O’Neill’s Sportswear ACHL Division 1
Dunloy 2-21 St John’s 1-24
Sunday June 4
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy and St John’s couldn’t be separated in blistering heat on Sunday afternoon with the sides finishing all square at the end of the hour. This was a hugely entertaining hour of hurling where the Corrigan Park men looked to have done enough to earn the vital league points on offer when they took a three point lead at the end of the game but the Cuchullains finished with a flurry and a draw was probably the fairest result.
With Eoin O’Neill lining out, the home side were still shorn plenty of their county players while the Johnnies welcomed the two Bradley’s, Domhnall Nugent and Conor Johnston into their 15.
The visitors to Pearse Park looked lively in attack and with Oisin MacManus, Michael Dudley and Johnston all dangerous, they gave the Dunloy defence their fill of it and more. Chrissy McMahon and O’Neill got the majors for Dunloy, one in either half and came at vital times. St John’s were well worth their four point lead by the 22nd minute with Ryan McNulty, MacManus and Johnston all heavily involved but Chrissy McMahon’s major brought Dunloy to within touching distance. Tom McFerran winning the ball in midfield and finding O’Neill in space. ‘Sammy’ lured the St John’s defence before feeding McMahon and he made no mistake.
In fairness to the Johnnies, they had their goal chances previous to the Dunloy major with Johnston going close on two occasions while ‘keeper Eoghan Richmond did well to stop MacManus’ goal bound effort.
One point separated the sides at the short whistle with St John’s ahead 0-14 to 1-10. The Johnnies probably deserved to be further ahead given how the first half panned out and after 10 minutes of the second half they had opened a four point lead once more. MacManus, Johnston, Nugent and Dudley before a brace of frees from Aodhan McGarry brought Dunloy to within two before the second half water break.
The Johnnies goal came in the 49th minute through the lively Aaron Bradley, Johnston with the assist to give his side a four point lead once more but Dunloy’s second major came with the next attack – Eoin O’Neill, who’s assist set up McMahon’s major in the first half, found the back for Declan Cregan’s goal with an instant Dunloy reply.
With just three minutes of the hour remaining St John’s had a three point lead but scores from McGarry (free), O’Neill and Ronan Molloy ensured the league points were shared at the end of the hour.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Dara McMullan, Kevin McKeague, Oran Quinn; Conor McKinsella, Ronan Molloy, Barry McCloskey; Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Eoin McFerran, Gabriel McTaggart, Aodhan McGarry; Chrissy McMahon, Eoin O’Neill, Ryan Mort
Scorers: A McGarry 0-12 (8fs 1’65); C McMahon 1-3; E O’Neill 1-1; R Molloy 0-2; P Shiels 0-2; R Mort 0-1
St John’s: Declan Cregan; Oisin Donnelly, Domhnal Nugent, Lorcan Heenan; Daragh McGuinness, Michael Bradley, Jack Bohill; Conal Morgan, Aaron Bradley; Ryan McNulty, Oisin MacManus, Michail Dudley; CJ McKenna, Conor Johnston, Ruairi Galbraith
Scorers: O MacManus 0-9 (2fs 1’65); C Johnston 0-5; M Dudley 0-3; A Bradley 1-00; CJ McKenna 0-2; R McNulty 0-2; D Nugent 0-1; M Bradley 0-1; C Morgan 0-1
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
