ACHL Division 3
Lámh Dhearg 2-17-0-11 Gort na Mona
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Lámh Dhearg claimed their first league win of the campaign with a 2-17-0-11 win over Gort na Mona at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening.
Both sides lost their opening encounters at the weekend and would have been desperate to get up and running with two points at the first opportunity.
It was Gort na Mona who edged ahead early on through a Neil Henry free, though Daniel Murray levelled at the other end.
A chop down on the stick of Emmet Loughran led to David Dixon restoring his sides lead from the placed ball.
Adam Murray would tie things up for a second time from the same scenario after Gerard Smyth was illegally upheld.
The hosts hit the front when Niall McGarry picked out Michael McGuigan for a point, but Dixon landed his second free of the evening to make it 0-03 apiece.
Gerard Smyth immediately restored the Lámhs lead, getting on the end of a long puck-out from Rhys Camlin and measuring his shot to perfection.
A further free from Adam Murray doubled his sides advantage with Dixon reducing arrears to from his third placed ball of the half.
Lámhs talisman Murray brought his personal tally to 0-04, converting a 65’ and his third free of the half, in between a fantastic long-range point from Emmet Loughran that was the Gort’s first from play and left the score 0-07-0-05 at the interval.
The hosts extended their lead after the break with Murray adding to his increasing tally of and Michael McGuigan doubling his account after Donal Martin’s shot was smuggled clear and Murray turned provider.
David Dixon hit back with his fourth converted free and Adam Murray replied with a nice conversion from a tight angle. Points from Ciaran Boyd and a first from play for Murray had their side 0-12-0-06 ahead.
Although Manus MacMaoliain replied for the Gorts, the gap stretched to back to six on three further occasions.
Adam Murray conjured up his second score from play following a neat move involving Niall McGarry and further scores followed through Daire Cunningham and Odrán Waldron (free) and Neil Henry (free) and Emmet Loughran had temporarily cut the gap.
Lámh Dhearg wrapped up the points with 2-02 late on, Daniel Murray popped over his second point of the evening and Gerard Smyth netted a brace in the space of two minutes.
The first after Michael McGuigan’s shot dropped short and Smyth’s initial effort was kept at bay by John Kelly, the full forward followed up with success.
Smyth then got on the end of a delightful cross field pass from Joel Brady and squeezed a further effort beyond the reach of Kelly and into the net to make it 2-16-0-09.
There was still time in the aftermath for Adam Murray to swing over his ninth of the evening for the host’s final score.
Gort na Mona finished with the last two scores through a Neil Henry 65’ and a converted free from substitute Ryan Cahill- though the final outcome was settled well beyond the replies as Lámh Dhearg claimed the spoils.
Lámh Dhearg: R Camlin, C Nolan, C Boyd (0-01), T McKenna, SP Gibson, O Waldron (0-01f), D Murray (0-02), E Stanley, J Brady, D Martin, A Murray (0-09, 0-05f, 0-01 65’), N McGarry, M McGuigan (0-02), G Smyth (2-01), C McGuigan. Subs: D Cunningham (0-01) for C McGuigan (21), A McCauge for N McGarry (59).
Gort na Mona: J Kelly, C Healy, C Devlin, L Dixon, N McGivern, N Gibson, A Hicks, J Connolly, N Henry (0-03, 0-02f, 0-01 65’), G Doyle, G McKenna, E Loughran (0-02), D Dixon (0-04f), M Carlin, M MacMaolain (0-01). Subs: R Cahill (0-01f) for M Carlin (36), T O’Cadhlaigh for G Doyle (60), C Scullion for N McGivern (60).
Referee: Mark McDonald (St Galls)
