PHILIP PATTON kicked a late, late pressure free to earn Aodh Ruadh a second bite at their Intermediate semi-final with Cloughaneely.
Aodh Ruadh 0-14 Cloughaneely 0-14 (after extra-time)
By Charlie Collins at Glenfin
With Cloughaneely looking like they would scrape through, Patton stroked over to get the Ballyshannon men – last year’s beaten Intermediate finalists – another go.
Cloughaneely only just overcame Naomh Colmcille on Monday night in a quarter-final when Jason McGee, on as a half-time substitute, boomed over a late winner. The Donegal midfielder was in from the start here.
It took a late Shaun McGarvey free in normal time for Cloughaneely to force extra time after Peter Boyle, the Aodh Ruadh goalkeeper, pointed a free.
Cloughaneely hit the goal frame three times, including a last-ditch effort from Cillian Gallagher in extra time. Gallagher was picked out by a super pass by John Fitzgerald, but his shot was turned onto the post by Boyle. Gallagher, rather than going for a point from the rebound, went for goal from the rebound and Aodh Ruadh went forward to level the tie almost instantly.
Aodh Ruadh surged out for extra time with Patton’s brace and Oisin Rooney putting them in front.
However, McGarvey turned the tide again with a pair of brilliant frees before Martin Maguire’s massive score tipped the scales briefly in their favour.
Aodh Ruadh finished with 14 men as Nathan Boyle was given a second yellow.
Cloughaneely led by a point, 0-5 to 0-4, at half-time in normal time.
Paul Sweeney hit a point at the start of the second half to put two between them, but Aodh Ruadh stayed in close pursuit.
The game ebbed and flowed and it needed McGarvey’s intervention to take it to an extra period after Boyle looked like he might have won it.
Aodh Ruadh: Peter Boyle (0-1,f); Johnny Gallagher, Colm Kelly, Johnny Gethins; Shane Gillespie (0-1), Conor Patton, Sean Taylor; Cian Dolan, Eamonn McGrath; Nathan Boyle, Philip Patton (0-8,7f), Oisin Rooney (0-3); Shane McGrath, Niall Murray, Diarmuid McInerney (0-1). Subs: Darren Drummond for Murray (42 mins), Niall Murray for Johnny Gallagher (half-time, extra-time), Paddy Gillespie for S Gillespie (16 mins, extra-time).
Cloughaneely: Michael McGinley; Ciaran McGeady, Ciaran Scanlon, Michael Fitzgerald; Ciaran McFadden, Darren McGeever, Mark Harley; Jason McGee (0-1,f), Martin Maguire (0-1); Kevin Mulhern, Darren Ferry (0-1), Shaun McGarvey (0-5,4f); Cillian Gallagher (0-2), Paul Sweeney (0-2), Shaun Maguire (0-2). Subs: Aidan Doohan for S McGarvey ht, Shaun McGarvey for C Gallagher (48 mins), Cillian Gallagher for D Ferry, (7 mins, extra-time) Noel Sweeney for C McGeady (18 mins, extra-time).
Referee: Andrew Mullin (Killybegs)
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