Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin overcome Ardara in U-21 B championship opener

Naomh Padraig ran out deserving six-point winners in their U-21 B opener against Ardara at Pearse Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon. 

In miserable conditions, the visitors led by seven at the break but had to withstand an Ardara fightback early in the second half. 

Naomh Padraig had started the brighter of the two teams and got the game’s first two scores with their goalkeeper Jamie McCauley and Oisin McIntrye both landing frees. 

The home side got on the scoreboard 10 minutes in thanks to a Gavin Sweeney free. Three minutes later, it was a one-point game when the same player converted another free. 

But Dougie Corbett’s side got a grip of the game and they outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-02 heading into half-time. 

Cillian Doyle (0-4) and Michael McCarron grabbed the points for the visitors with Sweeney registering twice for Ardara. 

The Naomh Padraig goal came from the penalty spot as McCarron slotted it to the right and past the outstretched Zach Darnell to leave it 1-8 to 0-4 at the changeover. 

The prolific Sweeney also got the first point of the second-half, converting a routine free for a cheap an off-the-ball infringement. 

Drew McKinney then got the visitor’s second goal after a great team move tore apart the Ardara defence leaving Naomh Padraig now leading by six at 2-8 to 1-05.

Substitute Anthony Bennett got Ardara back in the game when he gathed the ball at the 65 before making a darting run into the box. 

With plenty still to do he managed to beat two defenders, before passing the ball to Sweeney whose shot rocketed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net. 

Inspired by that headway, the home side scored two quickfire points through Sweeney and Aaron McHugh. 

However, Ardara’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when Naomh Padraig were awarded a second penalty on 43 minutes.

 McCarron stepped up once again and, just like before, drilled it perfectly to the right of Darnell and into the corner of the net. 

Ardara would grab the game’s next three points, all coming from Sweeney, to reduce the deficit to four once again with three minutes remaining. 

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However, the impressive visitors kept their composure and had the final say with Doyle hammering over the last two points of game. 

Ardara scorers: Gavin Sweeney 1-9; 7f; Aaron McHugh 0-1.

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin scorers: Michael McCarron 2-1, 2P; Cillian Doyle 0-6, 3f; Drew McKinney 1-0; Oisin McIntrye 0-2, 1f; Jamie McCauley 0-1, 1f. 

Ardara: Zack Darnell; Niall McHugh, Kieran McNelis, Proinsais Molloy; Josh Malley, Darragh Hennigan, Charlie Bennett; Eoghan Gallagher, Cian Sweeney; Maitiú Clerkin, Kyle McHugh, Jamie Elliott; Aaron McHugh, Conor Sweeney, Gavin Sweeney.

Subs: Anthony Bennett for Connor Sweeney and Aaron Cunningham for Kieran McNeilis (both ht). 

Naomh Padraig, Naomh Padraig: Jamie McCauley; Jason Lynch, Ciaran McLoughlin, Cormac Kelly; Michael McCarron, Drew McKinney, Peter Grant; Darragh McIntyre, Cormac McColgan; Andrew McCarron, Oisin McIntrye, Cormac Doherty; Patrick Hirrell, Jamie McColgan, Cillian Doyle

Subs: Evan McColgan for Patrick Hirrell (42), Oisin Quigley for Jamie McColgan (55), Kealan Henry for Cormac Doherty (60). 

Referee: Greg McGrory (Four Masters).