Hey, who hasn’t had a “very harsh” eight-point defeat?
The scoreboard flattered them.
They got two freak goals just before half time and that’s all that was in it.
We missed 27 one-on-one chances.
Most match reports won’t tell your story like it should be told so that’s why club notes are so important. You can tell it how it really* was.
*Through the most biased, irrational goggles you want, of course.
PROs are masters of spinhttps://t.co/NCanvx3gZ1 #GAA
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 26, 2017
If you hadn’t noticed by now, GAA people are parochial folk. We’re proud people who have turned a pastime into an obsession. That obsession has since been translated into all-out war where we battle for pride of place and spend every day plotting on how to conquer the land and training the next soldiers up to carry the crest.
In Donegal, they’re as passionate about their club under-12s as they are about their county senior team.
Aodh Ruadh’s youngsters – a fine club right down the south in Ballyshannon beside Sligo – lost a game against Four Masters but there were some very extenuating circumstances.
You see, there was a dodgy enough goal awarded against the home side when the game was obviously in the melting pot and it “understandably shook their resolve”.
In Wednesday’s edition of the Donegal Post, Aodh Ruadh’s club notes told the whole story:
‘Aodh Ruadh Division One under 12s could consider their 4-7 to 1-8 defeat against Four Masters on Monday evening very harsh indeed.
‘The game turned on a ludicrous decision to award a goal midway through the second half which effectively tipped the game in Four Masters favour.
‘The first half was evenly contested with Aodh Ruadh more than matching their taller opponents. Two points from Aonghus Sweeny, a point apiece from Robbie Murphy and Ryan Daly, and a brilliant individual goal by Shane Delahunty saw the hosts in Father Tierney Park going in level on scores, but trailing 1-4 to 2-3.
‘The sides traded points again throughout the second half with Ryan Daly, Jack Gallagher and Shane Delahunty all on the mark as the scores stood at 1-7 to 2-6 with the game moving into the final quarter.
‘Then the referee inexplicably elected to award Four Masters a goal where:
– (a) the goalkeeper was fouled to the ground holding the ball and
– (b) the ball failed to cross the line.‘That decision understandably shook Aodh Ruadh’s resolve and Four Masters pushed on for a 4-7 to 1-8 win, Shane Delahunty adding a further point.
‘Best for a brave Aodh Ruadh team on the night was Shane Delahunty who fought for every ball and scored a brilliant 1-2. Also good were keeper Cian McKenna, Fionn Gallagher and Eoghan Kelly.’
Donegal Post sports editor Frank Craig will want to make sure he doesn’t miss the under-14 clash between these two. It’s going to be boiling now for two years in the build-up.
