O’Neills ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 1-13-1-06 Ahoghill
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Lámh Dhearg secured back-to-back league wins for the first time this campaign and moved off the league summit with a 1-13-1-06 win over Ahoghill at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening.
The hosts were hoping to build on victory away to Creggan last time out, but faced a stiff test against an Ahoghill outfit who have taken a few big scalps already and were coming into the encounter off the back of a win against St Galls.
It was the visitors who led in the early stages through a point from Patrick Graham, though Conor Murray came up with an instant reply.
The resulting kick-out was claimed by Declan Smith and he got his team moving on the front foot again, with Michael Hynes finishing off a well worked attack.
Paddy Cunningham converted a free and then caught Ahoghill napping with a quickly taken free into the path of Conor Murray to kick his side into a 0-04-0-01 lead.
Ahoghill closed the gap, Daniel O’Neill dropped over a terrific angled score and James O’Connell shot over on the turn to ensure a single point separated the sides.
The next four scores were evenly traded, Conor Murray and Paddy Cunningham twice extended their sides lead, only for Patrick Graham and Ronan Graham (free) to respond to both as Lámh Dhearg held a slender 0-06-0-05 advantage at the midway point.
It took six minutes for the first score of the second half to arrive through Declan Lynch after a one-two with Marc McGarry, Lynch steered his effort over the black spot.
Evan Stanley then lined up a shot that rose over the bar and Paddy Cunningham converted successive frees.
The Lámhs had four points without reply and added another two to stretch their advantage further. Declan Dunne forced a turnover and popped the ball to Conor Murray for his fourth of the evening.
A drag back on Murray then afforded Paddy Cunningham another conversion from a free and the marksman dully obliged.
With eight minutes remaining, Ahoghill were still without a score in the half and trailed 0-12-0-05, though they were offered a glimmer of hope.
James O’Connell dropped a high ball into the square that John Finucane came to gather, he didn’t hang on though and Finnbar O’Neill capitalised on an unexpected gift and bundled the loose ball to the net.
The visitors were unable to generate any momentum however. The next score came in time added on, courtesy of a Paddy Cunningham free- which was replied to by James Magee at the other end.
Lámh Dhearg settled any lingering nerves late-on, Declan Dunne claimed John Finucane’s kick-out cleanly and played a one-two with Paddy Mervyn.
Dunne picked out the run of Conor Murray whose offload set Declan Lynch in the clear and Lynch had the presence of mind to palm the ball to Declan Smith- who slotted home with the final kick off the game to ensure his side ran out 1-13-1-06 winners and moved off the bottom of the table.
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, F Mervyn, C Nolan, M McGarry, D Smith (1-00), B Rice, M Hynes (0-01), P Mervyn, E Stanley (0-01), N McGarry, P Cunningham (0-06, 0-05f), D Martin, T McCrudden, D Dunne, C Murray (0-04). Subs: D Lynch (0-01) for C Nolan (HT), A Murray for N McGarry (52), P Larkin for D Martin (59), M McElgunn for E Stanley (60+1).
Ahoghill: N Crossey, S McKeever, J Magee (0-01), H O’Donnell, F O’Neill (1-00), E Brady, Diarmuid Graham, P Graham (0-02), T McGlone, D O’Neill (0-01), Donal Graham, R Graham (0-01f), J O’Connell (0-01), S Madden, C McDonnell. Subs: PJ O’Connell for D Graham (55).
Referee: Conall Roberts (St Johns)
