ACFL Division 1
Ahoghill 1-12 Lamh Dhearg 2-14
Pics by Kevin Herron
Following a heavy defeat on Sunday, Lamh Dhearg travelled to Clooney on Wednesday night and recorded a five point win over St. Mary’s Ahoghill. The visitors raced into an early three point lead and by half time were well on top when they led 1-9 to 0-6.
A goal from Martin Graham, early in the second half threatened to bring about an Ahoghill comeback but it never quite materialised as the visitors pushed on to win by five in the end.
Marc McGarry, and two from Conor Murray had the visitors three in front by the 4th minute and then Ahoghill were dealt a severe blow when they had a player dismissed following an off the ball incident.
They responded however through points from Eamon Brady, Tom McGlone and Fionnbar O’Neill to draw level with 8 minutes on the clock but the visitors came back with four unanswered points courtesy of Declan Smyth, Aaron McAufield, Shaun McManus and Murray to reassert control.
James O’Connell replied with a couple for the home side to leave just two in it after 15 minutes.
Lamh Dhearg stepped up the momentum during the second quarter as Conor Murray split the posts and the talisman got forward to finish to the net in the 24th minute to put a bit of daylight between the sides.
Ahoghill’s only response came from a James O’Connell free in the 27th minute but it was the men from Hannastown who had the final score of the half with Murray pointing in the 30th minute to leave his side six ahead at the short whistle.
Declan Smyth doubled his tally to move Lamh Dhearg further ahead at the start of the second half but Martin Graham raised the home side’s hopes when he fired to the net in the 8th minute to cut the deficit to two points.
A point from mid-fielder Patrick Graham had it back to one by the 10th minute as the home crowd roared their approval and Shaun McManus and Terry McCrudden for the visitors and Jimmy O’Connell, from a Mark and then a free kept it finely balanced at the end of the third quarter.
Conor Murray and Ben Rice for Lamh Dhearg and Dan O’Neill and James O’Connell for the Clooney side exchanged further points and 14 man St. Mary’s were still hanging in there but a goal from Declan Dunne with six minutes remaining finally killed off their challenge.
Pointed frees from James O’Connell and Patrick Graham closed the gap to six with four minutes of normal time remaining but it was as close as Ahoghill got with Lamh Dhearg hanging on to take the points and climb above their hosts in the table.
Ahoghill: N Crossey, J Magee, Diarmaid Graham, G Graham, F O’Neill (0-02m), E Brady, Donal Graham, P Graham (0-01), T McGlone (0-01), D O’Neill (0-01m), M Graham, P Dougan, J O’Connell (1-07, 0-06f), C McDonnell, S Madden. Subs: CP Crossey for C McDonnell (46), C McCarry for M Graham (56), H O’Donnell for P Dougan (56).
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, P Larkin, B Rice (0-01), R Murray, A McAufield (0-01), M McGarry (0-01m), F Mervyn, S McManus (0-02, 0-01m), M McElgunn, D Smyth (0-02), M Hynds, C Maxwell, T McCrudden (0-01), C Murray (1-06, 0-01f), D Dunne (1-00). Subs: N McGarry for A McAufield (40), A Murray for R Murray (46), K Fay-Kelly for F Mervyn (56), C Nolan for P Larkin (57).
Referee: Conall Roberts (St Johns)
