Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon Club notes 20/4/2014

Monthly club meeting

The monthly club meeting will take place on Thursday, 24th April in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh at 9pm. All members of the club executive are asked to attend.

Football

Aodh Ruadh maintained their 100 percent home record with this win on a sun-soaked Good Friday evening, but not before Milford gave them a thorough test of their mettle. The final score on Jimmy White’s long whistle read Aodh Ruadh 3-13 Milford 0-10. Ballyshannon were value for that win on their second half performance, but they rode their luck at times. Once again Aodh Ruadh’s cutting edge shone with David McGurrin and Jamie McDonald working well off each other and running up 2-8 between them. The last line of Peter Boyle, Michael Ward, Ciron Whoriskey and Damien Cleary deserve credit for keeping the Ernesiders in the game when Milford were in the ascendancy for long stretches. There is a full match report and gallery from the game up on aodhruadh.org.

Aodh Ruadh took control of the reserve clash with Milford early on and the half time scores stood at 2-9 to 0-7 in favour of the homesters, David Finnerty and Anthony Coughlan raising the green flags. By the end of the third quarter Aodh Ruadh had pushed it out to 4-13 to 0-7 with Milford simply unable to get their hand to leather. Dermot Slevin slotting a penalty rapidly followed by James O’Donnell with the fourth goal. Milford got a bit more joy in the closing stages, but further goals from Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward and Val Murray meant there was never any prospect of a comeback. It was one of those games again where Aodh Ruadh looked like a well oiled machine. In defence Ronan Matthews, Ryan Patton and Calum ‘Cookie’ O’Halloran were well on top. Around the middle David Finnerty, Michael McNeely, Chris McCabe and James O’Donnell got through a mountain of ball while up front Anthony Coughlan, Sticky Ward, Dermot Slevin and Sylvester Maguire were among the scores. We have a full and authoritative match report plus pictures up on aodhruadh.org.

Aodh Ruadh were due to host Naomh Colmcille this Saturday, but that fixture will not be going ahead due to Donegal’s participation the NFL division two final and Newtowncunningham’s Thomas McKinley being part of the panel.

Best of luck to Niall Harley and Colm Kelly this Saturday when the Donegal minors take on Tyrone in the final of the Ulster minor football league in Brewster Park this Saturday. Throw in is at 12 noon.

The under 16s enjoyed a robust challenge against Glencar Manorhamilton on Monday evening in the park. Quite a bit of good attacking football on show from two committed sides, Aodh Ruadh’s sharper forwards just seeing them take the spoils. We should have some pictures from the game up on aodhruadh.org later in the week.

Under age football at its best was the way one Glen supporter summed up the meeting of the Aodh Ruadh and Naomh Columba under 14s on Saturday. Aodh Ruadh was first off the mark with a goal in the first minute from Evan McTernan in what was a very tight first half between two very evenly matched sides. With some great football on display it was neck and neck with the half time score reading Aodh Ruadh 2-2 Naomh Columba 1-6. Glen started strongest in the second half with a goal coming straight from the throw in. This took the wind out of the sails of the Ernesiders and the heads went down very quick, a problem that this team needs to overcome. The home side knocked over score after score and left Aodh Ruadh trailing by 12 points at one stage but thanks to man of the match Pauric Keenaghan who turned the game around, the Ballyshannon men found their feet again. This mighty team not only closed the gap, but took a five point lead with just two minutes left on the clock. The last kick of the game was a converted Glen penalty, which gave the Aodh Ruadh lads a two point victory. Once again they proved to themselves that there is nothing beyond them when they put their minds to it. Best performances on the day came from Pauric Keenaghan, Adam Rami and Owen Doherty with Jack McCaffrey, Joe Danagher, Ciaran Hodgins and Ryan McDonald all doing very well when introduced. The next game for the lads is away to Ardara on Wednesday evening with a 7pm throw in.

Under 12 training takes place on Saturday morning from 10.45am to 12 noon and Wednesday evening from 6.15pm to 7.30pm. May we also remind parents that children should be collected promptly after training.

Many thanks to the parents who helped out with our under skills test last Saturday, our second of the season. We were pleased to see that many lads have markedly improved their score from the first test and have clearly been working on their skills. Each participant will get their results slip at Wednesday night training, when we will also be presenting medals. We also hope to have a game for this Saturday, further details at Wednesday training.

Under 8 and under 6 training continues in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh this Friday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Ladies

There was a great turnout for our Annual Duck Race last Saturday with many commenting on the long number of years this novel event is on the go. The ducks competed well and will be well looked after for the next year by their reliable gamekeeper. Many thanks to everyone for supporting this event. Congrats to Shane McLoone, Áine Hill and Patsy McGuckian who won a few euro for themselves. We’ll have shots from the day’s craic up later in the week.

