THE MAGHERAGALLON production line is still turning impressively as another piece of silverware heads around the back of Errigal.
Gaoth Dobhair 4-12 Aodh Ruadh 2-8
By Chris McNulty at O’Donnell Park
Gaoth Dobhair hit four goals on their way to a ten-point victory over Aodh Ruadh in the Under-16 Division 1A Championship final in Letterkenny.
Cathal De Burca scored two of the Gaoth Dobhair goals with captain Fionnan Coyle and Ronan Heffernan also rattling the Aodh Ruadh net.
Aodh Ruadh, attempting to eat into a six-point deficit in the second half, came back to within four thanks to a dramatic Danny Breen goal in the 42nd minute.
But, as in the first half, when De Burca instantly cancelled out a Damian Webber penalty, Gaoth Dobhair didn’t hang about to respond.
After a quickfire exchange, Heffernan applied the finish from close range to give Gaoth Dobhair a seven-point buffer again.
Nine minutes from the end, De Burca netted his second and Gaoth Dobhair’s fourth after Sean McFadden’s run from deep cut through Aodh Ruadh.
De Burca and Coyle landed the goals that had Gaoth Dobhair 2-7 to 1-4 in front at half-time.
The teams had been level after an exciting opening quarter-of-an-hour, but Gaoth Dobhair burst to life.
Aidan McGowan and Sean McFadden drilled over points and when Coyle powered forward, carrying from beyond the ‘45, to blast home the second Gaoth Dobhair goal, an air of inevitability fell.
Sean Gallagher came up from corner-back to put the Magheragallon men six in front.
Aodh Ruadh had a dream start when Webber tucked a third-minute penalty past Daniel Roarty after Aaron McGee was penalised for a foul on the lively Breen.
But Gaoth Dobhair issued a stirring riposte as De Burca swivelled on a sixpence to cancel out Webber’s major. De Burca calmly prodded to the net after a surging run by Stephen McFadden opened up the possibilities.
Coyle and Sean McFadden had Gaoth Dobhair in front, but the sums were evened up as Cian Rooney knocked over a routine free midway through part one.
By the time Aodh Ruadh would next register – through a Marty McGarrigle free – Gaoth Dobhair had pulled away.
It might have got worse for the Ballyshannon men, but De Burca – having collected a kick-out following a point by Darragh Ferry – shot over the top as he bore in on goal.
Gaoth Dobhair: Daniel Roarty; Aaron McGee, Eamon McBride, Sean Gallagher (0-1), Darragh Ferry (0-1), Cian McEntee, Johnny O’Donnell; Stephen McFadden (0-1), Sean McFadden (0-3); Ronan Heffernan (1-1), Fionnan Coyle (1-1), Ryan Doherty; Aidan McGowan (0-3), Cathal De Burca (2-1), Neil Doran. Subs: Adam McGeever for Doherty (55), Pauric Winters for McGeever (black card, 57), Sean Martin Ferry for Heffernan (60), Eoghan O’Donnell for O’Donnell (60).
Aodh Ruadh: Aaron Cullen; Daire Gallagher, Ryan Keenan, Padraig Daly; Colm McGloin, Kyle Murray, Eoghan Kelly; Matt Gillespie, Aaron Neilan; Kyle McCaffrey (0-1), Cian Rooney (0-2f), Marty McGarrigle (0-2f); Damian Webber (1-0pen), Diarmuid Dolan, Danny Breen (1-3). Subs: Declan McLaughlin for McCaffrey (35), Conal Bradshaw for Daly (60).
Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).
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