ACFL Division 1
St Mary’s Ahoghill 0-09 Casements Portglenone 2-13
Following a defeat on home soil last week, Casement’s got their bid for a first division 1 title back on track when they proved too strong for their near neighbours St Mary’s Ahoghill before a big attendance at Clooney on Wednesday evening.
That defeat to Cargin may well have sewn some seeds of doubt and they were only a point ahead of the home side at the half time but they went on to dominate the second half.
There was little between the sides during the opening exchanges as James O’ Connell’s opening point for Ahoghill found quick reply at the other end as Paddy Kelly raised white.
Gerard Graham nudged the home side ahead with a 4th minute point but the visitors replied again and Ciaran McKenna brought the sides level for the second time.
A Fionbar O’ Neill point delivered in splendour from distance saw the Clooney men ahead and Paddy Kelly and Gerard Graham swapped further points before the visitors struck for the game’s opening goal.
Conor McGee made a strong run on the left wing to finish in style to the back of the net to see the Casement’s men take the lead and when Paddy Kelly followed with another point they were at 1-04 to 0-04 ahead.
The home side responded in the latter stages of the half however and pointed frees from Gerard Graham and James O’ Connell closed the gap to the minimum.
A late black card to the home side’s Patrick Graham, who had been dominant at mid-field was to cost the Clooney men with Casement’s leading by the narrowest of margins, 1-05 to 0-07 at the break.
Portglenone took advantage of the extra man at the start of the second half and a couple of early points from replacement Conor Mc Aleese and Ruairi Hagen and a goal from Oisin Doherty put them in control.
The visitors went on to dominate as points from Caolan Tierney and Oisin Doherty ensured a hefty 2-09 to 0-07 lead at the end of the third quarter and the Bannsider’s, with Niall McKeever dominant at mid-field were on their way to victory.
A Paddy Kelly point from an acute left sided angle received answer in kind at the other end from the back in harness Patrick Graham but the end result looked inevitable.
The league leaders finished strongly as replacement Conor McAleese, who looks like a youngster with a big future, added his second point before Ronan Delargy came forward to fist another.
Gerard Graham came forward to add another point to his personal tally but the last say was to belong to the visitors as an injury time Michael Kelly point ensured a 2-13 to 0-09 winning verdict.
The future of the league title is now very much back in Portglenone’s hands. A win or even a draw to Creggan in their last game would see them crowned champions but defeat to the Kickham’s and a win for Cargin over Ahoghill would hand the Toome side the honours.
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, D Graham, James Magee, Harry O’ Donnell, Gerard Graham (0-04), Fionnbar O’ Neill (0-01), Patrick Graham (0-01), Tom Mc Glone, Danny O’ Neill, Donal Graham, Conor Crossey, Ronan Graham (0-01), James O’ Connell (0-03)
Subs
Patrick Dougan
PJ O’ Connell
Casements: Rian O’ Neill, Ronan Delargy (0-01), Daniel Mc Nicholl, Jonny Convery, Caolan Tierney (0-01), Niall Delargy (0-01), Conor Mc Ghee (1-00), Stephen Kelly, Niall Mc Keever, Michael Hagen, Ruairi Hagen, Ronan Kelly, Oisin Doherty (1-01), Paddy Kelly (0-05)
Subs
Conor Mc Aleese (0-02)
Eamon Mc Garry (0-01)
Referee: Colm Mc Donald (St. Gall’s)
