TEN POINTED FREES from Philip Patton was the springboard for Aodh Ruadh to win the Southern Regional Board Minor Football Championship Division 1 final against Naomh Conaill this evening.
Aodh Ruadh 0-15 Naomh Conaill 1-8
The Ballyshannon side would’ve been considered underdogs at TÃrconaill Park in Donegal town but with Patton holding his nerves from placed balls, took the title back to the banks of the Erne.
The spadework was done in the first half with an 0-8 to 0-2 lead established, although Naomh Conaill rallied in the third quarter with Ethan O’Donnell netting a superb goal and Eoghan McGettigan, who scored six points, on form throughout.
However, Aodh Ruadh weathered the storm and saw it out and will now face northern runners-up St Eunan’s in the All-County semi-final, with Naomh Conaill facing Gaoth Dobhair.
After 10 scoreless minutes to begin with, Peter McKenna’s Aodh Ruadh were 0-3 to 0-2 up on 17 minutes with Patton opening his account and Oisin Roper and the impressive Oisin Rooney also on the mark.
At that stage, all Naomh Conaill had mustered was two McGettigan scores and it would stay that way until half-time. In the meantime, Patton added four more placed ball and Calum O’Halloran had joined the attack from centre-back to finish off a flowing move.
Six points down at the restart, Naomh Conaill needed something and by the 45th minute were only two behind, 0-11 to 1-6. O’Donnell’s goal on 35 minutes came following a pass form JD Boyle and the county minor raced towards goal and thundered his shot past Sean Taylor.
O’Donnell added a wonderful free from the sideline and afterwards, when he was off target, the situation was retrieved by McGettigan, who swiveled to score an excellent point.
At this stage, it looked as though Naomh Conaill were about to grasp control but lost Matias McKelvey to a black card for blocking off, although the wing-back protested his innocence.
Aodh Ruadh were content to carry the ball into contact and won four frees in the latter stages as their corner-back Céalán Dummond and Naomh Conaill’s David Keeney were also back-carded in separate incidents.
Three more Patton frees following a long-ranger from Nathan Boyle was enough for the four-point win.
Aodh Ruadh: Sean Taylor; Cian McGloin, Jason Granaghan, Cáelán Drummond; Conall Sweeny, Calum O’Halloran (0-1), Daniel Warnock; Nathan Boyle (0-1,f), Oisin Rooney (0-1); Ryan McKenna, Oisin Roper (0-1), Shane McGrath; Gareth Sheerin, Jason Gallagher, Philip Patton (0-10, 10f). Subs: Dylan Gallagher for Sheerin (38); Conor Kennedy for Drummond (59 black card).
Naomh Conaill: Tony Byrne; Ultan Doherty, Charlie McDonnell, Cian Doherty; Matias McKelvey, Logan Quinn, JD Boyle; Reece McDyer, Ethan O’Donnell (1-1, 1f); Paul McGuinness, Ciaran Gallagher, David Keeney; Jack Flannery, Eoghan McGettigan (0-6, 3f), Oliver Stan. Subs: Jono Molloy for McDyer (36)Â Shane McDevitt for McKelvey (49 black card), Odhran McDevitt for Keeney (60 black card).
Referee: Mark Brown (Four Masters).
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