DONEGAL V TYRONE
Fully paid adult club members who wish to request a ticket for the Donegal v Tyrone Ulster Championship match are asked to notify Emma Gaughan by text on 0863039610 by 6pm on Monday 13th May.
Indications at the time of sending were that the allocations coming to clubs will fall far short of adult membership figures.
In light of the strong demand likely for tickets to this game, Aodh Ruadh are implementing a policy of one member, one ticket. In the event of an over-subscription a random draw will be used to determine ticket distribution.
FOOTBALL
Aodh Ruadh were good value for their 0-13 to 0-10 win over Red Hugh’s on a chillly Saturday evening in Father Tierney Park.
Best for Ballyshannon was David Dolan who was a cut above on the day. Calm, strong, measured and precise, he brought great composure and economy to Aodh Ruadh’s attacking play.
Not far behind him was Kerry Ryan who roamed the field to great effect, stitching play together astutely and his scores coming at good times for the home side.
There were also noteworthy displays from James O’Donnell who had a great game in the air, Niall Harley and Anthony Boyle who racked up the miles at half back and half forward respectively, and Peter Boyle who was called upon to make a number of smart stops.
We have a full match report from the game at aodhruadh.org.
Aodh Ruadh reserves dug out a well deserved 1-13 to 0-6 win over Red Hugh’s in the Park on Saturday evening. The Killygordon men were tough opponents, and didn’t allow themselves to lose touch, but on the day a young, athletic Ballyshannon side had too much running for them.
Jamie McDonald started the game well and his scoring helped the home side into an early lead which they were to retain for the remainder of the game.
Aodh Ruadh went in at the break leading 0-8 to 0-4, but faced the wind in the second half. To their credit Aodh Ruadh managed the breeze splendidly with a 19 man performance, the four second half substitutes all making pronounced contributions.
Ryan Patton was immense at full back, with David McLoone providing reliable support as ever. Daniel Kelly stretched his man and pressed on for a fine point.
The partnership of Ciron Whoriskey and Darren Gethins in the middle of the field dominated, but the engine room of the Aodh Ruadh win was the half forward line where Michael McNeely and Niall Murray were assertive and influential.
Anthony Coughlan, sprung from the bench in the second half to sow some havoc in a tiring Crossroads rearguard, duly delivered with an accomplished finish to the net which saw any chances of the visitor’s robbing the points definitely snuffed out and sealing a morale boosting win for an Aodh Ruadh side growing in stature as the season progresses.
We have an extended match report, team sheets and pictures from the game up on aodhruadh.org
The division three leagues continue this Saturday, 11th May with Aodh Ruadh travelling to Downings, an important game if Aodh Ruadh are to mount a serious promotion push.
The reserve game throws in at 6pm and is followed by the seniors at 7.30pm.
The under 14s lost on their trip to Dungloe last Wednesday going down on a scoreline of 3-20 to 2-12. Aodh Ruadh battled hard and trailed by just four points at half time, but this is a good Dungloe outfit and they showed that in the second half.
Ballyshannon never stopped playing though and the lads gave a good all round performance.
Outstanding was forward Shane Dorrian who got a goal and was flawless from placed ball. Also going well for the Ernesiders was Dylan Gallagher, who flourished in his new role at full forward.
The half back line, in particular Shane Gillespie and Pauric Keenaghan were full of running and never failed to bring the fight to their Dungloe opponents. Find of the season, Sean Taylor, continued his rich vein of form in midfield and finished up with 1-3 to his credit into the bargain.
The final fixture in the under 14s league programme takes place this Wednesday when they take on Naomh Mhuire in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh at 7.30pm.
Under 12 training takes place this Wednesday in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh at 7pm and also on Saturday morning at 11am.
Aodh Ruadh under 10s have their first blitz of the year this Saturday, 11 th May. Father Tierney Park will be playing host to Bundoran and Naomh Bríd for this tournament, with the games throwing in at 11am.
Players are to be up to the park for 10.45am. Under 10 training continues as usual this Friday in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh from 6pm to 7pm.
Under 6 and under 8 training continues this Friday, 10th April from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh this week. The blitz originally planned for Saturday 11th has been postponed. Players will be notified of the rescheduled date in due course.
HURLING
This Wednesday, May 8th, Aodh Ruadh defend their unbeaten record in the senior hurling league against Saint Eunan’s in Father Tierney Park.
