There was no separating Aodh Ruadh and Glenswilly in Ballyshannon after a hard fought Divison 1 encounter.
Aodh Ruadh 0-11 Glenswilly 0-11
By John Hughes for aodhruadh.org at Fr Tierney Park
Level at the break and level at the end, with plenty of thrills and spills in between, a share of the spoils was probably the right result come Michael McShane’s long whistle.
The conditions meant scores were slow coming. The first arrived after 12 minutes when Kealan McFadden returned to the fray after going off as a blood sub to kick the game’s first score from play.
Aodh Ruadh opened their account seconds later, working the ball up the pitch quickly from the kick out and freeing David McGurrin to measure over a nice shot from 30 metres.
A couple of minutes later Glenswilly eased away again when Cathal Gallagher lobbed over a shot from the right.
When McFadden tucked over, there were three between them, but David McGurrin and Oisin Rooney popped over before the break.
As the half came to a close there was an extended break following a clash between Shane McDaid and Diarmaid McInerney. The incident saw McDaid having to exit with a head injury. On the resumption Aodh Ruadh moved quickly up the pitch where David McGurrin belted over a mighty shot to level the game.
That left it all square at the break with everything to play for in the new half
It was first blood to the visitors seconds in when Joe Gibbons, in a half-time change of jersey, hoisted over a magnificent shot from the right flank.
Three minutes later Glenswilly needed a brilliant save from a David McGurrin shot on goal to keep their goals intact. However Aodh Ruadh were able to level matters with Peter Boyle thumping over the resultant 45.
Glenswilly came right back though, speeding the ball up the pitch from the kick out to Cathal Gallagher who split the posts with a quality effort.
David Dolan put Aodh Ruadh ahead for the first time and Dolan soon added another.
A McFadden free responded for Glenswilly, but a Philip Patton effort from 40 metres cancelled that out.
With ten minutes to go, McFadden levelled it up and McFadden tucked Glenswilly into the lead.
After Patton restored parity, McFadden, again, had Glenswilly into the lead with a wonderful score from out the left.
It would have been a worthy winner, but Aodh Ruadh had a bit left in the tank.
Two minutes into time added on Oisin Rooney was there to win the Glenswilly kickout and Aodh Ruadh showed composure to work a shooting chance. Rooney again popped up at the end of the move and, under heavy pressure, leathered over the game’s final score from 25 metres.
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle (0-1 45); Jason Granaghan, Johnny Gallagher, Michael Ward; Colm Kelly, Darren Drummond, Eddie Lynch; Conor Patton, Oisin Rooney (0-2); David McGurrin (0-3), Diarmaid McInerney, Johnny Gethins; Niall Murray, Cian Dolan, David Dolan (0-3). Subs: Philip Patton (0-2f) for C Dolan (46), Dylan Gallagher for D McInerney (52), Paddy Gillespie for N Murray (58)
Glenswilly: Philip O’Donnell; Ruairí Crawford, Eamon Ward, Oisin Crawford; Shane McDaid, Ryan Diver, Joe Gibbons (0-1); Neil Gallagher, Cathal Gallagher (0-2); Ciaran Bonner, Gary McFadden (0-5, 2f), Sean Wogan; Caolan McFadden (0-2), Brian Farrelly (0-1), Caolan Kelly. Subs: Caoimhín Marley for Shane McDaid (31) Ciaran Gibbons for Neil Gallagher (38)
