Aodh Ruadh took the points in the top-of-the-table clash at Pairc Comcille on Saturday evening after a victory by the narrowest of margins.
The visitors gained revenge for the defeat they suffered back in May in the corresponding fixture at Ballyshannon, and their latest win leaves them 4 points clear at the summit of Division 3.
The match was played under varying weather conditions of sunny spells and showers, which lead to tricky conditions underfoot for the players.
Daniel Clarke got the opening score of the match but James O’Donnell replied almost immediately for the visitors.
Points from Joe Donaghy and Mark Dowds gave the home side a 2-point advantage, before a placed ball converted by David McGurrin reduced the deficit to the minimum.
Ryan McErlean received a short free and worked space to split the posts for a point for the home side.
Eamonn McGrath replied with a fisted point for Aodh Ruadh. Shane McAteer pointed after taking a pass from Ryan McErlean, to leave Naomh Colmcille with a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage with 5 minutes of the half left to play.
Ballyshannon reduced the lead to a single point with a free from David McGurrin. Daniel Clarke completed Naomh Colmcille’s first half scoring with his second point of the match, but a point late in the half by Ronan McGurrin for the visitors left the score at the short whistle Naomh Colmcille 0-6 0-5 Aodh Ruadh.
Naomh Colmcille lost the services of Ryan McErlean at the start of the second half when he had to be replaced due to injury.
Ryan McKinley saw a great goalbound effort well saved by Peter Boyle in the visitor’s goal.
A foul on Joe Donaghy gave Matthew Crossan the opportunity to open the second half scoring from the resultant free (brought in for dissent).
However Aodh Ruadh were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute of the half and David Gurrin found the net despite the best efforts of Marty Callaghan.
This gave Aodh Ruadh the lead for the first time in the match, and they extended this lead to 2 points with a point from David McGurrin.
Matthew Crossan got his second point of the match after taking a pass from Willie Gillespie.
Another Aodh Ruadh point at the end of regulation time gave the visitors a two point cushion again, and although Matthew Crossan added his third point of the match in stoppage time, the home side were unable to find an equalising score.
Victory then for the visitors on a final score Naomh Colmcille 0-9 1-7 Aodh Ruadh.
The result keeps Aodh Ruadh on top of the table with 20 points from 14 games played. Naomh Colmcille have 16 points after 12 games.
Naomh Colmcille: Marty Callaghan, Mark Callaghan, Alex Devenney, Paul Friel, Mark Dowds (0-1), Gerard Curran, John Fullerton, Ciaran Devine, Ryan McKinley, Daniel Clarke (0-2), Ryan McErlean (0-1)(Richard Clarke), Shane McAteer (0-1), Matthew Crossan (0-3 (1f)), Willie Gillespie, Joe Donaghy (0-1)(Don Hegarty).
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle, Micky Dolan, Damien Cleary, Ciron Whoriskey, Johnny Gallagher, Eamonn McGrath (0-1), Conor Patton (Diarmaid McInerney), James O’Donnell (0-1), Kerry Ryan (Eddie Lynch), David McGurrin (1-3 (1-2f)), Ronan McGurrin (0-1), Ronan Drummond, Pauric Patton (Colm Kelly), David Dolan, Jamie McDonald.
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