Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Thursday 15°CFriday 14°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
GAA

St Michael’s ease past Aodh Ruadh to book SFC semi-final spot

written by Chris McNulty October 15, 2021
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

GOALS from Michael Langan, Martin McElhinney and Eddie O’Reilly eased St Michael’s past Aodh Ruadh and into the semi-finals of the Donegal senior football championship.

St Michael’s 3-13 Aodh Ruadh 0-10

By Chris McNulty at Sean MacCumhaill Park

The Bridge men are into a first semi-final since 2017 after a 12-point win.

Langan’s 18th minute goal put St Michael’s on their way and seven minutes into the second half Martin McElhinney added the second.

Andrew Kelly intercepted Karl O’Brien’s short kick-out before offloading to McElhinney, who tucked home, opening up a ten-point gap, 2-10 to 0-6.

Down some key personnel at the outset, Aodh Ruadh lost Darren Drummond to injury midway through the second half and Barry Ward’s team just couldn’t get close enough to ask the big questions in the closing stages.

Three minutes from the end, St Michael’s ended a 20-minute spell without a score when substitute O’Reilly converted from close range following a raking Langan delivery.

St Michael’s might have been without 2012 All-Ireland winner Colm McFadden – who is nursing an injury – but the Creeslough-Dunfanaghy men were five to the good by the 15th minute

Langan put St Michael’s in front in the fourth minute and they never looked back with the county ace putting the game beyond doubt with an 18th minute goal.

The Donegal midfielder – an All-Star nominee – saw his initial effort blocked by an Aodh Ruadh defender, but Langan’s low effort from the follow-up beat Karl O’Brien.

The ball was still nestling when James Connors, the referee, called the water break, with St Michael’s 1-5 to 0-0 in front.

Aodh Ruadh, the 2020 intermediate champions, were without David Dolan, Shane McGrath and Cian Rooney, who had been named in the starting XV submitted earlier in the week. Their absence from the squad was keenly felt with the Ernesiders’ opening score arriving in the 22nd minute via Ryan Granaghan.

They had their chances in the first half, too, with three balls dropped into the arms of St Michael’s goalkeeper Oisin Cannon. Most notable of those was a ninth-minute opportunity for Oisin Rooney, who might have expected to hit the net when the chance arose.

The Ballyshannon men are back in the senior championship this year for the first time since 2010 and their cause wasn’t aided with a black card for corner-back Jason Granaghan on 12 minutes leaving them down to 14 men for a period.

Aodh Ruadh stirred to life with Eddie Lynch and Philip Patton scoring twice in a minute and at the changeover their deficit stood at 1-7 to 0-5.

Niall Murray narrowed the margin with the opening point of the second half, but when McElhinney bagged the second major, it was game, set and match.

St Michael’s: Oisin Cannon; Jamie Hunter, Liam Paul Ferry, Stephen Doak (0-1); Kyle McGarvey, Michael Gallagher (0-1), Oisin Langan; Michael Langan (1-3, 1f), Martin Breslin; Carlos O’Reilly (0-3), Hugh O’Donnell (0-2), Christy Toye; Andrew Kelly (0-2), Martin McElhinney (1-1), Bryan Creed. Subs: Eddie O’Reilly (1-0) for Toye (46), Ciaran Kelly for Creed (50), Ruairi Friel for O.Langan (59), Conan Brennan for C.O’Reilly (60+4)

Aodh Ruadh: Karl O’Brien; Jason Granaghan, Colm Kelly, Conor Patton; Mark McGlynn, Eddie Lynch (0-1), Johnny Gethins (0-1); Eamon McGrath, Nathan Boyle; Philip Patton (0-3, 2f), Niall Murray (0-1), Michael McKenna; Ryan Granaghan (0-2), Darren Drummond, Oisin Rooney. Subs: Johnny Gallagher (0-1) for McKenna (14), Cian Rooney (0-1) for R.Granaghan (half-time), Senan Rooney for Murray (38), Kyle Murray for C.Patton (46), Ryan Granaghan for Drummond (47).

Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s).

St Michael’s ease past Aodh Ruadh to book SFC semi-final spot was last modified: October 15th, 2021 by Chris McNulty
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Mayo star Lee Keegan believes Donegal still...

2 days ago

Former Donegal coach Rory Gallagher launches High...

2 days ago

Tickets for Donegal’s All-Ireland semi-final on sale...

2 days ago

Shane O’Donnell nominated for Player of the...

3 days ago

Donegal to face Meath in All-Ireland semi...

3 days ago

Shane O’Donnell carrying “confidence” after Man of...

4 days ago

McGuinness lauds players’ effort as Donegal through...

5 days ago

Donegal fans revel in remarkable Monaghan comeback...

5 days ago

Remarkable second-half comeback sees Donegal through to...

5 days ago

Donegal v Monaghan team news: McGuinness makes...

5 days ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy