ARDARA TOOK A little while to get going but once they did they had too much for St Eunan’s in this evening’s County Minor League semi-final in Convoy.
Ardara 1-10 St Eunan’s 0-10
The side from Pearse Park opened with five consecutive wides and took 17 minutes to score. By that stage they trailed 0-3 to 0-0 with Ciaran Kelly having slotted over a 45, Kevin Keely on the mark and Brian MacIntyre having joined the attack from wing-back to score.
Photo caption: Danny Walsh of Ardara holds onto possession against St Eunan’s in the County Minor League semi-final in Convoy this evening. Photo: Geraldine Diver
In Niall McCrossan, Ardara had a player who initially struggled from placed balls but once he slotted over his first, his confidence viably grew. He would end up with seven points – six frees and a 45.
[adrotate group=”56″]By the 23rd minute though, Ardara were still not full through the gears and were 0-5 to 0-1 down with Niall Hannigan and MacIntyre on target for the Jim Clarke-managed St Eunan’s, who lined out without their talisman Niall O’Donnell.
Ardara, managed by Adrian Brennan, did finish out the half well, going in just 0-5 to 0-3 in arrears following two more frees from McCrossan.
[adrotate group=”63″]A Hannigan free on 31 minutes edged the St Eunan’s lead out to three before what might be considered the turning point came five minutes later.
A deep free from McCrossan into a crowded square was met by St Eunan’s goalkeeper Matthew Gallagher but his slapped clearance rebounded into the net off Simon Breslin.
On 43 minutes Finnian Ward of Ardara played in Breslin and his flashing effort was just wide of the St Eunan’s post.
Greg McGroary, the match referee, had been whistling steadily and that irked a few – especially those on the St Eunan’s bench. In the first half they’d seen their team get a goal chalked out when a square ball was called, despite Oisin Purdy scoring from open play and the claims saying he’d only entered the square after the ball was played.
Ardara, who had the slight breeze in the second half, were more willing to go long after the break and had the men inside to cause the Letterkenny team trouble.
By the 50th minute, Ardara were 1-7 to 0-8 in front in a stage of the contest where scores from play were hard to come from. Hannigan, with one from play and a free, helped St Eunan’s to get within a point after four more placed balls from McCrossan.
Six minutes from time, Robbie Adair scored what was Ardara’s first point from play to establish a three-point lead. St Eunan’s pushed and got a point from Michael McGroary, only for Ardara to point instantly in reply.
When Dylan McGroary pointed for St Eunan’s, Colin Breslin kept Ardara’s noses in front and seal their final place. They’ll get a chance of revenge against neighbours Naomh Conaill, who defeated them in the Southern Regional final last Wednesday.
Ardara: Patrick Gallagher; Eoghan Harkin, Brian Whyte, John Sweeney; Greard McHugh, Danny Walsh, Finnian Ward; Simon Breslin (1-0), Tony Harkin; Robbie Adair (0-1), Colin Breslin (0-1), Joseph Sweeney; Niall McCrossan (0-7, 6f, 45), Campbell Classon, Oisin Brennan (0-1).
St Eunan’s: Matthew Gallagher; Rory McCrossan, Aaron Deeney, Sean Halvey; Brian MacIntyre (0-2), Darragh Toal, Michael McGroary (0-1); Oisin Toal, Sean McGettigan; Ciaran Kelly (0-1, 45), Niall Hannigan (0-4, 3f), Kevin Keely; Oisin Purdy, Paddy McColgan, Ciaran McCloskey (0-1). Subs: Dylen McGroary for McCloskey (38), Matthew McGovern for Hannigan (55).
Referee:Â Greg McGroary (Four Masters),
Tags:
