Andersonstown Social Club
Intermediate Hurling Championship
Preliminary Round
Naomh Éanna 1-28 Cloney Gaels 1-8
Saturday August 10
Brendan McTaggart reports from Fr McGinn Park, Glenravel
It was as close to the complete team performance as you are likely to see. That’s the biggest accolade I can pay to Naomh Éanna as they swept the challenge of Cloney Gaels to the side and progressed to the quarter-final of the Intermediate championship.
20 points and every bit as convincing as it sounds, Naomh Éanna were irresistible for the full hour. Relentless in their pursuit for perfection, the Hightown Road men had their own magician in John McGoldrick. Ten points to his name in a masterclass from placed ball and an all round display that was breath-taking. He wasn’t on his own either. Cormac Ross was superb and Joe Maskey wasn’t far behind him. ‘Big Sleep’ kept tabs on PJ O’Connell while raising the white flag on five occasions from half back.
On an afternoon when Cloney Gaels would have needed everything to go their way, it just didn’t happen for the Ahoghill side. They went scoreless for over 20 minutes in the first half and during that period Naomh Éanna underlined their superiority. Bernard Graham and Francis Neeson battled gamely throughout with PJ O’Connell top scoring for the Gaels but he saw red in the 48th minute for a second bookable offence. Eamon Brady followed suit in injury time for a second booking while Jason Higgins’ game was also ended early. It wasn’t an overly ‘dirty’ game of hurling so to finish with three red cards is bizarre but the yellow cards were justified.
The Gaels hit the first point of this preliminary round tie before the clock registered one minute. Donal Graham with the score but there wouldn’t be another score from the Ahoghill side until the 22nd minute. Naomh Éanna went on to build an 11 point lead in the same time with Manus Mullan, McGoldrick, Killian Jennings, Maskey and Ross all landing scores. The highlight of the first half undoubtedly coming with two sublime side line cuts from beyond the ’45 yard line while Cloney Gaels misfired in front of the target. Two very scoreable frees missed and Donal Graham squandering a half chance of scoring a goal.
Cloney Gaels stopped the rot when PJ O’Connell fired over a trio of frees by the 25th minute but McGoldrick had the final say of the opening 30 minutes when he fired over a brace of frees from deep in his own half to leave ten points between the sides at the short whistle.
Like the first half, Cloney hit the opening score after the restart with PJ O’Connell scoring his fourth free of the match but Naomh Éanna went through the gears in the second half with McGoldrick in top form from placed ball. He added a further three points to his tally by the 10th minute of the second half before the Gaels scored the first goal of the tie. Dermot Maguire driving down the left and cutting inside before bringing the best out of Philip Curran in the Naomh Éanna goals. The sliotar broke lose and Eoin Graham swept home first time to give his side some hope of clawing their way back into the game.
That hope soon faded however with Naomh Éanna relentless. Maskey and PJ O’Connell swapped scores in the 42nd minute but the Hightown Road men landed a trio of points from McGoldrick (two) and Mullan.
PJ O’Connell saw red for a second yellow card and while Francis Neeson took over the free taking duties, Naomh Éanna made the most their man advantage. McGoldrick and substitute Oliver Breen firing over before they scored their only goal of the contest. Mark Donaghy sent the sliotar high to the edge of the Cloney Gaels square and while Diarmuid Graham got a touch on the sliotar, he deflected it beyond Aiden Graham to leave 16 points between the sides with four minutes of normal time left to play.
McGoldrick (free), Maskey and Maguire all added further scores before tempers began to flare. Eamon Brady saw red for a second yellow card as the clock ticked into injury time but Naomh Éanna continued on their merry way to driving home their advantage. Their superiority was briefly halted when Jason Higgins’ game was ended for a second yellow card and while Francis Neeson added his second free of the game moments later, Naomh Éanna and Maskey had the final say, ‘Big Sleep’ firing over his fifth point of the game with the last poc.
A comprehensive, impressive and resounding victory for Naomh Éanna who progress to a meeting with Creggan in the next round.
Naomh Éanna: Philip Curran; Niall O’Connor, Rian Gillen, Ruairi Diamond; Edward O’Connor, Mark Donaghy, Joe Maskey; Ryan Bogue, Ruairi Donaghy; Cormac Ross, Manus Mullan, Jason Higgins; Dermot Maguire, John McGoldrick, Killian Jennings.
Subs: Oliver Breen for E O’Connor (43); Michael McGivern for C Ross (57); Conor McSteen for K Jennings (57); Brendan Cormican for D Maguire (60).
Scorers: John McGoldrick 0-10 (6 f’s); Joe Maskey 0-5; Killian Jennings 0-4; Mark Donaghy 1-1; Cormac Ross 0-2; Manus Mullan 0-2; Ryan Bogue 0-2; Dermot Maguire 0-1; Oliver Breen 0-1.
Cloney Gaels: Aiden Graham; Stephen O’Connell, Bernard Graham, Diarmuid Graham; Eamon Brady, Neill O’Connell, James Magee; Francis Neeson, Fionbarr O’Neill; Eoin Graham, Martin Graham, PJ O’Connell; Daniel O’Neill, Pearse Downey, Donal Graham.
Subs: Jimmy McMeel for M Graham (35); Sean McMahon for J Magee (39); Joseph Downey for D Graham (43); Dominic Neeson for P Downey (52).
Scorers: PJ O’Connell 0-5 (4 f’s); Eoin Graham 1-00; Francis Neeson 0-2 (2 f’s); Donal Graham 0-1.
Referee: Vincent Boyle (Dunloy)
