JOHN Ross Molloy scored the crucial goal as Ardara overcame Gaoth Dobhair at Pearse Memorial Park.
Ardara 1-12 Gaoth Dobhair 0-12
There were just four minutes gone when Matthew Sweeney fed Molloy and he riffled past Christopher Sweeney.
Ardara were in dreamland with a 1-2 to 0-0 lead and they were 1-5 to 0-1 ahead at the water break.
With Robbie Adair, Sweeney and Daryll Maguire among the scorers, Ardara were 1-8 to 0-4 ahead at half-time.
However, Ethan Harkin and Naoise Ó Baoill scored to reduce the arrears and the men from the west were within two heading into the final quarter.
Paul Walsh’s cool ’45 kept Ardara in front and his fisted point also proved key as Ardara took their first win of 2021.
Ardara: Paddy Gallagher; Tony Harkin, Joe Melly (0-1), Shane Whyte; Matthew Sweeney (0-2), Conor Classon, Danny Walsh; John Ross Molloy (1-0), Robbie Adair (0-1); Daryll Maguire (0-2), Lorcan O’Donnell, Paul Walsh (0-4, 1f, 1 ’45); Kevin Whyte (0-1), Tomas Boyle (0-1), Nicholas Maguire. Subs used: Paul Watters, Johnny Sweeney.
Gaoth Dobhair: Christopher Sweeney; Cian McEntee, Gary McFadden (0-1), Ryan Kelly; Cian Mulligan (0-1), Eamon McGee, Niall Friel; Peter McGee, Michael Carroll (0-1); James Boyle, Ethan Harkin (0-4, 3f), Naoise Ó Baoill (0-1); Sean Doherty (0-1), Eamonn Collum (0-3, 2f), Cathal Gillespie.
Referee: Val Murray (Aodh Ruadh)
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