Ballyshannon are building on two league victories and morale is excellent in the squad right now. All support is very welcome at what is guaranteed to be a tough, competitive contest against our Letterkenny rivals. Throw-in is at 7pm.
On Thursday last our minors had a great win at home to Strabane in the Donegal League. The lads were up against a much physically stronger Tyrone team, but as they have done all season they put in a great battling performance and ran out convincing winners.
They have now qualified for the league final where they will be up against a very strong Buncrana team.
Thanks to Rossa McCosker and Eamon Cleary of Centra, Ballyshannon, we were delighted to have the Liam MacCarthy Cup in Ballyshannon for the weekend.
It was a great honour for us to have this famous trophy visit us for the weekend and attend the County Féile on Saturday and the Alan Ryan/Seamus Grimes tournament on Monday.
We hosted the all-county Féile on Saturday while our lads didn’t qualify for the national Féile to be held in Limerick in July they did their best and battled hard in every game.
It was a learning experience for the lads and hopefully they’ll come back stronger from it. Thanks to all who helped make the day such a success.
Thanks to Tara Keenaghan who did a great job on the camera capturing some great action shots. Next up for the under 14s is a home game this Thursday against Letterkenny Gaels.
On Monday we hosted the Alan Ryan/Seamus Grimes Under 16 tournament. In existence since 1998 this years tournament had the highest quality teams.
The play began at 10.30am and continued on both pitches till 5pm. The draw threw up the following groups: Group A Tuam (Galway), Tooreen (Mayo) Ballinascreen (Derry) and Easkey (Sligo) while Group B contained Ballycastle (Antrim) Pádraig Pearse’s (Roscommon) Na Magha (Derry) and host club Aodh Ruadh.
The opening games saw wins for Tooreen against Tuam and a narrow win for Ballycastle over Aodh Ruadh 0-6 to 0-2, where the home team failed to convert a number of scoring opportunities.
The next set of games saw a narrow win for Ballinascreen over Easkey, while Pádraig Pearse’s had a convincing win over Na Magha.
Aodh Ruadh’s second game saw them up against Na Magha in Father Tierney Park. Again it was another close encounter but this time the home team ran out winners 1-3 to 0-1. At the same time in Páirc Aodh Ruadh Ballinascreen had an easy victory over Tuam.
There was a great Connacht derby in Father Tierney Park where Easkey ran out four point winners over Tooreen, while Ballycastle had a good win over Pearse’s from Roscommon.
The last round of games saw some great battles as Pearse’s beat Aodh Ruadh 2-5 to 0-4 with tiredness becoming a big problem for teams at this stage.
Ballinascreen beat Tooreen to claim top spot in Group A. Ballycastle beat Na Magha to claim top spot in Group B and set up a semi-final against Easkey who beat Tuam in their final group game.
So with the final placings now sorted out the stage was set for the semi-finals for each trophy.
The Alan Ryan semi-finals saw wins for Easkey over the men from the Glens of Antrim, Ballycastle while Ballinascreen overcame Pádraig Pearse’s in a titanic battle, setting up a another game between Ballinascreen and Easkey in the Alan Ryan final.
In the Seamus Grimes semi-finals Aodh Ruadh who were on their last legs at this stage overcame the reigning Seamus Grimes winners Tuam, while Tooreen defeated Na Magha in the other semi-final.
After a great days hurling we now had the final pairings decided. In the Alan Ryan final in Father Tierney Park Ballinascreen faced Easkey, and after ding dong battle where every ball was ferociously contested the Derry men ran out winners by two points showing great determination, which their club man former Derry dual player Tony Scullion would have been proud off.
Over in Páirc Aodh Ruadh the large home support got behind Aodh Ruadh as they faced Tooreen in their fifth game of the day, the lads gave their all in the first half and went in six points down at the break they never gave up but the day’s exertions caught up on them and they lost by nine points.
So came an end to another great tournament where new relationships and bonds were formed and another new name went on both trophies, and teams went back to traditionally stronger hurling counties than Donegal admiring our lads battling spirit.
From the field where great battles were fought all day we headed up stairs for the presentations.
John Rooney acted as master of ceremonies and spoke of the late Alan Ryan and Seamus Grimes and the loss they were to the club, the roles they played in the club and the support both the Ryan and Grimes families continue to give to the Aodh Ruadh club. He thanked all the teams who came to the tournament and who played some great hurling in the spirit it should be played.
