ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gaels Ahoghill 0-13 Sarsfieldfs 0-18
A Cloney Gaels side, depleted by a weekend stag do, had no answer to a slick Sarsfield’s in Ahoghill today. The Ahoghill side started well enough and indeed led 0-3 to 0-0 after six minutes with the O’Connell brothers, PJ, James and Neil all on target but it wasn’t long until Niall McAlea 0-2 and Ryan Carson had the visitors back on level terms.
Cloney Gaels were still enjoying the better of the exchanges at this stage but play had become very scrappy as both sides wasted opportunities but points from Owen Neeson and Diarmuid Scullion moved the home side two in front after 13 minutes play.
The visitors replied from a Kevin McKernan free but a great long range effort from Donal Graham restored the home side’s two point advantage with eight minutes remaining to the break.
Back came Sarsfield’s with points from Daniel Smyth and then ‘Kevo’ McKernan set up Ryan Carson to bring matters all square before PJ’O’Connell briefly restored the Ahoghill men’s lead. It would be the last time the home side would lead as Sarsfield’s slowly wrestled control from their hosts.
They finished the half very much on the front foot as Donal McKernan pointed a couple of frees and Callum Reynolds added another from play just before the break to leave the visitors three in front and in a strong position as they turned around with the wind in their favour.
PJ O’Connell pointed a ‘65’ on the restart but Sarsfield’s were growing in confidence and beginning to dominate matters as Kevin McKernan replied with a fine point from play and Donal McKernan followed with his third pointed free of the afternoon to leave his side four in front with only seven minutes gone.
Owen Neeson replied again for the Gaels but they were finding scores extremely hard to come by and the Stewartstown Road side were starting to find space and Niall McAlea, Brendan Jackson and McAlea again were on target to leave them five ahead after 13 minutes.
The home side were now living off scraps but still fighting hard as Dominic Neeson replied with a point in the 18th minute but Sarsfield’s now had the bit firmly between their teeth and Donal and Kevin Mckernan responded with excellent scores.
Donal McKernan added another from an acute angle but the Cloney side were still battling hard and responded through Colla McDonnell, PJ O’Connell and Conor Paul Crossey but the final point of the game fell the way of the visitors as the impressive Donal McKernan concluded the scoring with an injury time point.
Cloney Gaels remain in second place follow this, their first defeat of the season, one behind Cathaoir an Ri who have a game in hand over the Ahoghill men while Bredagh lie in third place, a point behind the Cloney side.
Sarsfields move up to eighth in the table and with what they showed today are capable of climbing further with the McKernan’s Donal and Kevin, Niall McAlea and youngster, Brendan Jackson all in impressive form.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Francis Neeson, 2 Chris McGlone, 3 Stephen O’Connell, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Diarmuid Scullion, 6 Neil O’Connell, 7 PJ O’Connell, 8 Dominic Neeson, 9 Gerard Graham, 10 Owen Neeson, 11 James O’Connell, 12 Conor Paul Crossey, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Donal Graham, 15, Callum Reynolds, Sub: 18 Rian Keenan
Sarsfields: 1 Naoise O’Faolain, 2 Mark McCavanagh, 3 James Cunningham, 4 Daragh Coleman, 5 Daniel Smyth, 6 Eoghan Rogers, 7 Domhnall Moran, 8 Enda McCartan, 9 Kevin McKernan, 10 Jim McKernan, 11 Donal McKernan, 12 Ryan Carson, 13 Niall McAlea, 15 Brendan Jackson 27 Ryan Carson, 17 Nicholas O’Mullane, 28 Pearse Cussack, 16 Eoin McBrearty
Referee: Hugh Torney (Down)
