CARNDONAGH finished strongly at MacCumhaill Park today to see off Aodh Ruadh and ensure passage to the Donegal JHC final.
Carndonagh 1-14 Aodh Ruadh 0-11
John O’Donnell’s goal at the start of the second half set them on their way and then, after Aodh Ruadh got back on terms, the ability to score the last six points of the game was the difference.
Photos by Caroline McLaughlin
They’ll play newcomers Dungloe in the final.
There was little in it in the first half, with Aodh Ruadh managing to get ahead by the half-time whistle on a 0-7 to 0-6 scoreline.
The biggest gap between the sides was when an Oisin Rooney double meant the Ballyshannon team were three up at one stage, but Cathal Doherty popped over two for Carndonagh to bring it back to the minimum.
After O’Donnell’s goal, when he got in to get the better of Ryan O’Brien to make it 1-7 to 0-8, Aodh Ruadh gathered and Stephen Connolly and Rooney brought the sides level at 1-8 to 0-11.
However, the well ran dry for Aodh Ruadh and they failed to score in the final 13 minutes, while Carndonagh went to town. Points from Conor Fagan, O’Donnell, Doherty and. A reassuring brace from Darragh McCormick sealed the six-point win.
Carndonagh: Stephen Burns; Danny McCarron, Mark Diver, Ryan Davenport; Cormac Monagle, James Monagle, Donal Doherty; Anthony Doherty, Padraig Doherty; Conor Fagan (0-1), Cathal Doherty (0-8 6f, 65), Paddy Monagle; John O Donnell (1- 3), Dermot McGonagle, Conal Doogan. Subs: Owen Kelly for Paddy Monagle (half-time), Darragh McCormick (0-2) for Doogan (45), Conor McCormick for Paddy Monagle (50).
Aodh Ruadh: Ryan O Brien; Peter Horan, Jack Matthews, Adam Rami; Conor McNeely, Paul Sheridan, Stephen Connolly (0-1); Brendan Gillespie (0-1), Eugene Drummond; Gareth Sheerin (0-1), Oisin Rooney (0-7, 3f), Ciaran Kilgannon (0-1); Micky Bowering, Martin Larkin, Rory Cullen. Subs: Kieran Rami for A Rami (half-time), Stephen Anderson for Cullen (40), A Rami for Sheridan (45).