Dramatic end to Relegation Play-Off Final. Charlie Collins reports.

ARDARA   0-13    V    2-07    NOAMH MHUIRE.                                                     Ardara and Noamh Mhuire  will have to do it all again to decide which of them will retain their Senior Championship status next year.                                  Ardara looked to have done enough when Kieran Breslin’s point in the 61th minute put them four ahead but to their credit Naomh Mhuire refused to except defeat and after Adam O Brien had kicked over a super long range point to reduce the deficit to three,  they won the kick-out and subs Darren Gallagher and Daniel Devlin combined for the latter to hammer home his second goal of the second-half with the last kick of the game in the 64th minute to send the game to a replay.                                                                                                                                 A minute’s silence was impeccably observed before the game and the Ardara players wore black armbands in memory of their clubman, the late Pat Shovelin               , who sadly passed last weekend.                                                                              They had the strong wind in their favour in the opening half and led by 0-07 to 0-02 at the break.     Darragh White pointed an early free to give Naomh Mhuire the lead but Lorcan O Donnell, C J Molloy and Brendan Mc Nelis all pointed from play for Ardara and then after Naomh Mhuire had lost possession following their kick-out Gareth Concarr had a great goal chance but surprisingly shot wide from close range.                                                                                                        Robbie O Donnell pulled one back for Noamh Mhuire in the 16th minute but Concarr, 0 Donnell , Peter Mc Hugh and Conor Classon all pointed from play to leave five points in it at half-time.                                                                           C J Molloy added another for Ardara and Noamh Mhuire looked in trouble at six behind.  White pointed an excellent free and sub Sean ‘Yank’ Boyle reduced the deficit to four in the 37th minute and that was down to just one when another half-time sub Daniel Devlin took a pass from Sean Burns and blasted to the net two minutes later.                                                                                                        Back came Ardara with two super points from Lorcan O Donnell, one a long range free and then a 45. Concarr added another and it was back to a four point lead at 0-11 to 1-04.   But this game was far from over,  White’s free and Sean Yank had it back to two in it. However Concarr’s short range free and Kieran Breslin’s finish after a good Ardara move had it pout to four again and game over or so we thought.                                                                                                                       Noamh Mhuire thought otherwise and 0’Brien’s point gave them hope before Devlin hammered in his second goal to earn a well deserved draw and a replay next weekend.                                                                                                              Ardara ;  Cathal Gallagher,  Kelvin Slowey , Declan Gavigan,  Joe Melly , Nicholas Maguire , Tony Harkin,  John Paul Ross , Conor Classon ( 0-1 ),  Brendan Mc Nelis  ( 0-1 ), Kieran Breslin  ( 0-1 ), Peter Mc Hugh ( 0-1 ),   Danny Walsh,  Gareth Concarr  ( 0-3 1f ), C J Molloy  ( 0-2 1f ),  Lorcan O Donnell ( 0-4 1f 1/45 ).                                                                                                                                                    SUBS ; Johnny Herron for Joe Molloy. ( h/t ).                                                         Naomh Mhuire;   Thomas Duffy , Patrick Rodgers, Brian is Gillespie, Robbie O Donnell ( 0-1 ), Cian  Boyle , Adi O’Gara , Daniel Gallagher , Adam O’Brien ( 0-1 ), Hugh Martin, Darragh White   ( 0-3f ), Harry Harden , Jack Boyle , Tom Mc Hugh , Ultan Boyle , Sean Burns.                                                                               SUBS ;  Sean ‘Yank ‘ Boyle ( 0-2 ) and Daniel Devlin ( 2-0 ) for Ultan Boyle and Tom Mc Hugh ( both at half-time ), Darren Gallagher for Burns ( 45mins ), Jamie Mc Gee and Mc Hugh for Harden and ‘Yank Boyle ( both 58mins ).                                                                                                           Referee:   Connie Doherty ( Noamh Conaill ).