O’Neill’s Sportswear ACHL Division 2
Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm 3-13 Clooney Gaels 3-15
Shane O’Neill’s Glenarm and Clooney Gaels, Ahoghill served up a game for the ages at a wet and windy Feystown on Wednesday night. With the underfoot conditions wet and slippery and a gale blowing towards the Feystown Road end, both sides defied the conditions to provide a great hour’s entertainment for the hardy soles who braved the near artic conditions.
Before the game both teams observed a minutes silence for former Shane O’Neill’s hurler, Patrick Dobbin who passed away recently before the action got underway.
The home side survived the concession of two early goals to lead by 2-11 to 2-3 at the halfway stage but on reflection it was those goals that would prove decisive in the end.
Ronan Graham raced through unchallenged for the first 30 seconds after the throw in and Colla McDonnell struck the second from a kneeling position with 14 minutes on the clock.
In between Glenarm began to get a foothold as Dylan McLaughlin, Aidan Scullion, Darren Hamill, Ciaran Magill, from a 45 meter free, Blain McDermott and Conal Ward replied with points to close the gap to three by the end of the opening quarter.
In between McDonnell, James O’Connell and Neil O’Connell contributed points at the other ends but it was Shane O’Neill’s who took advantage of the strong wind to finish the half strongly.
Ciaran Magill from near the touchline, Conal Ward, Darren Hamill from a 75 meter free and Magill again split the posts before Benny McDermott finished from close range after the Ahoghill defence got itself in a tangle.
Blain McDermott added a point and a goal from the excellent Dylan McLaughlin sent his side to the shelter of the dressing rooms, leading 2-11 to 2-3 and looking in a strong position for the second half.
It was only when the second half got under way that it became apparent just how strong that wind was as Clooney Gaels set about reeling in the Glenarm lead.
James O’Connell, from a couple of well struck frees, Patrick Graham and Colla McDonnell tagged on points and a superb long range effort from James ‘Bobby’ Magee closed the gap to three by the 11th minute before Ciaran Magill got the Feystown men’s opening point of the half with 12 minutes gone.
James O’Connell replied from another free and Colla McDonnell intercepted a bad puck out to return the sliotar between the posts to level matters.
McDonnell was causing problems for the Glenarm defence and he fired home his second and his side’s third goals to put the visitors in a commanding position going down the home straight before Ciaran Magill replied with a pointed free.
Ronan Graham and Colla McDonnell kept the scoreboard ticking with further points for the visitors and despite a late goal from Aidan Scullion for the home side it was Clooney Gaels who headed back to Ahoghill with another brace of points on board.
A superb game of hurling in conditions that were far from conducive and great credit must be given to both sides for the fare they served up. Six goals and 28 points on the night was testimony to their efforts and much appreciated by those who had the privilege to witness it.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Joshua Quinn, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Sean Scullion, 5 Daniel Black, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Paul Hamill, 8 Kieran O’Boyle, 9 Sean O’Boyle, 10 Dylan McLaughlin, 11 Ciaran Magill, 12 Conal Ward, 13 Blain McDermott, 14 Brendan McDermott, 15 Aidan Scullion
Subs Used: Matthew Black, Sean O’Hare
Clooney Gaels: 1 Martin Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Diarmaid Graham, 4 Conall Walls, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Daniel O’Neill, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Conor Cassley, 10 Ronan Graham, 11 Patrick Graham, 12 James O’Connell, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Neil Graham, 15 Noah Friel
Subs Used: Conor McGarry, Ben Friel, Oisin Kelly
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
