ACHL Division 2
Tir na nOg 2-8 Cathaoir an Ri 3-11
Last week Carey were blown away in the wind at Cloney, today they were singing in the rain at Whitehill as they overcame the challenge of Tir na nOg following a downpour just before throw in. The rain was still coming down as Ray Matthews got the game underway but thankfully subsided shortly into the contest to be replaced by sunshine but on a wet slippery surface.
The early exchanges were easily forgettable as both sides shot a number of early wides with Tir na nOg much more wasteful. Darren McGowan looked to be in for a goal for the visitors after four minutes but was foiled in his effort before Conleth McKinley fired the Carey men ahead with a pointed free in the 9th minute.
McKinley missed last week’s game in Ahoghill and was to make a telling contribution today as he added another pointed free and Caolan McCaughan struck the game’s first point from play after 17 minutes to edge the Ballyvoy side 0-3 to 0-0 ahead.
McKinley from another free made it 4-0 with 20 minutes on the clock and at this stage of the contest the Whitehill side hadn’t raised a flag but suddenly theycame to life and Kevin McCann pointed and then Oliver McAtamney drilled his shot past Bart McAuley and the sides were level with 25 minutes gone.
The visitors had the last say of the opening half however as Conleth McKinley pointed his 4th free of the half to give his side a slender 0-5 to 1-1 lead but on the balance of play they might have been further ahead.
Tir na nOg had created quite a number of first half chances but were wasteful in front of the posts but within a minute of the second half they were level as Aaron McNeilly pointed a free.
Within a couple of minutes the Faughs were back ahead however as an inviting delivery from Colm McBride deflected of the outstretched hand of Ryan O’Neill and ended in the Tir na nOg net, past the unsighted Christy Sheerin.
Joshua Mullan added a quick point to move the visitors four in front but Aaron McNeilly replied with a point for the home side and Declan Mallon finished to the Carey net from close range and the sides were level again with only 9 minutes of the new half gone.
When McNeilly followed with a point, two minutes later the game looked to be swinging in favour of the Randalstown side but they only flattered to deceive as the pendulum swung back decisively in favour of the visitors.
Caolan McCaughan and Conleth McKinley replied with points before they were awarded a penalty and Johnny McBride drilled his shot to the corner of the net and Carey were four ahead with 16 minutes gone.
The home side were still battling hard but were finding it hard to penetrate a strong Carey defence but Aaron McNeilly pointed from play and followed from a 40 meter free with Darren McGowan on target at the other end and only a goal separated them with five minutes still to play.
Disaster struck at the other end however as a long range free from James Couaig deflected of a stick and finished in the Tir na nOg net and when Conleth McKinley followed with a point it looked as good as over.
Aaron McNeilly, who had been Tir na nOg’s most dangerous player throughout the game replied with a couple of late points with Joshua Mullan getting one for the Ballyvoy men to see them home with seven points to spare to climb above Cloney Gaels at the top of the division 2 table.
Tir na nOg: 1 Christy Sheerin, 2 Conor McCamphill, 3 Ryan O’Neill, 4 Neil Shannon, 5 Daniel Martin, 6 Ciaran O’Neill, 7 Manus Smith, 8 Aaron McNeilly, 9 Ciaran McKeown, 10 Niall Devlin, 11 Oliver McAtamney, 12Eamon Og McAllister, 13 Declan Martin, 14 Darragh Fagan, 15 Kevin McCann,
Subs: Josh Higgins, Emmet Martin
Cathaoir an Ri: 1 Cathal McAuley, 2 Somhairle Mathers, 3 Sean McBride, 4 Patrick Gillan, 5 Michael McVeigh, 6 James McCouaig, 7 Conall McGlynn, 8 Sean McLaughlin, 9 Colm McBride, 10 Caolan McCaughan, 11 John McBride, 12 Conlith McKinley, 13 Joshua Mullan, 14 Darren McGowan, 15 Seamus Black
Sub: Daniel Martin for Darren McGowan
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
