Reserve Hurling Shield semi-final
Clooney Gaels 2-15 Ruairi Ogs 6-14
There were goals galore on Wednesday night in a very competitive and entertaining Reserve Hurling Shield semi-final between Clooney Gaels and Ruairi Ogs, Cushendall in Ahoghill.
The visitors hit six over the hour but the final scoreline slightly flatters them and doesn’t do justice to an Ahoghill side who fought manfully all the way and were still well in contention when they trailed by three with 12 minutes remaining.
The sky fell in at this stage with Conall McAteer blocking an attempted Aidan Graham clearance into the net and a minute later McAteer struck with another and suddenly the visitors had opened up a nine point lead.
With time almost up man of the match, Joe McNaughton fired home a penalty with the Cushendall number 10 putting the icing on a polished performance that contributed 2-9 on the night.
There was little between the sides during the opening half as Gerard Graham pointed the home side ahead from a 65 meter free before Patrick Sharpe and Christy McLaughlin replied to give the visitors the lead for the first time after 4 minutes.
Paddy Dougan squared matters with a point for the Gaels before Joseph McNaughton made his first and second contribution of the night to ease the visitors back in front.
The game’s opening goal arrived in the 12th minute when Aidan Graham in the Ahoghill goals batted down a shot that was heading over the bar but with his defence unable to clear, Conall McAteer returned the sliotar to the net from close range.
Four minutes later a long shot from Gerard Graham deceived keeper Patrick Doherty and ended in the Ruairi’s net to close the game to two but Joe McNaughton was beginning to have a big influence on the game and he drove a 25 meter free to the net in the 22nd minute.
Ahoghill responded and two pointed frees from Gerard Graham and points from Matthew Mullan and Dominic Neeson saw them trail by four at the short whistle.
Joe McNaughton for Ruairi Ogs and Gerard Graham exchanged scores at the start of the second half and after Conall McAteer blocked an attempted Aidan Graham clearance to the net, Noah Friel replied with a goal at the other end following a great run from Eoin ‘Soda’ Graham to leave it 3-12 to 2-10 in favour of the North Antrim men.
Another couple of excellent long range frees from Gerard Graham and one from play by Eoin Graham had it back to three by the 18th minute and at this stage the momentum seemed to be swinging in favour of the Clooney side.
Disaster struck however as Conall McAteer found the Clooney net twice within a minute to bring his tally for the evening to four and it was the ‘Dall’ who finished impressively with points from Matthew McCann, Joe McNaughton 0-2 and Paddy Sharpe before McNaughton finished from a penalty to leave his side convincing winners.
Ruairi Ogs now go forward to play Emmet’s Cushendun in the final with Emmets already qualified following their win over St. Gall’s back on the 17th August and with the Cushendun side hitting 5-15 in that one it promises to be an exciting final.
Clooney Gaels: 1 Aidan Neeson, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 Stephen O’Connell, 4 Conal Walls, 5 Chris McGlone, 6 Charlie McCloskey, 7 Fergal McGee, 8 Gerard Graham, 9 Conleth Neeson, 24 Matthew Mullan, 11 Dominic Neeson, 12 Paddy Logan, 25 Ryan McPeake, 14 Jack McFall, 15 Noah Friel. Subs: Eoin Neeson, |Eoin Graham, Michael Martin.
Ruairi Ogs: 1 Patrick Doherty, 2 Damian Bergin, 3 Terry McAllister, 4 Patrick Mooney, 5 Eoin McAllister, 6 Daire Mort, 7 Conor McCollam, 8 Patrick Sharpe, 9 Stephen McAuley, 10 Joseph McNaughton, 11 Eunan McKillop, 12 Christy McLaughlin, 13 John Mitchell, 14 Conall McAteer, 15 Matthew McCann. Subs: 18 Austin Birt, 20 Ciaran Sharpe, 21 John Birt
Referee: Kevin Parke (St. Enda’s)
