ACHL Division 2 Group 2

Wednesday July 22

Tír na nÓg 3-18 Gort na Mona 2-12

Brendan McTaggart reports from Whitehill

Tír na nÓg produced a powerful performance in their league opener on Wednesday evening to record a nine point win over Gort na Mona at Whitehill.  Star forward Sean Duffin top scored with an impressive return of 1-12 over the hour but it was Eamon McAllister who truly caught the eye.  Two goals for the young Tír na nÓg man who is just out of minor last year and a frightening display of speed and agility.  A gem and one to watch for the Randalstown blues.

The Turf Lodge men more than played their part in what was a thoroughly enjoyable hour of hurling.  Desi McClean top scored for the Gorts with 1-8, his goal coming from a second half penalty while Darren ‘Diesel’ Boyd chipped in with 1-3 from play. 

Gort na Mona almost made the dream start with Barry McFall – bringing the best out of Kevin Sheerin in the Tír na nÓg goals after just 15 seconds.  The first goal of the game came just four minutes later though.  Sean Duffin taking advantage of the sliotar rebounding off the uprights from Ciaran Logan’s shot.  Duffin reacted quickest to the lose sliotar and fired home from close range. 

The Gorts kept in touch up until the first water break with McClean and Boyd getting the scores but the home side began to go through the gears in the second quarter with Sean Duffin scoring five points in ten minutes – Ciaran Logan and Stephen Carey chipping in with scores.  The Gort workrate never dipped however.  They tackled hard and in packs, making Tír na nÓg earn any scores but the home side manoeuvred the sliotar well throughout to earn a five point lead at the short whistle.

Sean Duffin and Darren Boyd swapped points in the early stages of the second half before McAllister scored his first goal.  Collecting the sliotar after a brilliant run by Sean Duffin, McAllister drilled low to the bottom corner.

Gorts responded instantly with Declan Hughes firing over but four unanswered scores from the home side opened an 11 point lead after 10 minutes of the first half.

The Gort scored their first goal 11 minutes into the second half when referee Darren McKeown awarded a penalty for a foul on Conor Healy.  McClean drilled to the bottom corner to reduce the Tír na nÓg lead but it was as close as they would get to the home side.  Both sides began to empty their benches and the game lost some of its fluidity.

McAllister’s second goal came three minutes from time and showcased his raw talent.  Collecting the sliotar, McAllister skipped past his marker before cutting inside another challenge.  His finish was emphatic. 

Gort scored their second goal in injury time with Darren Boyd finishing on the edge of the square but it proved to be little more than a consolation score for the Turf Lodge men.

Ultimately the difference between the sides was Tír na nÓg’s ability to spread their scorers around the team.  They had seven different scorers on the night while the Turf Lodge men had three.  But it was a good workout for the two sides as they turn their attention towards the championship.

TEAMS

Tír na nÓg: Kevin Sheerin; Tony Martin, Christy Sheerin, Connor Fitzgerald; Caoimhin Duffin, Ryan O’Neill, Ciaran O’Neill; Aaron McNeilly, Stephen Carey; Eamon Og McAllister, Ciaran Logan, Sean Duffin; Emmett Martin, Kevin Kerr, Sean McKinley

Scorers: Sean Duffin 1-12 (5 f’s 2 ‘65’s); Eamon McAllister 2-00; Sean McKinley 0-2; Ciaran Logan 0-1; Stephen Carey 0-1; Ciaran O’Neill 0-1; Caoimhin Duffin 0-1

Gort na Mona: Sean Kelly; Neil Henry, Paul McClelland, Christopher Devlin; Connor McCann, Padraig McHugh, Gavin McKenna; Desi McClean, Declan Hughes; Darren Boyd, Martin Ward, Niall Healy; Conor Healy, Barry McFall, Gary Doyle

Scorers: Desi McClean 1-8 (5 f’s, 1-00 pen); Darren Boyd 1-3; Declan Hughes 0-1

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)

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