Ardara take the points

All-County League Division 1

Ardara take the points in Glenswilly

Glenswilly 0-13 Ardara 1-11

By Frank Craig
Photo: JMAC

Ardara came away from Glenswilly with two hard-earned points after they just about did enough to see off the challenge of the reigning county champions on Sunday.

In a tight and claustrophobic first period, it was the hosts that shaded things as they exited at the break 0-7 to 0-6 in front. And when Gary ‘Copper’ McFadden and Neil Gallagher sailed over the first and second points of the new half, it did indeed look like Glenswilly were well on their way to victory – even at this early juncture.

But an explosive six minute spell, which saw Adrian Brennan’s men register 1-4 without reply, dragged the South West side back from three in arrears to lead by four. And while Glenswilly would go on to outscore Ardara by four points to one thereafter, substitute Brendan McNelis’ lonely effort sandwiched in-between was enough to see the Pearse Park men over the line.

Ardara, despite starting the slower at the weekend, got the scoring action under way at Páirc Naomh Columba as Noel Gallagher split the posts five minutes in. The same player then cruelly had to depart the action when he fell awkwardly resulting in a dislocated shoulder.

Glenswilly hit back with two ‘Copper’ McFadden points as the advantage changed hands on eight minutes. Gareth Concarr, looking busy up top for the visitors, then managed to draw Ardara level before they hit a productive purple patch that yielded another three points immediately after.

Stephen ‘Red’ McHugh clipped over a delightful point after he had burst from his berth at centre-half-back and exchanged passes with Conor Classon. Concarr then drove over a fine free on the far right before Martin Shovlin added the third of that fruitful period.

However, that was then matched and bettered up the other end at the opposition posted four in a row via the boots of ‘Copper’ (2f), an excellent ’45 from ‘keeper Phillip O’Donnell with the last of that quartet coming from the Glen’s No. 6, Barry Molloy.

With the half drifting into added time, both sides cleared the crossbar once more each as Shovlin and Darren McGinley registered efforts late on.

Half-time: Glenswilly 0-7, Ardara 0-6.

The second-half action commenced with Glenswilly extending their narrow lead out to a much healthier looking three thanks to an early brace from ‘Copper’ and the excellent Neill Gallagher at centre field.

Ardara nearly wiped that deficit out in one fell swoop as another typical Classon drive saw the ball find its way to the waiting Shovlin whose goal-bound effort just went the wrong side of the post after it took the slightest of nicks off of a home defender. Three did become two when Declan Gavigan hammered over a timely point when he ghosted in uninterrupted from the middle of the park.

And buoyed by that intervention, the away charges stole a huge march when they eventually did manage to pierce the hosts’ mean rearguard to blast in a superbly worked three-pointer on 43 minutes.

Classon, again acting as the proverbial bowling ball around the middle third, cleared a fine path for the onrushing Gavigan who, in turn, quickly released Kieran Breslin on the run. The Ardara wing forward then showed a clean pair of heels to tee up Concarr who made no mistake from close range as he riffled the ball through the hapless grasp of ‘O’Donnell and high into the roof of the net.

That pushed the visitors out to the narrowest of leads on a difference of 1-7 to 0-9 with 17 minutes of normal time still remaining. And when Concarr, Brendan McNelis and Breslin added quickfire points to stretch the gap out to four, the momentum was now firmly in their side’s favour.

But a trojan final effort, back-boned by the excellent centre field pairing of McFadden and Gallagher, saw Glenswilly claw back to within the minimum once again as McFadden (2f) and substitute Gerard McGrenra (free) lofted over determined scores.

With 28 minutes now showing on the watch, Brendan McNelis added his second and that crucial score proved to be decisive in the end. McGrenra did manage to convert his second free just shy of the whistle but despite frantic and desperate efforts to salvage something from this one, it just wasn’t enough to claim a share of the spoils for the home charges.

Speaking afterwards for the winners, Conor Classon referenced the importance of getting off to a good start this year in what he feels is going to be a very keenly contested Division 1.

“This is going to be a close league campaign and we’re delighted to get off to such a good start against a side like Glenswilly, especially away from home,” he said. “Just looking through the fixtures list, even the sides that came up last year; they’re all good sides and points are going to be hard to come by for everyone. This sets us up nicely now for Gweedore at home next weekend and that’ll be another very tough and physical encounter for us I’m sure.”

Glenswilly: Phillip O’Donnell (0-1, 1’45); Brian McDaid: Eamon Ward: Ryan Diver; Rory Crawford: Barry Molloy (0-1): Aidan McDevitt; Neil Gallagher (0-1): Gary McFadden (0-7, 5f); Keelan McFadden: Darren McGinley (0-1): Oisin Crawford; Colin Farrelly: Brian Farrelly: John McFadden.

Subs: Gerard McGrenra (0-2,2f) for Colin Farrelly, Peadar Toner for B. Molloy, Kevin Cunningham for O. Crawford and B. Molloy for B. Farrelly.

Ardara: Declan Gallagher; Kevin Breslin: Kenneth Doherty: Niall Campbell; Kevin Byrne: Stephen McHugh (0-1): Oisin O’Donnell; Stephen Boyle: Declan Gavigan (0-1); Paddy McGrath: Conor Classon: Kieran Breslin (0-1); Gareth Concarr (1-3, 1f): Martin Shovlin (0-2): Noel Gallagher (0-1).

Subs: Brendan McNelis for N. Gallagher and Jimmy O’Connell for Kevin Byrne.

Referee: Martin Coll (Gaoth Dobhair).