Football:
There was considerable toing and froing on Saturday before any football was played. A downpour over the early hours of Saturday morning left Tir Chonaill Park unplayable and Donegal CCC hunting for alternative venues. Ultimately the reserves championship quarter-final against Buncrana fell by the wayside, while the seniors ended up having to make the longer than expected trip to Fintra to take on Naomh Ultan. They progressed to the intermediate semi-finals, but it was a rather tougher task than the 2-18 to 3-8 scoreline might indicate. Naomh Ultan got an early jump and led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter. Aodh Ruadh worked their way back into contention though and, with the help of a goal from Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward, hit the break 1-9 to 1-5 ahead. Dunkineely refused to back down though and early in the second half cut the deficit to a point with the scores at 1-11 to 2-7. Points from Sticky Ward, David McGurrin and Diarmaid McInerney helped Ballyshannon stretch out in front again, but Naomh Ultan raided for another goal to leave a point in it again. Aodh Ruadh once again responded with another scoring spurt with points supplied by Philip Patton, Peter Boyle, Seamus Kane and Diarmaid McInerney. In addition Oisin Rooney hit the back of the net with his very first senior score for the Ernesiders. By now there was no time for Dunkineely to claw their way back and Aodh Ruadh were through to the semi-final. They will face Milford in that last four clash, while on the other side of the draw Burt will take on the winners of Naomh Columba and Saint Naul’s after their quarter-final ended in a draw on Sunday. Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward continued his impressive form this season while Niall Harley was immense in the middle of the park and Diarmaid McInerney was accurate as ever up front. Defensively there were a lot of penetrating runs from Eamonn McGrath while Niall Murray and Michael Ward both excelled. The Aodh Ruadh scorers were Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward (1-5), Diarmaid McInerney (0-5, 2f), David McGurrin (0-2), Peter Boyle (0-2, 1f, 1 45), Paddy Gillespie (0-1), Philip Patton (0-1), Shane McGrath (0-1) and Seamus Kane (0-1).
Aodh Ruadh will take on Milford in their intermediate semi-final this Saturday at noon, while the reserves rescheduled quarter-final will take place on Sunday at 1pm. The Donegal CCCC are to confirm venues over the course of the week.
Aodh Ruadh under 16s failed to field for their second leg championship game with Killybegs, and so the Fishermen now progress to the next round. Thanks to the managers and mentors who worked with the team this year and the players who lined out over the course of the season.
The under 13s kept up their good run with a hard earned win against Ardara in Pearse Park last Wednesday. Aodh Ruadh had a narrow two point advantage at the break and had to dog it out against a strong physical Ardara side to lead by four at the long whistle, 1-10 to 1-6 the final scoreline. Aaron Neilan fired home the goal, but this was a game where the defence was really outstanding, conceding just four points from play. Leading the way was Ryan Keenaghan with great work also by Daire Warren, Calum Doherty-Craig and Colm McGloin. The lads are training this Friday from 6pm to 7pm. We await final confirmation on next the team’s next fixture which is against Dungloe.
The under 9s finished up for their season with a blitz last Saturday in Kinlough. It was a useful work out for the lads as they build towards the under 10 campaign next year. Many thanks to Kinlough for invitation and all the parents who helped out with transport on the day.
Aodh Ruadh welcomed Four Masters, Derrygonnelly and Glencar Manorhamilton to Ballyshannon on Saturday for their under 8 end of year outdoor blitz. Weather conditions weren’t great to begin with, but improved as the afternoon wore on and weren’t bad by the time the last few games were played. After a great hour or so of football with four pitches going full tilt in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh it was up to Aras Aoidh Ruaidh for a typically superb spread of food by the Aodh Ruadh parents and guardians. Presentations were then made to the winners of the third skills test. The results for the 2010 age category were 1st Anthony Duffy, 2nd Manus Conlon, and 3rd Darragh McCready. The results for the 2009 age category were 1st Callum Dorrian, 2nd Antoin Duffy, and 3rd Eoghan McCadden The results for the 2008 age category were 1st Corey Sheridan, 2nd Daithí Sheerin and 3rd Garreth Brennan. These were followed by the presentations to the overall skills test winners for 2016 who were 1st Corey Sheridan, 2nd Joseph Gibbions and 3rd Eoghan ‘Blake’ Gallagher. Honourable mention to Callum Dorrian who just missed out by 3 points and Gareth Brennan who just missed out by 5 points on a top three place. The most important awards of the afternoon were presented last and went to the players who had improved most over the course of the season based on their skills test results. Patrick Clarke, Oisin McCadden and Anthony Duffy all just missed out on third in what was a very tightly fought competition. The final winners were 1st Éabha Rogers, 2nd Callum Dorrian, with 3rd place shared by Antoin Duffy and Iarla Hartin. We take a break this Friday coming before we finish the season with our indoor league in the new hall at Coláiste Cholmcille which runs from 6pm to 8pm on Fridays 7th and 14th October. We have pictures and an extended report from the blitz up on aodhruadh.org.
