Ardara into semis

Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta
Ardara advance

Ardara 3-08 Dungloe 0-10

By Frank Craig
Photo: JMAC

Ardara qualified for the next round of Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta at the weekend at the expense of Declan Bonner’s Dungloe.

Despite trailing at the break on a difference of 1-2 to 0-8, Ardara rallied after the restart to run out comfortable winners, and with seven points to spare, by the time Ian Molloy signalled for time at Pearse Memorial Park.

The hosts only had three scores to show at the interval thanks to a brace of points and, it has to be said, fortunate goal from Gareth Concarr. The Rosses men posted through Benny McGarvey (2 frees), Adrian Hanon (2 frees), Basil Malone and Shaun Sharkey to deservingly lead at the interval.

However, a much improved effort from Adrian Brennan’s men after the break saw them outscore the opposition 2-6 to just 0-2 with a blistering retort to what had gone before.

Two further green flags from Classon and Shovlin, coupled with overs from Concarr (3,2f), Shovlin, Nicolas Breslin and Classon meant that Ardara advanced a little easier than expected on Sunday. Dungloe’s lonely reply of two points came from the boots of McGarvey and Substitute Niall Keenan.

Ardara: Declan Gallagher; Niall Campbell: Kenneth Doherty: Kevin Breslin; Nicolas Maguire: Stephen McHugh: Oisin O’Donnell; Kevin Byrne: Stephen Boyle; Kieran Breslin: Conor Classon (1-1): Marty Shovlin (1-3); Brendan McNelis: Gareth Concarr (1-5,3f): Michael Maloney.

Subs used: Jimmy O’Connell, Declan Gavigan, Nicolas Breslin (0-1), Noel Gallagher and Peter McHugh.

Dungloe: Ciaran Sharkey; Martin Redmond: Ray Sweeney: Doalty Boyle; Eimhin Bonner: Gavin Ward: Shaun Sharkey (0-1); Noel McBride: Mark Clerkin; Mark Falkner (0-1): Basil Malone (0-1): Eoin Redmond; Adrian Hanlon (0-3,2f): Benny McGarvey (0-3,3f): Gerard Walsh.

Subs used: Niall Keenan, Michael Connolly, Adrian Sweeney and Joe Sweeney.

Referee: Ian Molloy (Naomh Conaill).