ACHL Division 2
Bredagh 1-25 Cloney Gaels 4-25
Cloney Gaels maintained their challenge at the top of division 2 when they travelled to Cherryvale today and recorded a good nine point win over a useful Bredagh side. The County Down side held a slender one point lead at the interval and it was clear that the visitors would have to step up their game in the second half.
That they did and two goals from Colla McDonnell saw him complete his hat-trick and another from Ronan Graham turned the contest decisively in favour of the visitors. The home side never gave up but those three goals were to prove the difference at the end of an excellent hour’s hurling.
In a high scoring opening quarter the scores came thick and fast as both sides gave a masterful exhibition of point taking. Sean McGourty, Jarlath McCollum, Sean Hughes, Ryan Curran and Mark Patterson led the way for the Bredagh men while Owen Neeson, Eamon Brady, James O’Connell, Owen Graham and Colla McDonnell responded for the South West side to leave the scores level at 0-9 apiece after 18 minutes.
The Ahoghill side took the lead when Colla McDonnell fired home the game’s opening goal but Bredagh came strong in the second quarter to hit another nine points through Niall McFarland, Sean Hughes 0-2, Matt McAreavey, Jarlath McCollum 0-3, Niall Smith and Liam Hogan.
The visitors fought hard to stay in touch and points from Donal Graham, James O’Connell 0-3 and Donal Graham left them trailing by the minimum as Hugh Torney sounded his half time whistle.
The visitors introduced PJ O’Connell for the second half and he was to make a telling contribution in his side’s comeback. O’Connell and Donal Graham hit early points for the visitors but they looked in a bit of trouble when Sean |Hughes netted for Bredagh in the 4th minute to move them three in front.
Slowly though the visitors began to settle as PJ O’Connell Added two more points and then Colla McDonnell struck with goals in the 7th and 11th minutes to turn this game decisively in favour of Cloney Gaels.
The visitors defence had closed shop at this stage and Bredagh were relying on the accuracy of the excellent Sean Hughes from frees and he was to provide all but one of his side’s second half scores but the visitors had the bit firmly between their teeth.
Ronan Graham fired home their fourth goal of the game and they finished with a flurry of points from Ronan Graham, PJ O’Connell, Owen Neeson 0-3 and Eamon Brady to run out convincing winners in the end.
This win leaves Cloney Gaels in second place, just one point behind Cathaoir an Ri who defeated Sarsfields at the Bear Pit today to maintain their unbeaten record. The sides don’t meet each other until the 19th of June and they each have a couple of fixtures to fulfil before that game.
If both sides can retain their unbeaten run until then, then their meeting in Cloney could well decide the destination of the division 2 title and is likely to attract a bumper crowd to the Ahoghill venue.
Bredagh: 1 Ian Galway, 2 Fintan McCollum, 3 Michael Woods, 4 Matt McAreavey, 5 Chris Ferry, 6 Niall McFarland, 7 Tiarnan Sheehan, 8 Mark Patterson, 9 Liam Hogan, 10 Niall Smith, 11 Sean McGourty, 12 Ryan Curran, 13 Jarlath McCollum, 14 Sean Hughes, 15 Joseph Hanrahan.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Francis Neeson, 2 Conor McGarry, 3 James Magee, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Eoin Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Niall O’Connell, 10 Owen Graham, 11 Patrick Dougan, 12 Thomas McGlone, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Donal Graham, 15 James O’Connell, 17 PJ O’Connell, 18 Ronan Graham, 19 Charlie McCloskey, 20 Shea Neeson, 21 Conor Paul Crossey, 22 Conal Walls, 23 Ryan McPeake, 24 Ryan Martin
Referee: Hugh Toney