ACHL Division Three

Lamh Dhearg 1-08-3-14 Na Magha

By Kevin Herron at Hannahstown

Na Magha turned in a powerful second-half display to earn their first win in the Division Three Hurling League and leave Lamh Dhearg rooted to the bottom of the table after claiming a 3-14-1-08 win in the basement battle at Hannahstown this afternoon.

Alan Grant and Timothy Rankin were amongst Na Magha’s sharpshooters in the opening half –  but the visitors only led by three at the break as Cathal Kelly found the net and Mark Finnegan was accurate from the placed ball.

In the second period it was very much one-way traffic as goals from Ryan O’Donnell, Piaras Casey and Alan Grant secured the Derry sides first league win of the season and left the Lamhs routed to the bottom of the division three table.

Despite playing against the breeze in the opening half it was Na Magha who settled into the game quickest with the scores to back it up.

Piaras Casey hit the opening score and midfielder Brendan Douban doubled his sides lead shortly after.

The Derry side should have hit the opening goal after a prolonged period of pressure inside Lamh Dhearg’s defensive third – but credit to young Lamhs keeper Michael Clarke who was twice on hand to prevent Casey from finding the net.

Fearghal McAnaney and Alan Grant hit back to back scores to ensure Na Magha held a 0-04-0-00 advantage with over ten minutes played.

Though that lead was soon reduced as the hosts found the opening goal of the afternoon – Cathal Kelly let fly with a shot that floated through the air and deceived Barry Robinson to find the net and make it a one-point game at Hannahstown.

The sides continued to trade scores in the aftermath of Kelly’s goal, Alan Grant converted a free and Mark Finnegan responded thanks to a 65’ metre placed ball.

Timothy Rankin and Michael McGuigan traded points from play and the pattern continued through Grant and Finnegan (free) as a point separated the sides with ten minutes to the break (0-08-1-04).

Back to back points from Timothy Rankin and Fearghal McAnaney opened up a three-point lead for Na Magha – but Ronan Fegan picked out Aidan McGuigan and the first-half substitute split the posts.

Lamh Dhearg may even have edged in front for the first time with two minutes of the half remaining as Cameron Flynn was illegally sandwiched in the view of referee Fionntan McCotter; who signalled for a penalty.

Aidan McGuigan seized responsibility but was denied by a magnificent stop from Barry Robinson in the Na Magha goal.

Timothy Rankin converted a free in the aftermath as the visitors headed in at the break with a three-point advantage (0-11-1-05).

Na Magha began the second period like a house on fire and hit the net within sixty seconds of the restart.

Michael Clarke batted down Brendan Douban’s dipping shot and Ryan O’Donnell reacted quickest to give his side a 1-11-1-05 lead.

Bliadhan Glass then drove forward and sent the ball between the large posts to extend his sides lead – Mark Finnegan would reply courtesy of a placed ball.

Fearghal McAnaney claimed his third point of the afternoon and the Derry side were cruising with a second goal from range by Piaras Casey to give his side a 2-13-1-06 lead.

Na Magha were defensively solid in the second period and frustrated the Lamhs attacking options with the hosts three second half scores coming courtesy of Mark Finnegan free’s.

In between Finnegan’s last two scores came Na Magha’s final flourishes of the afternoon – Fearghal McAnaney popped the ball off to Alan Grant who blasted past Clarke to the net.

Grant would claim his fourth point of the afternoon in the aftermath as Na Magha claimed their first win in the Division Three league and opened up a three-point gap over Lamh Dhearg at the basement.

Lamh Dhearg: M Clarke, R Fegan, M Lynch, S Byrne, J Brady, SP Gibson, C Herron, M Finnegan (0-06, 0-05f; 0-01 65’), C Kelly (1-00), C Flynn, G Smyth,  M McGarry, A Perry, M McGuigan (0-01), A Ferris. Subs: A McGuigan (0-01) for A Perry (16 mins).

Na Magha: B Robinson, C McElholm, D Shiels, O O’Doherty, M Temple, B Quigley, M McShane, B Doubhan (0-01), T Rankin (0-04, 0-01f), F McAnaney (0-03), B Glass (0-01), C Shiels, P Casey (1-01), R O’Donnell (1-00), A Grant (1-04).

Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)