Advance notice of the indoor leagues for the under 10s and under 12s. The under 10 indoor league will be staged in the new hall at Coláiste Cholmcille from 6pm to 8pm on Fridays 21st and 28th October, while the under 12 indoor league will run Fridays 4th and 11th November in the same time slots.
There is Bord na nÓg meeting on Tuesday, 27th September at 8.30pm in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh. All committee members are asked to attend.
Hurling
On Sunday last we hosted the annual Aodh Ó Dálaigh tournament. This tournament is in existence since 1982 and originally it was played on a town league basis. But over the last number of years it has become one of the best tournament in Ulster and we have teams from traditional hurling counties Galway and Antrim willing to travel to take part. This year’s event was no different and the following teams took part. Holders Abbeyknockmoy from Galway, their county comrades Tuam, Keady of Armagh, Loch Mor Dal gCais from Antrim and Aodh Ruadh.
The tournament was played on a round robin basis so all teams were guaranteed lots of hurling, round two saw hosts Aodh Ruadh up against Loch Mor Dal gCais and Abbeyknockmoy against Keady. The hosts, playing some great hurling, had a comprehensive win over the Antrim lads and Abbeyknockmoy, determined to hold onto their title, easily defeated Keady.
Round two saw Abbeyknockmoy play Loch Mor Dal gCais and Tuam taking on Keady, again Abbey had a comfortable victory while regular visitors Tuam won a close game against the Orchard lads.
Round three saw Aodh Ruadh take on Keady and there was a north Galway derby between Tuam and Abbeyknockmoy. Aodh Ruadh playing with the confidence of county champions had a great victory over Keady while Abbeyknockmoy kept their impressive run going defeating their neighbours Tuam.
Round four saw Aodh Ruadh taking on Tuam and Loch Mor Dal gCais clash with Keady. Aodh Ruadh qualified for the Aodh Ó Dálaigh final beating Tuam and Keady got their first win of the day against Loch Mor.
Round five was to see the clash of Aodh Ruadh and Abbeyknockmoy as both teams had qualified for the Aodh Ó Dálaigh final there was no need to play their league game, but there was lot at stake in the clash between Loch Mor and Tuam as the Antrim lads were hoping to get their first win of the day and maybe, depending on score difference, qualify for the Primary League Final. However, the Tuam men going for a four-in-a-row of Primary League titles came out on top.
We now had the pairings for the two finals, Aodh Ruadh were up against Abbeyknockmoy in the Aodh Ó Dálaigh final and Tuam were defending their title against Keady in the Primary League final.
There was huge interest in the Aodh Ó Dálaigh final, the local lads hadn’t claimed this title since 2010. They were unbeaten all season and after claiming the county title last week they were full of confidence, but they knew they were up against a strong Galway team and a tough battle lay ahead. The lads had great support for this game, it was a tough physical encounter with some great hurling and lots of hooking and blocking as both teams gave it their all. Aodh Ruadh led at half time 1-5 to 1-2. The Galway lads got a goal early in the second half to level the game and for the next 10 minutes there was nothing between the teams as they traded scores and fought like tigers. The Aodh Ruadh boys were determined to claim this crown and they were not going to be defeated and for the last quarter of the game they were well on top and at the final whistle after eight minutes of injury time they were worthy winners on a 3-11 to 3-4 score line. There were great scenes of celebration and all were in agreement that the best team had won. There was little between them as they were level on six occasions, but Aodh Ruadh’s greater strength and hunger allowed them forge ahead at the end.
While the Aodh Ó Dálaigh final captured the attention of the majority of the crowd present the Primary League was also a very hard fought affair between holders Tuam and Keady. The scores were level at half-time, but in the second half Keady’s greater hunger and tiredness on behalf of the Tuam lads proved the difference as the Armagh boys came out on top. From the playing fields it was up to Aras Aoidh Ruaidh where, as always, the Aodh Ruadh mammies catered for everyone with a great spread of food which after a long days hurling everyone was glad to see.
John Rooney on behalf of Aodh Ruadh Juvenile Hurling Committee welcomed the Daly family and all the clubs to the presentation, he thanked all the clubs who had attended and thanked them for the efforts they made to attend he said it was much appreciated by the Daly family and all involved with underage hurling in Aodh Ruadh. He thanked the refs Peter Horan and Slyvie Maguire and the umpires Mike Lynch and Daithi Breen. He thanked all the mothers who had brought so much food on the day. He spoke of the huge contribution the late Hugh Daly made to the GAA in Donegal and Ulster and how the Daly family were carrying on his great tradition.
