Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon proved much too strong for a youthful Ardara team in this Ladies Intermediate final at O Donnell Park.
Aodh Ruadh 6-11 Ardara 1-6
By Charlie Collins
They got the perfect start when Caoimhe Keon burst through from midfield, held off several tackles and hammered the ball past Emily Whittington in the first minute.
A minute later the Ardara keeper made a super save to deny Cait Gillespie when a goal looked certain.
Eimear McMahon and Gillespie added points before Carol Breslin opened Ardara’s account from a free in the 12th minute.
McMahon and Breslin exchanged points to leave it 1-03 to 0-02 after 15 minutes.
Ardara were still unable to get a real footing in the game and suffered another big setback when Terri Gallagher slotted home goal number two, finishing off a fine move from midfield.
Carol Breslin added her third from a free to leave it 2-03 to 0-03 and that proved to be the last score until well into first-half injury-time when the impressive Lucy McGlynn burst forward and her shot just cleared the crossbar to leave the half-time score 2-04 to 0-03 in favour of Aodh Rua.
Carol Breslin converted another free to start the second-half but it was one way traffic after that.
Terri Gallagher added a couple of points, Cait Gillespie pointed then hammered home a third Aodh Rua goal, Caitlin McGarrigle pointed , and both Gallagher and Gillespie goaled as the Ballyshannon girls dominated and the score went out to 5-09 to 0-06.
Eimear McMahon and Carol Breslin exchanged goals as it finished 6-11 to 1-06 to an impressive Aodh Rua team who will challenge at Senior level next year.
Aodh Ruadh: Brigin Maguire , Grainne Maguire, Sara Gallagher, Hannah Doherty , Lucy McGlynn ( 0-01) , Caitlin McGarrigle (0-02) , Anna Rafferty, Orla Keon (0-01), Caoimhe Keon (1-00), Aoibhinn McGarrigle , Cait Gillespie ( 2-04), Cara O Loughlin, Eimear McMahon (1-02), Terri Gallagher (2-02 ), Tara Khan.
Subs used:Erin McLoughlin , Donna Martin , Siofra Hughes and Mary Flora Scott.
Ardara: Emily Whittington, Erin McConnell , if Eimear Boyle, Grace Watters , Una McLoughlin , Aoife Watters, Holly Gallagher, Molly Gallagher, Lara Sweeney, Caoimhe Earley , Jessica Gallagher(0-01), Rionach Doherty, Carol Breslin ( 1-05 ), Amie O Shea , Niamh Boyle.
Subs used: Ailibhe McCabe , Caitlin Sweeney, Laoise McGonagle , Roisin Maguire, Aimee Boyle.
Referee: Greg McGroary ( Four Masters).
