Andersonstown SC IFC Group 1
Cloney Gaels 0-24 Glenariffe Oisin 2-18
Cloney Gaels and Glenariffe Oisin couldn’t be separated in this compelling Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling championship clash in Ahoghill today. In a game where fortunes to and froed throughout, the visitors looked to be in a strong position at half time when they led by six points.
After the break the sheer intensity of the home side slowly wore down the opposition and they drew level by the 18th minute and looked to be taking over but Oisin came back strongly with the lead changing hands several times before Alex O’Boyle brought matters level for the final time with a pointed free in injury time.
Glenariffe got off to a flying start with Caolan O’Connor firing to the Ahoghill net after 20 seconds and Alex O’Boyle followed with a point from a free to put them four in front with only a minute on the clock.
PJ O’Connell opened the Cloney account with a point in the third minute but Seanie McIntosh replied immediately with a point for the visitors. Oliver Kearney added a great long range point but the Ahoghill side seemed to be settling into the game when they hit three in a row through Ronan Graham, a James O’Connell free and Ronan Graham again to leave just two in it after 12 minutes.
Alex O’Boyle replied with a good point for Glenariffe but points from Ronan Graham and ‘Boris’ O’Connell closed the gap to the minimum as the whistle sounded for the water break.
Alex O’Boyle extended the visitors lead on the restart from a 60 meter free and James O’Connell replied for the home side in what was becoming the battle of the free takers. Colla McDonnell for Ahoghill and Seanie McIntosh for the Glens men exchanged further points before the game took a dramatic twist.
The visitors were awarded a penalty and ace marksman O’Boyle stepped up to fire past Martin Graham from the penalty spot and suddenly the Waterfoot side had moved five clear with seven minutes remaining to the break.
Alex O’Boyle who’s late pointed free gave Glenariffe a share of the spoils 
James O’Connell who gave a fine exhibition of free taking for Cloney Gaels
The momentum now was very much with the visitors and Kieran McKendry added a point from play and Alex O’Boyle added another from a free with 25minutes gone. James O’Connell (f), Owen Neeson and Neil O’Connell added further points for the Ahoghill men but another Alex O’Boyle pointed free left Oisin leading 2-11 to 0-11 at the break.
The opening exchanges of the second half were fairly even with Daniel Haughey and Alex O’Boyle (f) for the visitors and a couple of pointed frees from James O’Connell for the hosts kept the gap at six with six minutes gone but the balance of play was slowly swinging in favour of Hugh Dobbin’s side.
PJ O’Connell was now operating in attack and James O’Connell punished indiscipline in the Glenariffe defence as he pointed three frees and further points from Ronan Graham, Owen Neeson, Neil O’Connell and Neeson again had the side’s level by the 19th minute with the Glenariffe score coming from Oliver Kearney.
Kearney’s point was the visitor’s first score for 13 minutes but they added another immediately through Seanie McIntosh to edge one in front again but James O’Connell pointed three further frees by the 26th minute to leave the home side two in front and they looked to be heading for another brace of points.
In what was turning into the battle of the free takers Alex O’Boyle pointed from close range and then another from over 60 yards to leave the side’s level again and in a nail biting finish James O’Connell and Alex O’Boyle exchanged further frees in injury time to leave matters all square as the final whistle sounded.
This result leaves the group finely balanced with Cloney Gaels top with 5 points from three starts, Glenariffe on 4 from three starts and Cathaoir an Ri on 4 points from two starts and St. Gall’s one behind.
Cloney Gaels face a tough away encounter when the travel to Ballyvoy on Wednesday night while Glenariffe and Naomh Gall are at home to Gort na Mona and Armoy respectively and things should look a bit clearer after that round of fixtures.
Cloney Gaels: Martin Graham, Eamon Brady, James Magee, Diarmaid Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Bernard Graham, P.J O’Connell, Francis Neeson, Neil O’Connell, Danny O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Owern Neeson, Colla McDonnell, Dobnal Graham, James O’Connell
Glenariffe Oisin: Seanan McToal, Michael Haughey, Conor Robert Patterson, Martin McAllister, Donal Kearney, Shane O’Connor, David Kearney, Oliver Kearney, Niall Murray, Daniel Haughey, Kieran McKendry, Alex O’Boyle, Seanie McIntosh, Seamus McDonnell, Caolan O’Connor. Subs: Dan McKillop, Mickey Gettins, Cathal McDonnell
Hugh Dobbin tells the Ahoghill subs to warm up at half time