Our under 14s commenced their campaign with a journey to Four Masters of Donegal town last Tuesday 15th April. Both teams started off well and were neck in neck throughout the first half. There were many battles fought on the pitch proving Donegal town to be tough opponents. In the second half the Aodh Ruadh side kicked it up a gear. With some sharp shooting up front, ruthless defending and hard work around the middle of the field, the Ernesiders eventually pulled away as winners with a score of 5-4 to 3-5 in what was all-round an excellent team performance. Their next game sees them take on our neighbours in Bundoran in what is sure to be an exciting affair. The game is set for Tuesday 22nd April at 6.30pm in Bundoran. All support is welcome and would be greatly appreciated.

Best of luck to our senior ladies who have their first league match at home against Gaoth Dobhair this Thursday 22nd at 7pm. There will be training on Tuesday at 7pm as normal for the ladies.

Hurling

Good luck to our representatives on the Donegal panel as they take on Roscommon, again, this Saturday. They will be contesting the preliminary round in the Nicky Rackard cup in Athleague at 2.30pm

Aodh Ruadh came up short against Saint Eunan’s in their Ulster league division three clash in O’Donnell park on Monday evening. Once again goals proved their undoing as the Letterkenny men ran out 4-16 to 1-15 winners. Ballyshannon battled well to make it a two point game at half time, but a sharp start to the second half by the homesters, who shot a goal and series of points, made it an uphill struggle from there in. Nevertheless the Ernesiders did pull the deficit back to four points before Saint Eunan’s finished the game out strongly. Paul Sheridan worked hard about the middle while Ciaran Rami and Cian Dolan both delivered creditable displays in the half back line. Up front Mickey Bowering got the Ballyshannon goal and was a good outlet, while Chris Kilgannon was faultless from placed ball. Aodh Ruadh are back in Garvaghey this weekend when they take Armagh side Derrynoose.

The under 14s made the trip to Ballybofey on Thursday last to play MacCumhaill’s in the league, the lads were up against it from the start against a physically stronger home team. Too much work is being left to too few on this team which resulted in MacCumhaill’s winning convincingly 4-11 to 1-5. Many thanks to the parents who drove the lads to the game your support is much appreciated. The under 14s have another difficult game this Thursday as they play the reigning champions, Buncrana, in Convoy. Hopefully all the team will give their all in this game.

The minors continued their unbeaten run in the league as they overcame Carndonagh in Father Tierney Park also on Thursday. They were slow getting into the game against a very determined Carn team but gradually they got on top of the Inishowen men and ran out easy winners 3-18 to 1-4. Their hard work at training is paying off as they are joint leaders of the league with Buncrana, both teams currently unbeaten. They face a trip to Letterkenny this Thursday to play Saint Eunan’s another side who are going well in the league. We should have a some shots from the game up on aodhruadh.org later in the week.

Next Sunday the first of the all county blitzes takes place in the Centre of Excellence in Convoy with the action starting at 11am, our under 8s and under 10s will be taking part in this blitz. It promises to be a great day of hurling. Both these panels have been working very hard since the beginning of March and we look forward to seeing them in action on Sunday, many of them representing their club for the first time.

Scór Sinsear

All the best to our Trath na gCeist team of PJ Buggy, Peter Campbell, Sylvester Maguire and Paddy Kelly as they bid for All-Ireland Scór Sinsear honours this Saturday in Castlebar.

Aodh Ruadh BingoThe €400 jackpot at last Friday’s bingo was won by Sean Cunningham of Kinlough. This Friday it’s our monthly Monster Bingo in the Abbey Centre with a €2,700prize fund and a big jackpot of €1,000 up for grabs – Full books €15, Half books €8.

LottoThere was no winner of the €8,600 Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot last Sunday. The numbers drawn were 4, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 17. In the lucky dip €20 each went to: Margaret Meehan, Belleek; Charlie Barrett, Milford; Kay Drummond, Belleek Road; John Gallagher, Erne Street; and Nuala Burns, Roscor, Belleek. Next draw is in Dorrian’s Hotel on Monday at 8.30pm. The jackpot is €8,700 so get out there and buy your ticket; if you’re not in, you can’t win!

The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra this Saturday is: BORD NA NÓG.

The lotto team for Kernan’s Spar this Saturday is: RESERVE FOOTBALLERS.

You can receive the club notes by e-mail every Tuesday morning. To subscribe, enter your details on the website, www.aodhruadh.org, or e-mail your request to info@aodhruadh.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the weekly e-mail newsletter from Aodh Ruadh GAA Club. If you have received it in error, please contact us at info@aodhruadh.org.

Facebook: Aodh Ruadh CLG

Twitter: @aodhruadh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John Hughes

PRO

Aodh Ruadh CLG

Ballyshannon

County Donegal

H: 071-9852843

M: 087-6431805