ACHL Division 2
Shane O’Neill’s 0-19 Tir na nOg 2-17
The introduction of Sean Duffin early in the second half proved a game changer and saw Tir na nOg come from five points down to win by four in this excellent division 2 league encounter in Feystown on Wednesday night.
Duffin, who was unable to start due to an injury he picked up in an ACFL Division 1 game against St. John’s on Sunday, was introduced at a time in the contest where Shane O’Neill’s were dominant and fully worthy of their five point lead.
Duffin would finish the game with a personal tally of 10 points. (5 frees) and
Glenarm will wonder what happened in the closing minutes of this very tight tussle between two strong physical sides.
The first score of the game fell to the boys from Whitehill as Ciaran O’Neill fired to the net after 30 seconds after being set up by Emmet Murray.
Glenarm responded and Benny McDermott pointed in the second minute to get his side off the mark.
Ciaran McKeown restored the visitors three point advantage with a nice score from midfield but Glenarm’s began to gain a foothold and Niall McGarel hit a brace of points from two placed balls on the 8th minute to close the gap to one.
It was end to end stuff at this stage and Aaron McNeilly converted a free for the visitors but Shane O’Neill’s were coming more and more into the game and Ciaran Magill, working out round the “45” intercepted a clearance and wasted no time by driving the sliotar over the bar.
Ciaran O’Neill replied with a point for the visitors before Kieran “Murph” O Boyle for Glenarm slotted over a sweet effort from 50 yards, much to the approval of a good home support.
Things continued to swing from end to end and Joe McCormick and Aaron McNeilly from a free edged the visitors three ahead by the 15th minute and they appeared to once again be gaining the upper hand.
Glenarm were having none of it and Niall Mc Garel drove over another dead ball effort from 45 yards, closely followed by Darren Hamill piercing the evening sky with a free from over 80 yards.
Back came the Whitehill side and Ciaran O’Neill added to his early goal with a point from out on the wing on the 21st minute but it was Shane O’Neill’s who finished the half with a florish.
In the remaining nine minutes before the short whistle the Feystown boys hit a purple patch as they added 5 unanswered points to move three in front at the break.
The first of these scores came from Ciaran Magill, winning a ball deep out on the wing and pointing and Niall Mc Garel hit a hat-trick of scores, with two great efforts from play and another converted free.
The last score before the interval came after great play by McGarel who fed Dylan McLaughlin who slipped past two defenders and shot for goal with his shot parried over the bar by Tir na nOg keeper, Kevin Sheerin.
Halftime. Shane O Neills 0:12 Randalstown 1:06
As the second half got underway, Ciaran O’Neill got the Randalstown men on their way with a point in the opening minute but the home side where starting to get on top winning early exchanges and finding their men more easily.
Ciaran Magill collected a ball and cutely found Benny McDermott in space and he responded by splitting the uprights.
On 32 minutes it was wing forward Magill who collected a stray ball to drive over the Randalstown bar and Dylan McLaughlin added another from 40 yards as the Feystown crowd found their voice.
It wasn’t looking good for the visitors at this stage and they rang the changes with Sean Duffin entering the contest to replace Manus Smith and slowly the game began to turn in favour of Tir na nOg.
Niall Mc Garel got his seventh point of the evening for Shane O’Neill’s but Sean Duffin was showing early promise after entering the fray and pointed on the 38th minute.
Back came McGarel from a placed ball effort but it was Duffin who showed his prowess with two points from play, and a free to get the visitors comeback up and running.
Tit for tat seemed to be the order of the day as again Mc Garel showed his sharp shooting from another free, raising the white flag but Duffin again reduced the arrears, slotting over a free of his own from distance.
The same player increased his personal tally to six but in the 51st minute Daniel Black, working hard around midfield, won a ball and after breaking a tackle pointed a delightful effort, which turned out to be Glenarm’s last score in this encounter.
The visitors finished with a flurry with Sean Duffin the main threat and he pointed a sublime effort from a sideline puck before following up from two free’s to level the contest
Randalstown tails were up and substitute Dara Martin took advantage of slack marking to score a second goal for the Whitehill boys.
With the clock reading 60 minutes it was Duffin who had the final say as he fired over the insurance point to give his side the points and break the hearts of a battling Shane O’Neill’s.
Glenarm will rue their missed chances in this game, shooting 15 wides over the hour and they had two goal attempts saved. Darren Hamill, Declan McDermott and Ben O Boyle worked hard in the defence, with Ciaran Magill, Dylan McLaughlin, Brendan McDermott and Niall Mc Garel carrying the scoring threat.
The introduction of Sean Duffin proved a game changer for the winners while Ciaran O’Neill took his early goal well and added two further points and Caoimhin Duffin, Aaron McNeilly and Joe McCormick were others to impress for the winners.
Glenarm Scorers. Daniel Black 0-1, Benny McDermott 0-2, Niall Mc Garel 0-9 (6 frees) Ciaran Magill 0-3, Darren Hamill 0-1 free, Kieran O Boyle 0-1, Dylan McLaughlin 0-2.
Randalstown Scorers. Dara Fagan 0-1, Aaron McNeilly 0-2 Ciaran O’Neill 1-2, Sean Duffin 0-10 (5 frees), Dara Martin 1-00, Ciaran McKeown 0-1, Emmet Murray 0-1.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Liam Og McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Conal Ward, 5 Kieran O’Boyle, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Declan McDermott, 8 Ben O’Boyle, 9 Brendan McDermott, 10 Sean O’Boyle, 11 Ciaran Magill, 12 Dylan McLaughlin, 13 Sean O’Hare, 14 Aidan Scullion, 15 Niall McGarel.
Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Declan Mallon, 3 Brandon McLarnon, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Connor McCamphill, 6 Caoimhin Duffin, 7 Neil Shannon, 8 Ciaran McKeown, 9 Aaron McNeilly, 10 Ciaran O’Neill, 11 Darragh Fagan, 12 Joe McCormick, 13 Emmet Murray, 14 Oliver McAtamney, 15 Brian Fitzgerald. Subs used: Sean Duffin, Emmet Og McAllister, Dara Martin
Referee: Declan McGarry
