ACHL Division 2
Clooney Gaels 1-17 Shane O’Neill’s 1-17
Shane O’Neill’s produced a battling second half comeback to earn a draw with high flying Clooney Gaels and the Ahoghill side had to thank their keeper, Francis Neeson for three outstanding second half saves to prevent both points heading back to Feystown.
The Glenarm men arrived in Ahoghill in much need of points on board as they fight to maintain their hard earned division 2 status following division 3 and Junior Championship success last season and they reshuffled the pack following defeat to Tir na nOg last Wednesday night with Darren Hamill lining out at full forward.
The early signs weren’t good as Clooney Gaels raced into an early 1-3 to 0-0 lead with Eoin Graham giving them a perfect start with a goal in the opening minute.
James O’Connell followed with a point from a ‘65’ and PJ O’Connell added another before Ciaran Magill got the visitors on their way with a point in the 5th minute.
Clooney Gaels were dictating the contest at this stage and they came back strongly with points from Donal Graham, James O’Connell 0-2, and Patrick Graham 0-2 to move 9 ahead after 12 minutes and it wasn’t looking good for the men from Feystown.
They responded however with points from Darren Hamill and Dylan McLaughlin but these were quickly cancelled out by a PJ O’Connell double and another from Ronan Graham to move the Clooney men 10 clear with ten minutes remaining to the break.
The visitors began to have a wee bit of success in the minutes leading up to half time as they outscored their hosts 3 to 1 with Dylan McLaughlin, Darren Hamill and Brendan McDermott on target and Ahoghill replying through a James O’Connell free.
Eight points in arrears as the second half got under way, it looked an awesome task for Shane O’Neill’s but this side has shown tremendous spirit all year and Francis Neeson in the Clooney goals brought off a splendid save to deny the visitors a goal as the action got underway again.
Encouraged by their bright start, Niall McGarel pointed and Ben O’Boyle added another and when Brendan McDermott replied to a Ronan Graham point for the hosts the Ahoghill lead had been cut to six with only six minutes of the new half gone.
The momentum was now very much with the visitors with Aidan Scullion 0-2, Brendan McDermott and Niall McGarel 0-2 all on target for Glenarm and Clooney’s only reply coming from two James O’Connell ‘65’s and a point from Donal Graham to leave four between the sides as the game moved into the final ten minutes.
In between Francis Neeson had brought off another spectacular save but there would be not stopping the Feystown side as they finished the game with a flourish that Clooney Gaels just could not contain.
The home side added their final two points of the evening through Colla McDonnell and a James O’Connell free but in between the Glenarm men turned the screw with substitute Ryan McLoughlin leaving an indelible mark on the game as he rattled the net in the 27th minute and followed with two points and McGarel looked to given them the win as he edged them ahead with time almost up.
There would be one more play however and, not for the first time this season James O’Connell kept his cool under pressure to convert a free in the 32nd minute and give his side a share of the points that on the balance of play was fortunate.
This draw moves Shane O’Neill’s out of the bottom two and onto five points, one ahead of Bredagh and three ahead of Creggan and if they can continue to produce performances like this then they look well capable of climbing up the table.
Clooney Gaels: 1 Francis Neeson, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Bernard Graham, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Conor McGarry, 7 Daniel O’Neill, 8 Gerard Graham, 10 Ronan Graham, 11 Eoin Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 PJ O’Connell, 14 Donal Graham, 25 James O’Connell, 16 Aiden Graham, 17 Colla McDonnell
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Liam Og McLoughlin, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Aidan O’Neill, 5 Ciaran O’Neill, 6 Declan McDermott, 17 Liam Mulvenna, 8 Ben O’Boyle, 9 Brendan McDermott, 10 Dylan McLaughlin, 11 Ciaran Magill, 12 Sean O’Boyle, 13 Aidan Scullion, 14 Darren Hamill, 15 Niall McGarel, 18 Ronan Rodgers, 19 Matthew Black, 20 Kieran O’Boyle, 21 Ryan McLoughlin, 22 Rory Mulvenna, 23 Conor O’Boyle, 24 Paul Magill, 25 Anthony McNeill, 29 Daniel Black
Referee: Paul O’Neill