ACHL Division 2
Clooney Gaels 1-15 Carryduff 1-15
Pics by Ronan McCaughey
Clooney Gaels, missing a few regulars dropped a point for the second game in succession when a late point from a Gareth Lynch free gave Carryduff the draw they deserved in an entertaining game of hurling in Ahoghill on Sunday.
Carryduff’s greater stick work kept their noses in front for most of the match but a great long range free from Fionnbar O’Neill looked to have snatched it for the home side before Lynch replied with his late equaliser.
Patrick Graham shot Clooney Gaels into an early lead but Darragh Goodwin levelled for the visitors before Gareth Lynch rattled the Clooney net in the 4th minute to edge his side three ahead.
Lynch was having an early impact from midfield and he added a point to increase his side’s lead to four in the fifth minute before PJ O’Connell, Patrick Graham with his second of the game and Donal Graham responded with points at the other end to reduce the deficit to the minimum after 13 minutes.
The home side were getting on top at this stage of the game and further points from PJ O’Connell and Donal Graham saw them hit the front for the second time with 20 minutes gone and they were starting to impress.
Carryduff hadn’t raised a flag for 17 minutes but Sean O’Callaghan got them going again as he fired over the equaliser and in the period leading up to half time the sides exchanged three points each with Donal Rooney, Gareth Lynch and Ciaran O’Callaghan on target for the Down men and PJ O’Connell, Eamon Brady and Fionnbar O’Neill replying for the ‘Gaels’.
The visitors were playing some excellent hurling and move the ball around confidently and Sean O’Callaghan edged them ahead on the restart with a point after 5 minutes before half time substitute, James O’Connell levelled matters again from an 8th minute free.
Lynch, Donal Rooney and Peter Loughran extended the Carryduff lead to three by the 14th minute as the visitors continued to dictate the exchanges before James O’Connell replied for the home side with only their second point of the half in the 16th minute.
Further points from Lorcan McGaughey, Peter Loughran and Eoin Rooney had Carryduff in a strong position as they game enter its final minutes but a James O’Connell goal with two minutes remaining threatened to turn the game on its head.
James O’Connell struck after a great piece of teamwork put the forward into a great position where he had only the keeper to beat to level the scores.
An Eoin Rooney point for the Down men squared the contest once more but
Fionnbar O’Neill scored a great free from deep within his own half to put the home team in front and the |Clooney men looked to have stolen it.
There was still time for one more attack however and the superb Gareth Lynch converted a free deep into injury time to earn his side a draw and it was no more than they deserved.
Clooney Gaels: 1 Francis Neeson, 2 Gerald Graham, 3 Harry O’Donnell, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Conor McGarry, 6 Charlie McCloskey,7 Finbar O’Neill, 8 Eamon Brady, 9 Owen Neeson, 10 Matthew Mullan, 11 Eoin Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 PJ O’Connell, 14 Donal Graham, 15 Patrick Dougan
Subs: James O’Connell for Patrick Dougan 40mins Ronan Graham for Matthew Mullan 41mins.
