Strong second half sends Ardagh into Connacht semi-final
Ardagh’s Adam Naughton found the net in the second half against St Aidan's. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Second half goals from Adam Naughton and Lee Traynor helped secure Ardagh’s passage to the AIB Connacht club junior football championship semi-finals over St Aidan’s this afternoon in Castlebar on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-10.
Ardagh, who were without captain and All-Ireland winner James Carr, struggled in front of the posts in the first half, kicking eight wides and two into the hands of goalkeeper Nigel Kelly. St Aidan’s were not shooting the lights out themselves by any means, but they were clinical with their own chances.
The key man for the Roscommon junior champions was Eoin Fallon, who kicked a booming two-point free off the ground and a pair of ‘45s, along with a free from Rory Coyle and Keith Waldron, the latter their only score from play in the first half.
Tony Carey was a constant outlet for Ardagh, with the Mayo champions looking for their main man at every opportunity. He kicked a sublime two-pointer to ignite their challenge after a slow start as well as a single free. Lee Traynor also chipped in with a pair of points, but he also saw a crucial opportunity at goal at the beginning of the second quarter come back off the post when Carey was perhaps better placed to find the net.
Trailing 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, Ardagh needed a better start to the second half and they got it when Carey picked out Adam Naughton, who rounded Nigel Kelly before finishing into the net on 36 minutes to put the Mayo men in front for the first time.
Traynor and Carey pushed Ardagh further in front and although St Aidan’s substitutes Conor Mulry and Oisin Finneran tried to pull them back into the contest, the game was all but ended on 52 minutes when Dylan Murphy was hauled down as he was through on goal. Cathal Kelly was black carded for his challenge and the referee signalled for a penalty, which was dispatched by Lee Traynor to seal Ardagh’s ticket to a provincial semi-final against Leitrim champions Aughnasheelin in two weeks time.
