Ardagh make last four for first time in decade
Goalkeeper Gary Kenny pulled off a crucial second-half save in Ardagh's narrow victory over Northern Gaels that has earned them a rare spot in the semi-finals of the Mayo Junior Football Championship. Picture: David Farrell Photography
It was tighter than it needed to be for them but, eventually, Ardagh got past the spirited challenge of Northern Gaels to secure a first semi-final place since 2014.
At three different stages in the second-half, Ardagh led by six points and, each time, looked primed to drive on to a comfortable victory. But the Kilfian-Lacken amalgamation were not prepared to go down without a fight and brought it to the brink.
Indeed, were it not for a couple of missed goal opportunities in the second half, a shock could have been on the cards.
Goals did prove the difference and in Lee Traynor, Ardagh had a real matchwinner. The right-corner forward was a joy to watch with 3-4 on the evening, of which 2-3 was from play. His two second-half goals proved crucial when Ardagh faltered in the final quarter.
Traynor looked dangerous every time he was in possession and it was that threat up top, epitomised by him but also in flashes from Enda O’Hora and James Carr, that ultimately separated the two teams.
Topping their group earned Ardagh home advantage on Saturday evening but wind-assisted Northern Gaels built up a 0-7 to 0-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Ardagh suffered a set-back from the throw-in when Darragh Gough went off injured in the opening exchanges – sustaining a head injury after bravely going in on the loose ball from the throw-in no longer than five seconds in.
Ardagh scores from the lively Enda O’Hora and a fine two-pointer from the mercurial James Carr came either side of a Cathal Boland two-pointer for Northern Gaels. Back-to-back two pointers from Niall McDonnell (free) and James Forde allied to a close range free from Ruairí McDonnell left four between the teams.
Northern Gaels suffered a setback when centre-half back Mark McDonnell was shown a black card for a deliberate pull-down on James Carr. Ardagh missed the free, but during the ten-minute black card period they got the game’s first goal.
Lee Traynor converted a penalty after an umpire flagged to referee Enda Nolan that a loose ball was handled on the ground inside the large parallelogram by a Northern Gaels defender.
Points from Niall McDonnell (free) and Enda O’Hora bookended the half and the sides were tied at half-time, 1-5 to 0-8.
If Ardagh want a template for what they can do in this year’s junior championship, they only need to examine the first four minutes and 35 seconds of the second half. In a scintillating spell, Paul Moran’s charges hit six superb singles from play and played with a tempo and intensity that was awesome.
James Carr set the tone, winning a loose ball from the throw-in and pointing off his left foot. Enda O’Hora, Carr again and three points from Lee Traynor saw them stretch six clear and they looked unstoppable.
However, the tempo was one they couldn’t maintain and Northern Gaels started to get on top at midfield for the rest of the game.
Three points from Ruairí McDonnell (two frees) had the gap back to three, and it could have been level-pegging but for a smart save by Gary Kenny from a Michael Lynott shot.
Three goals followed in less than three minutes.
First Ardagh sub’ Kevin Moran played an exquisite pass from just inside the arc to set Traynor in on goal and he finished well. Northern Gaels refused, again, to take any hint.
From the kickout, they got their only goal, Tommy Clarke soloing through the centre and placing a sublime left-footed shot into the top left-corner.
Ardagh’s response was as impressive. Only a point seemed on when Traynor picked up possession in the 13 position but he weaved his way through the cover and finished superbly to the net.
There were 49 minutes gone and Ardagh led by six points again. However, they would only score once more – an impressive point from midfielder Seán Moore.
A two-point free from Ruairí McDonnell, brought forward for dissent, started the final comeback for Northern Gaels. Realistically they needed a goal and Ardagh defender Fionn Barrett made a crucial block from Cathal Boland’s goal shot.
Points did accrue from Ruairí McDonnell (two) and Mark Munnelly but the last two were deep in injury time and Ardagh held on. They will need to be better but it is certainly in them.
Scorers – Ardagh: Lee Traynor 3-0-4 (1-0pen, 1f), James Carr 0-1-2, Enda O’Hora 0-0-3, Seán Moore 0-0-1.
Northern Gaels: Ruairí McDonnell 0-1-6 (1tpf, 4f), Tommy Clarke 1-0-0, Niall McDonnell 0-1-1 (1tpf, 1f), Cathal Boland and James Forde 0-1-0 each, Mark Munnelly 0-0-1.
Ardagh: Gary Kenny; Oisín McAndrew, Joe Carr, Fionn Barrett; Ruairí O’Boyle, Brendan Carr, Thomas Varkonda; Seán Moore, Paddy Walsh; Adam Foody, James Carr, Stephen Rochford; Lee Traynor, Enda O’Hora, Darragh Gough. Subs: Declan O’Boyle (for Gough 1, inj), Kevin Moran (for D O’Boyle 42).
Northern Gaels: Daire Devine; Ronan Murphy, Shane Loughney, Fergal McHale; James Forde, Mark McDonnell, Owen Loughney; Liam Ruddy, Craig McCormack; Niall McDonnell, Tommy Clarke, Daniel Coleman; Ruairí McDonnell, Michael Lynott, Cathal Boland. Subs: Mark Munnelly (for N McDonnell 51), Ciarán Loughney (for O Loughney 53), James Kelly and Seán McKeown (for Lynott and Ruddy 56), Daniel Walsh (for Coleman 59).
Referee: Enda Nolan (Balla)
