Cloughaneely prevailed with a four point victory in the battle between the two newly promoted in division one today.
Cloughaneely 0-12 0-8 Aodh Ruadh
In what was a warm and humid day in Pairc Naomh Fionan, Cloughaneely playing with a slight breeze got off to a flying start. The home side registered the first six scores of the game.
It took just eighteen seconds for Shaun Maguire to kick the first. The ever reliable inside forward knocking over from thirty yards out.
The home side defended resiliently giving Aodh Ruadh little space to operate in the forward line. John Fitzgerald hit a pair of scores and John McGarvey added another to give Cloughaneely a four point lead inside ten minutes.
A sublime outside of the boot effort from over forty-five metres out by Martin Maguire increased the lead before Denis Boyle split the posts with a 45’.
It took the away side twenty-six minutes to get a score on the board. Cian Dolan drilled over from a tight angle giving Aodh Ruadh a much needed boost.
Peter Boyle then stepped forward to kick a long free-kick, the former Donegal goalkeeper executed his strike perfectly reducing the deficit to four at half-time. Aodh Ruadh would’ve entered the break happy to have played their way back into the game.
Aided by the wind Diramáid McInerney used the outside of his right foot to get the first score of the second-half. But Cloughaneely responded quickly with two consecutive scores.
McInerney was kicking accurately all day, this time from the opposite side of the pitch he used the inside of his boot and kicked his second score of the game. Johnny Gallagher then reduced Cloughaneely’s lead to four points with a left footed effort.
The sides quickly traded scores with Darren Ferry getting his second of the game for Cloughaneely and McInerney getting his third for the away side.
David McGurrin and McInerney knocked over two fine efforts for Aodh Ruadh leaving a two point game with just two minutes to go. Denis Boyle knocked over a thirteen yard free in front of the posts to make a quick reply. But as we entered added time there was still just three points between the sides.
Darren Ferry did well to tip the ball over the head of Peter Boyle extending the lead to four in favour of the home side. Ferry had made a strong impact off the bench coming in to replace the injured John Fitzgerald in the opening quarter.
Cloughaneely still had defending to do though, firstly John Harley got his body in front of the ball to make an excellent block, denying a certain goal. Shaun McClafferty then had to get down quickly to get a hand to an effort from McGurrin and ensure his side the points.
Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty, Mark Harley, John Harley, Ciaran McGeady, Martin Maguire (0-2), Cian McFadden, John McGarvey (0-1), Ciaran Scanlon, Aidan Doohan, Michael Fitzgerald, Kevin Mulhern, John Fitzgerald (0-2), Shaun Maguire (0-1), Denis Boyle (0-3 2f 1 45’), Lee O’Brien. Subs used: Darren Ferry (0-3) for John Fitzgerald 16’, Martin Ferry for Lee O’Brien 53’ Neil Kelly for John Harley 60’.
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle (0-1 1f), Eddie Lynch Jnr, Matthew Maguire, Colm Kelly, Johnny Gethins, Darren Drummond, Jason Granaghan, Philip Patton, Damien Coughlin Cleary, Johnny Gallagher (0-1), Diarmáid McInerney (0-4 2f), Cian Dolan (0-1), Dylan Gallagher, David McGurrin (0-1), David Dolan. Subs used: Sean Taylor for Johnny Gallagher 46’.
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