Glenfin took the victory in the Intermediate Championship A Final as they outscored Aodh Ruadh at MacCumhaills Park on Sunday evening.
Glenfin 1-10 Aodh Ruadh 0-07
Report from Charlie Collins at MacCumhaills Park
Gerard Ward was in brilliant form for Glenfin and was the best player on the day scoring an impressive eight points, almost single-handedly shooting Glenfin towards victory.
Both teams flew out of the traps immensely in this tight encounter, Aodh Ruadh striking first, David McGurrin scoring the first point from open play.
It took Glenfin sometime to feel their way into the game but after six minutes gone they took the lead from some slick open play.
Stephen Carr’s pass to Karl McGlynn perfectly sent the half-forward on his way and he didn’t need to be asked twice as his emphatically secured the first goal of the game.
Two minutes later, the man of the match Ward added to the activity, sending a well-placed free-kick between the sticks – giving Glenfin an early three-point advantage.
Needing something in response, Aodh Ruadh struck for two points in four minutes, but it proved worthless as the impressive Gerard Ward delivered another solid score with 13 minutes played.
The full-forward was collecting everything on offer and was proving a huge nuisance for the Ruadh defence, tucking in from the left time and time again.
The Glenfin talisman added another three points to his name, his fifth score of the half, in a superb 10 minutes spell – making it impossible at times for the Ballyshannon outfit to stop him in his tracks.
Heading towards the break, Aodh Ruadh made it a three-point game at the interval – 1-05 to 0-05 – through two David McGurrin scores, one from a free kick and the other from individual play, before Nathan Boyle added another valiant score just before the interval.
In the second half, David McGurrin got Aodh Ruadh off to the best possible start but it was all in vain as Glenfin dominated for the last fifteen minutes of play.
Five points from Gerard Ward, Gary Dorrian and Daniel McGlynn was enough to put the game beyond Aodh Ruadh, despite a late Diarmuid McSweeney score – finishing the game and bringing an end to the Intermediate Championship decider.
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh, Ross Marley, John Harkin, Gary Herron, Daniel McGlynn(0-01), Frank McGlynn, Stephen Carr, Stephen Ward, Patrick Costello, Karl McGlynn(1-0), Jason Morrow, Gavin Dermott, Gerard Ward(0-08 7F), Ciaran Brady, Conor Ward.
Subs: Gary Dorrian(0-01), Paddy O’Connor, Matthew McGinley, Hugh Foy, Eoin Donnellan
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle, Johnny Gallagher, Damien Clearly, Eddie Lynch, Johnny Gethins, Darren Drummond, Colm Kelly, Conor Patton (0-01), Eamonn McGrath, Jason Gronaghan, Oisin Rooney, David McGurrin(0-04 1F), Nathan Boyle(0-01), Shane McGrath, Niall Murray.
Subs: Michael Ward, Phillip Patton, Diarmuid McSweeney (0-01).
Referee: Enda Mc Nulty ( St. Mary’s Convoy)
