Football 

Our senior and reserve footballers should return to action this Friday when their postponed fixtures against Termon take place in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh. The reserve game will throw in at 6.30pm, with the senior game going off at 8pm.

 

Well done to Aaron Cullen and Eoghan Kelly and the Donegal minors as they dug deep to get past Monaghan in the Ulster quarter-final last week. It finished Donegal 1-9 Monaghan 0-10 in Clones as Cullen kept a second successive clean sheet. Once again, we wish Donegal the best of luck this Wednesday when they face Armagh in the Ulster Championship semi-final. The game throws in at 7.30pm in Healy Park, Omagh.

 

The under 13s took on Four Masters on Monday evening and gave one of the top teams in the county a serious game of it. The whole team was brilliant right through the the match. Their tackling and defence was very strong and going forward we always looked like scoring. The whole team's work rate was unbelievable. Four Masters got a few very handy calls which allowed them to inflate their scoreline in the last 5 minutes, but the final result does not reflect the game in any way. It finished Aodh Ruadh 2-6 Four Masters 3-13, but managers Paul Sheridan and Paul O'Loughlin were absolutely thrilled with the boys' display.  The Aodh Ruadh scorers were Corey Sheridan (1-2), MJ Ward (1-1), Eoghan Gallagher (0-2), and Antoin Duffy (0-1).

 

The under 11s have a busy week coming up. The team train as normal on Monday from 6pm to 7pm in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh. On Thursday the squad are on the road to play Four Masters away. All players are to be in Donegal Town for 5pm, with a 5.30pm throw-in. On Saturday we welcome Dungloe to Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh, and all players are to be up for 10.30am, with a 11am throw in.

 

The under 9s had a very competitive outing in Ardara on Saturday. All 36 boys enjoyed game time over three games. Training continues as normal on Friday evening. The time may change owing to the senior game, but further details will be posted on the team WhatsApp group.

 

Hurling

The senior hurlers hope to finally return to action this Friday when they take on Setanta down at the Cross in the Junior County Championship. Throw-in at Donaghmore Park is down for 7.30pm.

 

Our under 17s had another game fall foul of Covid 19, with their game against Saint Eunan's being postponed. They are due to play Coolera-Strandhill in the Táin Óg this week and are looking forward to getting back on the pitch again. Best of luck to the players and management.

 

Manorhamilton visited Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh on Thursday for what proved to be a stern test for our boys in the under 15 Táin Óg League. Our opponents were no pushovers, proving to be physically strong, and more than capable of competing right accross the field. However some wayward shooting from the visitors meant that they failed to register a score in the first half, and we led 0-3 to 0-0 at the half time break. A five-minute scoring blitz where we scored 3-4 saw us kill of any chance of a come-back our visitors may have had, effectively ending the game as a contest. Manorhamilton kept battling right to the very end, and the physicality we faced will stand to us for the rest of the season. We had some fantastic performances across the field with Cian McDonald being excellent in defence, Michael Clancy in the half backs, whilst captain on the evening Dara O'Mahoney had a strong second half. Garvey Meade at midfield had his best game of the year, and Joe Gibbions, played well in the half forwards, and half back line when switched to there. This week we are at home to Setanta in the Donegal league, throwing in at 7.30pm.

 

Our under 13s had very busy week, with an away fixture against Dungloe / Gaoth Dobhair in the Donegal league on Thursday evening. They ran out comfortable winners with some strong performances across the team. As always, a huge thank you to all of the players parents for driving. Then on Sunday morning, they played Manorhamilton in the Táin Óg league at home. Another fine performance saw our lads run out comfortable winners again.  This team is having a fantastic season, and are unbeaten in both competitions, and have some fantastic hurlers from every position including both goalkeepers right up to the full forward line. This week the lads now have a week off from hurling, with their next game being in the Donegal league, on Thursday 12th August at 7.30pm.

 

This Sunday our under 7s and under 9s travel to Ballybofey to play MacCumhaill's in our third blitz of the year. The players have really enjoyed their games so far this year and are really looking forward to their next blitz.