He then called on Ms Aoibhínn Kelly Principal of Creevy National School to present the Primary League Shield on behalf of the local national schools. Aoibhínn spoke of the great skills on display in all the games and she called Tuam forward to accept their runners-up medals. She then presented the shield to a delighted Keady captain Sean O’Reilly.
Michael Daly then spoke on behalf of the Daly family, he spoke of his late father and how the family were so proud to have this tournament in his honour, he thanked all involved in organising it and all who helped out on the day. He spoke of the great skills on display and wearing his Aodh Ruadh hat he was delighted to see them claim back the title last won by them in 2010. He called up the Abbeyknockmoy captain to accept the runners-up medals, and then to huge cheers Aodh Ruadh captain Aaron Cullen came forward to accept the Aodh Ó Dálaigh shield, showing the same confidence as he did on the field he made a great acceptance speech before calling forward his team and manager Denis Daly to accept their medals. All in all a great day’s hurling and plans are already in place for the 2017 tournament. We have pictures from the tournament up on aodhruadh.org.
On Thursday last our under 16s played Four Masters in the league semi-final. Due to a number of injuries we only had 11 players, but by God did these 11 lads give it everything. They were a credit to the club. Although well beaten the lads never gave up and showed a great attitude. We knew it was going to be very difficult to field an under 16 team this year due to a lack of numbers, but fair play to all the lads who have made the effort and ensured we fielded for all the league games. Next up is the championship semi-final on Thursday week away to Four Masters or Setanta.
Ladies
The under 16 girls made the 130 mile round trip to Portsalon for their division 2 county quarter-final last Wednesday. Aodh Ruadh got on top of matters in the first half and had established a lead by the interval. They extended that out over the course of the second half to run out 3-11 to 2-5 victors. Katherine McClay was in excellent form between the posts and she received good cover from Brianna Maher and Bronagh Kelly. Saoirse McDevitt had an excellent day in the middle of the park while up front Mary Flora Scott kept the score board ticking over regularly. We have pictures from the trip north on aodhruadh.org.
The under 13s have a challenge against Kinawley this Wednesday at 6pm, in Kinawley. We will be leaving the Park at 4.30pm to travel to the game and anyone available to help with transport is asked to liaise with Barry Ward. Parents, guardians and players are asked to note the change of fixtures for our last two league games. We are away to Red Hugh’s on Sunday 2nd October and at home to Robert Emmet’s on Sunday 9th October. Both games fixed for 5pm. The girls are training this Wednesday and Friday at 6.30pm.
Official opening
It’s been a tough few years about the town with the recession. You can only say fair play to those who managed to keep the show on the road at all during it. One of those was Kernan’s Spar at the top of the town. They have been a good sponsor to the club and a number of club players and mentors work there, as, I hasten to add, is the case with numerous other businesses around the town. Kernan’s have recently concluded an expansion of their premises and are having an official opening this Thursday between 11am and 2pm. Sources close to the event tell us there may well be a Donegal GAA star present to add to the razzamatazz, so why not drop in and support the people who support your club.
Abbey Centre Bingo
The €400 jackpot was won by Pat Treacy of Belleek. There was no winner of the summer snowball so it now stands at €625 on 48 numbers or less. This Friday is the September big bingo, with a massive €3,225 in the kitty including the €1,000 jackpot game. Books cost just €15 or get the book and a half special for €20! First game at 9pm at the Abbey Centre.
Aodh Ruadh Lotto
There was no winner of last week’s Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot of €6,400. The winning numbers drawn were 2, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 16. In the lucky dip €20 went to the Martin Gahan, Tirconaill Street; Loretta Gallagher, Ballure Lane; Teresa Gallogly, Rathfort Crescent, Belfast; Catherine Dury, Rockfield Park, Belleek; Pat Melly, Pat’s Bar. Next draw is in Owen Roe’s with a jackpot of €6,500 on Sunday at 8.30pm. Tickets are now available in the following outlets: Seán Óg’s, The Market House, Dicey Reilly’s, The Limit, Pat’s Bar, The Bridgend, Owen Roe’s, Fin McCool’s, The Lantern, McGinley’s, Pearse O’Neill’s, McCosker’s Centra and Kernan’s Spar and at the weekly and weekly bingo in the Abbey Centre. If not in, you can’t win!
The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra Saturday is: RESERVE FOOTBALLERS.
You can receive the club notes by e-mail every Tuesday morning. To subscribe, enter your details on the website, www.aodhruadh.org, or e-mail your request to info@aodhruadh.org.
Tags: