ACHL; Div.2
Cloney Gaels 5-23 Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh 0-7
A severely depleted, Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh proved no match for a rampant Cloney Gaels in Ahoghill today. The Tyrone side arrived in Ahoghill minus a large proportion of their team who are not permitted to play because of county duty and after hanging in during the opening quarter the floodgates opened.
The writing was on the wall from early on however with the Ahoghill side shooting seven wides during the opening exchanges and indeed it was the visitors who opened the scoring with a point from a Branan Molloy ‘65’ in the 5th minute to take the lead but it was to be short lived.
Points from Donal Graham and Eoin Graham and a goal from Ronan Graham left the home side four in front at the end of the opening quarter with Branan Molloy replying from a free and Padraig McHugh sending over a massive point from play for Eoghan Ruadh.
James O’Connell then began to stamp his mark on proceedings as he pointed three frees and another from play with youngster, Colla McDonnell also on target to put the home side 1-7 to 0-3 ahead by the 25th minute.
Branan Molloy replied from a free for the visitors before a flowing move from deep in defence by the Cloney men saw Owen Neeson placed in the clear and he fired to the net. James O’Connell from a free and Ronan Graham from play concluded the first half scoring to leave the Ahoghill side 2-9 to 0-4 ahead at the short whistle.
Cloney Gaels introduced PJ O’Connell and Danny O’Neill at the start of the second half and PJ announced his introduction with a goal in the second minute. With the breeze at their backs the home side continued to press as Colla McDonnell, James O’Connell 0-2 frees, and Eoin Graham added points.
The visitors were now fighting a desperate rear guard action though to their credit they battled manfully against almost impossible odds and Eoin Graham got in for goal number four in the 10th minute with PJ O’Connell placing Colla McDonnell for a fifth major, three minutes later.
James O’Connell added two more points from frees and Martin Graham pulled off a great save at the other end as the Tyrone side threated. It was soon back to defence for Eoghan Ruadgh however as James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell and James O’Connell from a ‘65’ and another free moved the Ahoghill men out of sight by the final whistle to leave them top of their group and a place in the play-offs.
Cloney Gaels: Martin Graham, Harry O’Donnell, Bernard Graham, James Magee, Fionnbar O’Neill, Neil O’Connell, Eamonn Brady, Thomas McGlone, Gerard Graham, Owen Neeson, Eoin Graham, Ronan Graham , Colla McDonnell, Donal Graham, James O’Connell. Subs:
PJ O’Connell for Donal Graham, Dan O’Neill for Thomas McGlone, Bernard Graham for Neil O’Connell, Dominic Neeson for Eoin Graham, Ryan McPeake for Gerard Graham
Eoghan Ruadgh: John Devine, Brian Rush, Brian McGiloway, Eoghan Orr, Mark McCann, Padraig McHugh, Dan McCrudden, Josh Ferguson, Ben Gormley, Branan Molloy, Piaras McErlean, Cathal McErlean, Matthew Mulgrew, Cormac Hughes, Turlough Mullan. Subs: Josh Campbell, Niall Tennyson
Referee : Tarlach Conway (Ballinascreen)
Hugh Dobbin presents a set of jerseys on behalf of Dobbin Brothers Contracts to Cloney Gaels Fionnbar O’Newill and Frank Neeson