Football
Saturday saw the focus switch to the under 21s, and Aodh Ruadh made the perfect start to the championship campaign with a 2-10 to 0-12 win over Saint Eunan’s in Father Tierney Park. The Ernesider played the first half with wind assistance. Shane McGrath opened the scoring, with Nathan Boyle and Philip Patton adding further scores before Saint Eunan’s hit two of their own. Philip Patton hit two points to restore the goal cushion by the quarter hour mark. Conall Sweeny then set up Shane McGrath to hit the net. Shane McGrath added a point shortly after and two more from Philip Patton made it 1-8 to 0-5 at the break. Eunan’s got two points at the start of the new half, but Ballyshannon responded with a Jason Granaghan point to leave five between the sides. A clash of heads saw Calum Cookie O’Halloran exit the fray and with the only sub available used Aodh Ruadh were down to 14. That allowed Saint Eunan’s to cut the deficit down to a single point. Ballyshannon stood up to the challenge well though, Natan Boyle landing a magnificent free before Oisin Rooney palmed home the game’s second goal. Aodh Ruadh will now play Naomh Conaill in the quarter-final next Sunday at 3pm in Glenties.
The under 16s’ county B championship semi-final will be against Malin this Sunday at 12 noon. A big vocal Aodh Ruadh support would be much appreciated on the day.
The under 13s qualified for the county final this week with great wins against Glenfin in the quarter Final and Ardara in the semi-final. The club must acknowledge the sportsmanship offered by Glenfin who conceded home advantage so that Kerry Ryan could play with the Donegal Masters in their All-Ireland quarter-final. Glenfin sportingly agreed to play midweek which meant a match in Convoy under lights mid-week. It was a feast of attacking football which ended 3-10 to 1-16 after full-time. Aodh Ruadh scored two goals and two points in extra time and kept Glenfin to six points. The Northern Division Champions were relentless in their struggle and their talisman Luke McGlynn led the charge heroically. Aodh Ruadh played brilliantly all over the field. Aaron Cullen in goals was magnificent and it is seldom at this level to see 21 points conceded by a team who succeed in limiting their opposition to a single goal. In the end the goals were the winning of the game for Aodh Ruadh. In attack Danny Breen-Brosnan was superb while Aaron Neilan in midfield marshalled the talented McGlynn grittily. Glenfin were a big scalp to claim and brought out the best team performance of the year from the boys. They were gracious in defeat, very worthy of the Northern Divisional title and as players will provide many great occasions for the people of Glenfin for years to come.
The semi-final took place in Glenties on Saturday with a strong wind influential in proceedings. The boys were happy to be within a point at half-time and the comfort of the breeze for the second-half. We were helped on our way with a few goals that combined skill with fortune and the six point win at 4-6 to 2-6 doesn’t show how little was between the teams. With the divisional play-off and final to come after the county final it is likely we will meet Ardara again soon and a hardy battle is guaranteed. Credit to the backs in this game, Seimi Campbell, Pauric Daly, Damian Weber, Shane Delahunty and Darragh Flood-Dolan who stood firm against the Ardara attack.
The county final will be on Saturday in O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny. The Division 2 Final is at 12.30pm with Aodh Ruadh v MacCumhaill’s at 2pm. Best of luck to the boys in the game, and please make an effort to get along and show your support for this magnificent group of players.
The second round of the Ballyshannon Shoe Company under 10 league took place last Friday evening. The first game saw Oran Gillespie’s team lost out Dara McGloin’s team. Meanwhile Barry Campbell’s team D continued their winning run with a victory against Ted O’Donnell’s Team B. The sides are back in action this Friday when Oran Gillespie’s Team A take on Barry Campbell’s Team D, while Dara McGloin’s Team C are pitted against Ted O’Donnell’s Team B. Players to be up at 5pm for a 5.15pm throw in and to bring €1 to cover the cost of the lights.
Finishing the Fitness Trail
Aodh Ruadh Centre of Excellence moves on to the next stage of development with the running track and fitness trail. With all of the heavy construction work completed on the new track the Park / Development Committee are putting the funding together to finish the project the track. The completed circuit will be over a third of a mile long and well sheltered by the high walls at Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh and incorporates a 100m sprint section. Our next effort to help the move the development forward takes place this Saturday, 4th November with a Town Collection. Volunteers are needed to assist. We would like help from all parts of the club. Please text your availability to Tom Daly on 087-2390410 indicating your choice of three hour period 9am to 12; 12 noon to 3pm; Or 3pm to 6pm. It is planned to have the track surfaced for use early in the New Year. Please bring a high visibility vest on the day.
Bring and buy sale
Stalls are booking up fast for the Bring and Buy Sale in the Mercy Hall on Sunday, 12th November from 11am to 3pm. Have you some unused gifts you want to rehome? Are there things about the house you bought, but never used? Any used items you no longer need? Books piling up on shelves? Clothes you won’t be wearing again? This is an excellent opportunity to declutter your home or shed and make a few pounds too. It would also be a great opening to sell seasonal produce. If you would like to hire a stall please contact Karol Foley on 086-8780164. The charge for stalls is a modest €20. Proceeds will go towards getting jerseys for under 12 girls.
National Draw 2019
The National Club Draw returns once again for 2019 and tickets are out now. The prizes are, as ever, spectacular. They include a new Renault Dynamique, a €2,000 travel voucher, various All-Ireland final ticket packages, and shopping vouchers ranging from €1,000 to €250 in value. To increase your chances of winning further there is also a Donegal County Board draw and an Aodh Ruadh draw for €100. Once again, Aodh Ruadh keeps 100 percent of monies raised by the club. Tickets are available from Lisa McTernan and Gerard Ferguson and committee members.
Diary dates
A few dates for your diaries. The Ladies AGM will take place in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh on Saturday 18th November at 6pm. The underage football presentation night will take place in the Abbey Centre on Saturday 25th November. The Bord na nÓg AGM will take place on Tuesday 28th November. All team managers should have reports submitted to Lisa McTernan by Friday 17th November. The annual club dinner dance will take place on Saturday, 20th January 2019.
Abbey Centre Bingo
The October big bingo jackpot of €800 was won by Damian McGurran of Bundoran. Kathleen Mitchel claimed the stand-up game, scooping a fine €200 pot. The snowball survived another week so it rises to €675 on 50 numbers. Bingo as usual this Friday at the Abbey Centre at 9pm, books cost just €10 with a €2,500 prize fund up for grabs.
Aodh Ruadh Lotto
There was no winner of last week’s Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot of €5,200. The winning numbers drawn were 6, 8, 9, 13, 16 and 17. In the lucky dip €20 went to Jarlaith Cullen, Rockfield; Michelle Sherriff, Erne Street; Nicole McGrath, The Knather; Martina Fannon, Lissahully; and Aimee Kelly, Belleek. Next draw is in Dorrian’s Hotel with a jackpot of €5,300 on Sunday at 8.30pm. Tickets are now available in the following outlets: Seán Óg’s, The Market House, Dicey Reilly’s, The Limit, Pat’s Bar, The Bridgend, Owen Roe’s, Fin McCool’s, The Lantern, McGinley’s, Pearse O’Neill’s, McCosker’s Centra and Kernan’s Spar and at the weekly and weekly bingo in the Abbey Centre. If not in, you can’t win!
The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra on Saturday is: SENIOR FOOTBALLERS.
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