ACFL Division 1
St. Mary’s Ahoghill 0-9 Casement’s Portglenone 1-7
A Michael Hagan point with three minutes remaining proved the winning score in this keenly contested derby played in dreadful conditions in Cloney tonight. The home side had one last opportunity to get something out of this game but James O’Connell saw his 40 meter free tail wide in the swirling wind with Fionntan McCotter’s whistle bringing matters to a close from the resulting kick-out.
In conditions not conducive to good football with a driving wind blowing in the direction of the Pavilion end it was the visitors who won the toss and decided to play with the wind in their favour in the opening half.
It looked like being the right decision when they were awarded a penalty in the 5th minute but Michael Hagan’s well struck shot came back of an upright and was cleared to safety
Ahoghill responded, working the ball through the hands to good effect and James O’Connell pointed them ahead from a free in the 7th minute and when his brother PJ added another they were two in front with 11 minutes on the clock.
The visitors took a time to settle with a number of efforts carrying harmlessly wide in the driving wind but they struck a telling blow with a Corey McLaughlin goal after 15 minutes. Bernard Graham’s attempted pass from a sideline, deep in Ahoghill territory was intercepted by Niall Delargey and he slipped the number 12 in to finish clinically from close range and give his side the lead.
The visitors moved further ahead from a Michael Hagan point from a difficult angle with the home side claiming it had tailed wide but the score stood and it brought a response from Danny O’Neill’s side.
James O’Connell point a 22nd minute free to close the gap to the minimum but Corey McLaughlin replied with an excellent point from 45 meters to move his side two in front again with four minutes remaining to the break.
The hits were going in fast and hard as referee, McCotter issued a number of ‘yellows’ in an attempt to cool matters down and Ahoghill were given a let off when Paddy Kelly shot wide from a 13 meter free in the 30th minute.
The home side came racing back up field and looked to be in for a goal of their own but Conor Crossey’s effort from close range was charged down by Rian O’Neill with Owen Neeson volleying the rebound over the bar to leave just one between the sides as the half time whistle sounded.
With the wind now at their back and conditions worsening by the minute, St. Mary’s looked favourites to push on in the second half and when Owen Neeson pointed, five minutes after the restart they were back on terms.
Portglenone had other ideas however and they began to move the ball around at speed, keeping possession and Noel Crossey in the Ahoghill goals brought off a smart save to deny Ronan Kelly after a move involving half a dozen players.
Paddy Kelly added a point for the visitors to edge them in front once more but it looked to be turning in the Cloney side’s favour when Conor Crossey sent over a good point from out on the right to level matters for the first time as the rain began to fall.
Portglenone were closing down their opponents and knocking them out of their stride and were forcing a lot of turn overs and Conall Delargy fisted over to restore the Casement’s lead again in the 12th minute.
The home side were finding it hard to put prolonged periods of possession together as the opposition pushed up on their kick-outs but James O’Connell pointed frees in the 13th and 18th minute to edge them ahead for the first time and at last the game looked to be swinging their way.
Back came the Bann siders however with Conal Delargy fisting over from close range following another fast moving build up and Niall Delargey split he posts from distance to restore their lead with only three minutes remaining.
Ronan Graham tied matters once more before Michael Hagan edged the Casement’s in front again with time almost up but Ahoghill were handed one last chance to take something from the game when they were awarded a free some 40 meters from goal. Up stepped James O’Connell’s but his well struck effort tailed wide of the posts in very difficult conditions with the full-time whistle sounding just after.
This win keeps Portglenone’s one hundred percent record intact but I’m sure they will agree that this was their toughest encounter to date but John McKeever will be pleased that they did just enough to get over the line while the home side will feel that they deserved something from the game.
St. Mary’s: Noel Crossey, Patrick Dougan, James Magee, Bernard Graham, Eamonn Brady, Fionnbar O’Neill, Diarmaid Graham, Patrick Graham, James O’Connell, Owen Neeson, Dan O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Conor Crossey, Donal Graham, PJ O’Connell,
Casement’s: Rian O’Neill, Ronan Delargy, Shane Delargy, Johnny Convery, Caolan Tierney, Ruairi Hagan, Ryan Convery, Niall McKeever, Niall Delargy, Corey McLaughlin, Ronan Kelly, Paddy Kelly, Michael Hagan. Subs used: Ciaran McKenna, Oisin Doherty, Stephen Kelly and Paddy Carey
Referee: Fionntan McCotterr (Sarsfields)
