ACHL Division 2
Tir na nOg 2-12 Clooney Gael 2-15
Clooney Gaels produced a strong finish to claim both points in this exciting ACHL Division 2 clash at Whitehill on Saturday. A great goal from the home side’s Joe McCormick levelled the contest with only 8 minutes remaining but the Ahoghill side hit the final three points of the game to gain the win.
The visitors to Whitehill were first to register from a James O’Connell free after two minutes with Christy Sheerin replying from a fine long range effort to bring the sides level with 4 minutes gone.
The visitors were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges however and PJ O’Connell, Colla McDonnell and Eoin Graham hit unanswered points to move them three in front with 9 minutes on the clock.
The home side had been on the back foot during the opening exchanges but were right back in it when a long range effort from Emmet Martin ended in the Ahoghill net and when Ciaran McKeown followed with a point in the 12th minute they were ahead for the first time.
Donal Graham for Ahoghill and Joe McCormick for Tir na nOg exchanged further points before a fine long range effort from Aaron McNeilly edged the home side two in front but PJ O’Connell replied with two for the visitors to tie matters once more by the 20th minute.
Aaron McNeilly converted another splendid long range effort to edge the Whitehill side ahead once more but it would be the visitors who would finish the half with a flurry with PJ O’Connell and Ronan Graham pointing before Colla McDonnell finished a great move to the Randalstown net in the 25th minute.
Ciaran McKeown replied with a point but Tir na nOg looked rattled and Noah Friel took advantage of a defensive mistake to score the visitors second goal with three minutes remaining to the break with Aaron McNeilly replying with the last point of the half to leave it 2-9 to 1-7 in favour of Clooney Gaels.
Tir na nOg fought hard to get back into contention at the start of the second half with Brian Fitzgerald, Aaron McNeilly and Darragh Fagan adding points and Fionnbar O’Neill and Gerard Graham replying for the Ahoghill side.
Aaron McNeilly and PJ O’Connell exchanged further points but a Brian Fitzgerald point and a great goal from Joe McCormick brought the home side level with 8 minutes remaining and the momentum seemed to be swinging in their favour.
It would be their final score however as Clooney Gaels dug deep to produce a strong finish with Gerard Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill and the splendid PJ O’Connell hitting the final three points of the contest to claim their side victory.
Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sherrin, 2 Brandon McLarnon, 3 Christy Sherrin, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Ciaran O’Neill, 6 Caoimhin Duffin, 7 Daniel Martin, 8 Aaron McNeilly, 9 Ciaran mcKeown, 10 Joe McCormick, 11 Kevin McCann, 12 Dara Martin, 13 Emmet Martin, 14 Darragh Fagan, 15 Neill Shannon. Subs: 16 Michael Higgins, 17 Oliver McAtamney, 19 Brian Fitzgerald, 20 Ethan Higgins, 22 Connor McCamphill
Ahoghill: 1 Francis Neeson, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Eamonn Brady, 7 Daniel O’Neill, 8Gerard Graham, 19 PJ O’Connell, 10 Ronan Graham, 11 Eoin Graham, 12 Donal Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Noah Friel, 25 James O’Connell. Subs: 17 Ryan Martin, 18 Michael Martin, 20 Ben Friel, 21 Owen Neeson, 22 Conall Walls,
Referee Ray Matthews (Rossa)
