ACHL Div 1
Cuchullain’s Dunloy 0-23 Cathaoir an ri 2-17
Cahaoir An Ri dipped their toes into life in division 1 of the ACHL and on the evidence of what they produced today in Dunloy, they will give a lot of sides a run for their money.
They recovered from a slow start as the home side, minus their county players came flying out of the traps and went into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after 5 minutes with Ronan Molloy striking two long distance points and Eamon Smith hitting another.
Sean McBride finally got Cathaoir An Ri off the mark when he out jumped the Dunloy defence to flick over a dropping ball and then a fairly harmless looking shot from Johnny McBride took a wicked deflection of Conor McKinley’s stick and ended in the Dunloy net to put the visitors in front for the first time.
Conlaith McKinley pointed a free as the visitors began to believe and then Daniel McBride in the Carey goals brought off a smart save to deny Anton McGrath as the Cuchullain’s tried to respond.
Normal service seemed to have resumed as Aidan McGarry struck three superb long range frees and two more from Darra Mullan and Barry Scott moved the home side three in front but Eoin Hill replied with a good point for the Ballyvoy men to keep them in touch with 12 minutes gone.
The game was moving at a fast pace despite the tricky underfoot conditions as Dunloy moved five ahead through Eamon Smith and Kevin Molloy before McKinley replied from a 40 meter free to keep the visitors within touching distance.
The Cathaoir An Ri defence were playing out of their skin to deny their opponents with Colm McBride, James McCouaig and Shea Hunter getting through a power of work but points from Nicky McKeague and Aidan McGarry from a ‘65’ moved Gregory O’Kane’s side seven in front by the 21st minute.
The Ballyvoy side replied through their own ace free taker Conlaith McKinley and an excellent point from play from Shea Hunter with Ronan Molloy and Aidan McGarry with his fifth of the half keeping daylight between the sides.
It was Cathaoir An Ri who finished the half with a flurry however with Conlaith McKinley, Connor McBride 0-2 and McKinley again from play on target but Aidan McGarry pointed two late frees to move the home side four in front at the interval.
The Ballyvoy side opened the second half on the front foot and Connor McBride fired to the net in the opening minute and Caolan McCaughan followed with a point to leave it all square.
McGarry and McBride exchanged further points as Cathaoir An Ri matched the home side all the way throughout the second half but they were never able to get their noses in front.
It was end to end hurling at this stage with the intensity of the game increasing with the excellent Aidan McGarry and Nicky McKeague keeping the scoreboard ticking and Conlaith McKinley and Shea Hunter responding for Cathaoir An Ri.
And that was how it would continue though Carey will rue a series of wides when well on top and McBride looked in for a second goal but pulled his shot wide.
It looked to be all in vain when Conal Kelly edged the home side one ahead again but Sean McBride tied it with a point at the other end and Barry Scott pulled a late shot wide for the home side with the last puck of the game.
It would have been cruel on the visitors who showed tremendous fighting spirit throughout and if they can maintain that level of commitment and skill throughout their first division 1 campaign for quite a while then there is no reason why they cannot survive in the higher grade.
Dunloy: 1 Eoghan Richmond, 2 Oran Quinn, 3 Conor McKinley, 4 Kevin McKeague, 5 Dara McMullan, 6 Conor Kinsela, 19 Aodhan McGarry, 7 Eamon Smith, 8 Ciaran McQuillan, 10 Barry Scott, 11 Gabriel McTaggart, 12 Ronan Molloy, 13 Anton McGrath, 14 Kevin Molloy, 15 Nicky McKeague, Barry McCluskey, 18 Eoin McFerran, 21 Cahir McCloskey, 22 Calum Mullan, 23 Tom McFerran, 25 Francis Mullan, Conal Kelly
Cathaoir An Ri: 1 Daniel McBride, 2 Daniel Hill, 3 Colm McBride, 4 Somhairle Mathers, 5 Shea Hunter, 6 James McCouaig, 7 Zach McCaughan, 8 Seamus Black, 9 Eoin Hill, 10 John McBride, 11 Caolan McCaughan, 12 Conlaith McKinley, 13 Eoin McKinley, 14 Sean McBride, 15 Joshua Mullan, Sub: 17 Connor McBride
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