 

Ladies

Aodh Ruadh made the trip to Ardara on Sunday morning, where there was an unseasonable nip in the air. It was tit for tat in the early stages with points from Katie O'Brien and Cáit Gillespie point making it Ardara 0-3 Aodh Ruadh 0-2 with five minutes played. However Ardara hit the net in the sixth minute and that gave the homesters a cushion they were able to build on over the rest of the game. Initially Aodh Ruadh responded well with a free from Cáit Gillespie and a point from Brídín Maguire. However a two minute period where Ardara hit 2-1 saw the Ernesiders falling further adrift. Ballyshannon regrouped after the water break and a Cáit Gillespie point got the side back in the hunt. That score was followed a minute later by a well-taken goal with Brídín Maguire winning the long ball in and slipping off for Terri Gallagher to net. When Tanya McPartland followed that up with a point in the 21st minute it was Ardara 3-4 Aodh Ruadh 1-6. The sides then swapped points, McPartland again raising the white flag for the visitors, before Ardara went on another punishing scoring burst in the period before the half-time whistle with a 1-3 blast punctuated only by a Cáit Gillespie point. There were nine points in it at the turnaround and Ardara looked like they were going to pick up where they left off as they hit the first two points of the new half. However now it was the Shamettes turn to hit a purple patch and two points from the immaculate Katie O'Brien, a point from Tanya McPartland and a well worked goal finished by Cáit Gillespie left five between the sides at the second half water break. Scenting the possibility of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat Aodh Ruadh pressed hard in the second half, and were rewarded with two excellent points from Donna Martin and Katie O'Brien. The visitors also interlinked well to create the opening for what could have been a game changing goal, but Terri Gallagher's placed shot was superbly saved by the Ardara netminder. After that Ardara played keep ball and tagged on points on the break to run out 4-14 to 2-12 winners. A good tough game of football, which the girls will take lots of learning from. Erin O'Loughlin and Tanya McPartland worked like dogs in the middle of the pitch, Cáit Gillespie was a great threat attacking through-out, while defensively Anna Rafferty, Sara Gallagher and Ella Clancy all contested hard. The junior game against MacCumhaill's didn't go ahead, and it looks like that will take place this coming weekend, with the intermediate team on a rest week.

 

Hard luck to Orla Keon and the Donegal minor ladies who lost out in extra time to Monaghan in the Ulster Ladies Minor Championship semi-final. It finished Donegal 3-15 Monaghan 4-16 after a titanic battle in Lifford with Keon giving it everything in midfield. It was a case of contrasting emotions for the county under 16s and Cara O'Loughlin who also lined out at midfield as Donegal won their Silver Final decider against Armagh with a 4-9 to 3-5 victory in Lifford.

 

There were few signs of ring rust as the under 16s comfortably accounted for Termon in their first competitive match in three weeks. They held the visitors scoreless in the first half, while goals from Cádhla Dolan and Cara O'Loughlin and points from Jodie Meade and O'Loughlin had Aodh Ruadh 2-6 to the good at the interval. It was more of the same in the second half as the Ernesiders continued to dominate with Jodie Meade scoring some exceptional goals, Cara O'Loughlin picking off 1-1 and Annie Keon also netting to cap a fine personal performance. It finished 10-7 to 1-2 with stand out performances in defence from Ava Doherty and Fódhla Sheerin helping keep Termon chances to a minimum. A great team performance from the homesters with some lovely passages of passing play. Check aodhruadh.org for a gallery of pictures from the game. The under 16s now face a long trip this Tuesday when they head to Dunfanaghy to take on Saint Michael's, throw-in at 7pm

   

The under 14s were in Buncrana on Saturday for their fourth outing of the league. They made it four wins from four, but were thoroughly tested by a determined Buncrana outfit and it took a full squad effort over the course of the 60 minutes to earn the victory. Captain for the day Cádhla Dolan lead by example throughout, especially when midfielder Maura O'Sullivan was forced to exit the fray just 20 minutes into what had been and outstanding display. There was a good spread of scorers with Dolan, Abbie Gallagher, Andrea Moore, Niamh Duffy, Emer McDevitt and Ciara Larkin all on the mark. The defence had to weather an attacking storm from Buncrana, but the outstanding Megan Murphy marshalled matters wonderfully with ability beyond her years. Between the sticks Caitlin McGrory produced an incredible penalty save, as well as a great reaction save to put another shot over for a point. It finished 6-9 to 2-4 after a great contest between two committed sides. This Saturday the girls are at home against Ardara in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh at 4.30pm.

 

The under 12s have no fixtures this week, but training continues as usual on Wednesday from 6pm to 7pm and Saturday from 11am to 12 noon.

 

Under 10 training continues as usual on Tuesday at 6.15pm at Coláiste Cholmcille.

 

Fixtures 
Where fixtures are changed, deferred or cancelled the Park / Development Committee should be notified promptly so that other requests for activities can be accommodated. This is not happening currently in all cases. It is not possible to advance circulate the usual weekly programme of fixtures as it is not clear as we go to print what home games we will have this week.