Eddie Grimes spoke on behalf of the Grimes family and thanked all who had made the day such a success. He presented the runners up medals to the Aodh Ruadh lads while a delighted Tooreen team came forward to accept the Seamus Grimes cup.
Kerry Ryan jr who acted as the tournament photographer all day was next to speak he again thanked all involved in running the tournament and thanked all who helped with the catering on the day.
Kerry presented runner-up medals to a gallant Easkey team, while a delighted Ballinascreen team became the second Derry team to win the Alan Ryan Cup. John Rooney finished off proceedings by thanking referees, Aidan Ferguson of Erne Gaels and local whistlers Chris Kelly and Peter Horan, and all the Juvenile Hurling Committee who helped make the day such a success.
Our under 12s are due to take part in a blitz in Ballybofey on Sunday.
Training as normal at 12 noon on Sunday.
LADIES
Senior ladies training continues on Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm.
The under 16 girls delivered a fine performance to defeat Dungloe last Tuesday night. They’ll be hoping to build on that victory at home against Ardara to seal their progression into the county semi-final.
That clash with Ardara throws-in at 7.15pm this Thursday, 9th May in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh and all support would be greatly appreciated.
The under 14 and under 12 girls train on Tuesdays and Fridays at 5.45pm.
Under 8 and under 10 girls train on Wednesdays from 6-7pm and the under 10 girls have a second session on Mondays also from 6 to 7pm.
The Duck Race takes place on Saturday May 18th. Cards are out now, so buy your ducks early to be sure of a place at the starting line. The first ducks will be under starter’s orders at 2pm.
FANTASY RACE FOR SAM 2013
It’s that time of year again and the championship is only weeks away. The fantasy race for Sam 2013 is about to begin in earnest too. The rules are simple.
For your ?20 entry fee you will receive a team and a scorer from each province. Every time your team wins you earn 10 points.
Also every time your player scores a point you will get a point. There are bonus points on offer for county’s which win the provincial title as well as the All-Ireland.
The winner will receive ?500 with a consolation prize of ?100 for whoever finishes in last place.
The deadline for entry is the 17th May and the draw for teams/players will take place in the Bridgend Bar on Saturday 18th May. A league table will appear on the website every Tuesday morning.
Entries are available from most committee members as well as in the following outlets: Bridgend Bar, Owen Roe’s Bar, Sean Óg’s and Ballybookies.
If anyone wishes to enter online, drop an email to info@aodhruadh.org. Come on and see if you can beat the reigning champion Rory O’Neill and his team of Ice Cream Rovers!
YES WE CAN
The next collection for our aluminium fund raiser takes place on Saturday 11th May from 12 noon to 1am. All other scrap metal is welcome at this session.
For any information in relation to this campaign please contact John Rooney 086-2587793 or Kieran Drummond 086-2368295.
OFF THE PITCH
Ballyshannon Drama Society present their award-winning Snake In The Grass by Alan Ayckbourn in the Abbey Centre on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th May at 8.30pm. These will be the last local performances before the Ulster Finals which take place in Newtownabbey on 14th May.
Gaelscoil Eirne will be hosting a céilí, old time barn dance in the Rock Hall, Ballyshannon on Saturday 11th May at 9.30pm. Music by The Assaroe Céilí Band. Supper Served. Admission ?8.
Donegal Creameries 5K Fun run / jog / walk in aid of Special Olympics Ireland takes place at Crossroads, Killygordon on Tuesday 28th May 2013 at 7pm. Register via e-mail at dc5kfun@gmail.com or register at Donegal Creameries up to 6.30pm on Tuesday.
Entry fee of ?5 payable on registration which includes entry into a prize draw. Refreshments will be served.
LOTTO
There was no winner of the ?3,600 Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot last Sunday. The numbers drawn were 8, 10, 12, 14, 17 and 18. In the lucky dip ?20 each went to: Jim Downey, Ballyshannon; Fionnuala Gillespie, Wardtown; John and Claire Hughes, Bundoran Road; John Faherty, Portnason; and Anne McNulty, Donegal Road.
Next draw is in Pat’s Bar on Sunday at 8.30pm. The jackpot is ?3,700 so get out there and buy your ticket; if you’re not in, you can’t win!
The lotto team for the Saimer Court this Saturday is: SENIOR HURLERS.