Colmcille Martin Callaghan; Paul Friel, Alex Devenney, Mark Callaghan; Gerard Curran, Shane McAteer, Eddie Gillespie; Ciaran Devine, Ryan McKinley; Don Hegarty, William Lynch, Ryan McErlean (0-1); Willie Gillespie (0-2, 2f), Tommy McKinley, Matthew Crossan (0-1, 1 45). Substitutes: Mark Dowds for Don Hegarty: Half time; Anthony Grant for William Lynch: half-time; Andrew Clarke for Ryan McKinley: 45 minutes; Joe Donaghy (0-1) for Mark Callaghan: 56 minutes. |
| Referee: Ian Molloy (Naomh Conaill). |
Last modified: Wednesday, 27 May 2020 at 8:24pm