ACHL Division 2
Bredagh 3-20 Clooney Gaels 3-25
When Clooney Gaels are in town the action’s never dull and so it was at Cherryvale on Wednesday night as they edged out5 a 6 goal thriller to win by five points against a good Bredagh side.
The Down men will feel they should have got something from this contest and 3-20 would win most games but they just could not shake off the men from Ahoghill.
It was Bredagh who got off to a great hitting three early points and when their full-forward got in for an early goal things looked to be going the way of the home side.
Ronan Graham finally got the visitors off the mark with a point in the 5th minute but Bredagh continued to dictate matters and got through for a second goal, their number 14 again the man on target in the 12th minute.
In between Clooney Gaels had managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with points from James O’Connell 0-3, and a Fionbarr O’Neill long range special but they were soon in trouble.
Bredagh struck their third goal of the contest to move 3-5 to 0-5 ahead after 14 minutes but Ahoghill started to enjoy a wee bit of success and replied with unanswered points from Bernard Graham and a couple of converted frees from ace marksman, James O’Connell.
Patrick Graham gave his side a glimmer of hope when he fired to the Bredagh net in the 20th minute and both sides exchanged points in the run in to half time with PJ O’Connell, James O’Connell, Ronan Graham and James O’Connell again the men on target for Ahoghill.
These scores brought Hugh Dobbins side back to within striking distance but the Gaels still looked to have it all to do as they turned around for the second half, trailing 3-11 to 1-12.
The first 20 minutes of the second half produced some excellent end to end hurling and point taking of the highest order with Fionnbar O’Neill, Eoin Graham, Owen Neeson, Eamonn Brady, James O’Connell from a ‘65’, Donal Graham, Ronan Graham and O’Connell again bringing the Gaels total to 1-20.
Bredagh were still hanging in there and leading by a point at this stage but the men from Clooney finished strongly to out-score their opponents 2-5 to 0-5 going down the home straight.
Not for the first time this season, James O’Connell set the ball rolling with a goal and his brother PJ added another to swing the contest in the way of the South West side who ran out five point winners in the end.
Cllooney Gaels scorers: James O’Connell 1-12, PJ O’Connell 1-1, Patrick Graham 1-0, Ronan Graham 0-3, Fionnbar O’Neill 0-2, Owen Neeson 0-2, Eoin Graham 0-1, Donal Graham, 0-2, Bernard Graham 0-1, Eamonn Brad 0-1