Aodh Ruadh 1-16
Aodh Ruadh got some revenge for their defeat in the final last year by St. Nauls when they proved too strong in the quarter-final in Ballybofey on Saturday evening.
Garret Blake with 1-8 of the Ballyshannon side's total proved troublesome for the St. Nauls defence, but it was an all-round team performance which proved the difference. There were also some good individual performances, none more so than corner-back, Michael McGrath, who was soundness personified. After an opening Anthony Boyle point after 30 seconds, St. Nauls were a point ahead in the 7th minute with two Mark Breslin frees. However, Aodh Ruadh took control and points from Blake (3) and one from Michael Gurn put the winners in control.
By half-time Aodh Ruadh were 0-9 to 0-4 ahead with points from Blake (3) and one from Enda McFadden, while Mark Breslin had another free and Liam McGroarty from play for St. Nauls.
Aodh Ruadh started the second half with an Enda McFadden point and two further points from Anthony Boyle left them ahead by 0-12 to 0-4. Two Mark Breslin points were cancelled by two from Blake, before Darren McGuinness and Jack Travers increased the Aodh Ruadh lead by the 57th minute. A minute later a goal from Garret Blake left the game over as a contest while in added time Mark Breslin had three points from frees to put a better look on the final scoreline.
Apart from Blake and McGrath, Aodh Ruadh had competent performances from Paul Rafferty, Kevin Lawless, Michael Gurn and Enda McFadden, while for St. Nauls the McGroartys, Gary Kane and Mark Breslin tried hard.
Aodh Ruadh: Carl O'Brien; Brian Merrifield, Paul Rafferty, Michael McGrath, Mark Boyle, Brian McCaffrey, Kevin Lawless; Martin Gallagher, Michael Gurn
(0-1); Enda McFadden (0-2), Michael Lawless, Anthony Boyle (0-3); Shane
Ward, Darren McGuinness (0-1), Garret Blake (1-8). Subs., Jack Travers (0-1)
for M. Lawless; Christy Coughlin for Boyle; Paddy Travers for Gallagher.
St. Nauls: Gerard McCready; Mark Murray, Martin Griffin, Glen Campbell; Mark
Ward, Liam McGroarty, Brian McMonagle; Gavin Maguire, Gary Kane; Bernard
Kenny, Liam McGroarty (0-1), Keith Morrow; Stephen Furey, Mark Breslin (0-8,
frees), Adrian Ward.
Referee: Connie O'Gara (Naomh Columba).