 

New Father Tierney Park playing surface progress
As we enter week five of this major project, Prunty Contracts continue to make steady progress. The first stage of the project has involved earth removal and storage and a significant level of rock breaking on the Hospital side of the pitch where underlying rock was at a high level and clay cover minimal. Very substantial quantities of rock have been removed to the Belleek side of the grounds. This week a heavy-duty rock-crusher comes on site and the product of this process will be used to bring up the pitch levels on that end of the field. Our Park/Development Committee has provided a safe viewing area past the Aras building from which club members and those interested can observe the progress of the work. All club members are asked to mail friends of Aodh Ruadh and of Ballyshannon living away from home to seek their support by sponsoring A Sod through Klubfunder.com, any member of the fund-raiser Working Group or by contacting anyone who is part of the club. Any Ballyshannon person living away from home who is in a position to assist with this fundraiser in their new abode should contact Tom Daly, David McLoone or Michael Daly.
 

Sponsor A Sod  

As the 70th anniversary of the opening of Father Tierney Park approaches in 2024, a massive programme of work has commenced at the grounds which will result in a new sand-based playing field and associated building works. To fund this development Aodh Ruadh have launched one of their biggest fund-raising efforts in decades, asking the public to ‘Sponsor A Sod’ at €50 each to help meet the costs of this ambitious plan. A permanent display bearing the names of donors will be erected in a prominent position at the Park.  

Our Working Group members are out and about promoting our Buy a Sod campaign Any club member who can help to promote this should contact any member of this Group or any of the Park / Development Committee Officers for brochures and vouchers. Likewise if you would like to become part of the Working Group to act as a key seller. There is a lot of interest locally and further afield in seeing the Father Tierney Park project succeed. Thanks to all who have supported the campaign so far.

More than 25 Aodh Ruadh club members have joined the working group to actively promote this fund-raising campaign and to sell sods. The working group is as follows: Sabrina Brosnan, Michael Daly, Sarah Daly, Tom Daly, William Doogan, Gerard Ferguson, Conal Gallagher, Johnny ‘Mannix’ Gallagher, Paul Gillespie, Jim Kane, Donagh Keon, Diarmaid Keon, Patsy Kilgannon, John Larkin Jr, Dinny Loughlin, Sylvester Maguire, Brian Murray, Val Murray, Mick McGrath, Packie McGrath, Pat McGrath, David McLoone, Philip McLoone, Pauric McShea, David O’Donnell, Sean O’Mahoney, Barry O’Neill, John Patton and Gregory Sweeney. Those promoting this fund-raiser can make any returns they have at Sunday's games in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh. See David McLoone, Michael Daly or Tom Daly.

Please contact any of the following if you wish to volunteer: Tom Daly (087-2390410), David McLoone (087-7760172), Philip McLoone (086-4053008), Conal Gallagher (086-2112812), Patsy Kilgannon (087-2372128), or Michael Daly (086-9171949).

Those living away from Ballyshannon, whether in Ireland or across the world, should note that they can purchase sods, and little bit of club immortality, on Klubfunder.com. Any questions or enquiries can be sent to [email protected].

For further information on any aspect of the Sponsor A Sod please contact the Aodh Ruadh Park / Development Committee officers - Tom Daly (087-2390410), David McLoone (087-7760172), Philip McLoone (086-4053008), Conal Gallagher (086-2112812), Patsy Kilgannon (087-2372128), or Michael Daly (086-9171949).

 

Boot exchange

Our boot exchange programme is now up and running. Anybody who wants to exchange boots going forward, please text Packie McGrath on 087-9794696.

 

Old hurleys home

A number or parents have kindly donated hurleys and helmets that are no longer in use. If you have any hurls and helmets you would like to see used, please let us know and we will put them back into use.

  

Aodh Ruadh lotto      

There was no winner of last week's Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot of €2,100. The winning numbers drawn were 1, 7, 10, 12, 14 and 17. In the lucky dip cash prizes of €25 went to Donna Martin and Sorcha McNelis. Thanks to Michael, Eoin and Christopher Doogan for performing the draw, and thanks and to all who played the lotto last week. The next draw is for a jackpot of €2,200 on Sunday at 9pm. Tickets are available in Kernan's Spar and Pearse O'Neill's. You can play also play the lotto online. Log onto klubfunder.com and then search for and select Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon. Users can now avail of the auto-renew option to play the same line every week until they decide to stop when they pay using Stripe. Give it a go, you never know!  

  

The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra on Saturday is: SENIOR FOOTBALLERS. 

 

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