ACHL Division 2
Clooney Gaels 1-20 St. Gall’s 1-12
Following a couple of recent draws, Clooney Gaels got back into the winning habit when they recorded an eight point win over visitors St. Gall’s at Clooney on Wednesday evening.The home side certainly didn’t get it all their own way but were on top for most of the game and a goal from Donal Graham with 8 minutes remaining proved the killer score and put an end to a fight-back from the Milltown men.
Only a point separated the sides at the halfway stage after St. Gall’s scored the final three points of the half to trail 0-9 to 0-8 but Clooney Gaels opened the second period strongly with four unanswered points of their own to put a bit of daylight between the sides.
A Niall Fallon goal after 16 minute of the new half cut the gap back to three and we looked set for a grandstand finish but Donal Graham replied with a goal for the Ahoghill side and they pulled clear to win fairly convincingly in the end.
The open stages were nip and tuck with Ahoghill one ahead at 0-5 to 0-4 after 19 minute with James O’Connell 0-3, Eoin Graham and a massive point from Dan O’Neill contributing to the Ahoghill scores and Ryan Irvine, Patrick Friel, Cormac Sheehan and Leo Morgan the St. Gall’s marksmen
Dan O’Neill with another monster effort and PJ O’Connell moved the home side three in front by the 25th minute before Mark Napier replied with a point for the Milltown side.
The free taking of James O’Connell continued to contribute handsomely to the Ahoghill total as he and Eoin Graham moved the Clooney men three ahead once more but St. Gall’s finished the half strongly with Mark Napier and Ryan Irvine on target to close the gap to the minimum at half time.
The scene looked set for a tight second half but it was Clooney Gaels who came flying out of the second half starting blocks and James O’Connell 0-3 (2f’s 1 ‘65’), PJ O’Connell and Eoin Graham struck five unanswered points in the opening 6 minutes to put a bit of daylight between the sides.
Patrick Friel and Mark Napier replied for the visitors but further points from James O’Connell and Ronan Graham moved the home side six in front before Niall Fallen replied with a goal for the Milltown side to put them right back into the game with 16 minutes gone.
Gerard Graham for the Ahoghill side and Mark Napier for the visitors exchanged further points but when Donal Graham collected a loose ball to turn and fire past Kurtis McGreevey in the 22nd minute it was all over.
Clooney Gaels pressed home their advantage in the closing stages with Gerard Graham, Donal Graham and James O’Connell adding points with the visitors unable to find a reply.
This win keeps Hugh Dobbin’s side in second place, two points behind Robert Emmet’s who defeated Carryduff and Glenariffe joining them on 18 points after a good away win at sarsfields. St. Gall’s remain in 4th place on 15 points with Carryduff and Sarsfields making up the top six.
Clooney Gaels: 1 Francis Neeson, 2 Harry O’Donnell, James Magee, 4 Diarmaid Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Daniel O’Neill, 8 Eamonn Brady, 19 Owen Neeson, 10 Ronan Graham, 11 Eoin Graham, 21 Matthew Mullan, 13 PJ O’Connell, 14 Donal Graham, 15 James O’ConnellSubs: Gerard Graham for Matthew Mullan
St. Gall’s: 1 Kurtis McGreevey, 2 Ciaran McCaffery, 3 Connla McCarthy, 4 Ewan Rush, 5 Jeff Frampton, 6 Ryan Irvine, 7 Barra O’Ciarain, 8 Jack Hopkins, 9 Patrick Friel, 10 Gregory McGreevey, 11 Cormac Sheehan, 12 Dara Delaney, 13 Fewrgus Donnelly, 33 Leo Morgan, 15 Mark Napier. Subs: Niall Fallon, Adam O’HareReferee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
