ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gaels 0-17 Oisin’s 1-18
Former Cloney Gaels management team, Hugh Dobbin and Shay O’Hagan returned to the ground where they had gained much success over the past 6 years and recorded their first win with their new side, Oisin’s Glenariffe.
The successful partnership won three Antrim league titles with the Ahoghill side in that time and were runners up in division 2, three years in a row and added an Intermediate Championship title in 2022.
After losing their opening game to Emmet’s, Cushendun last Wednesday night the Oisins were determined to get some points on board against a Cloney Gaels side who had two wins under their belt despite introducing a number of new faces this season.
Conditions for both sides were terrible in their respective encounters in mid-week and were only marginally better at Cloney on Sunday as referee Fionntan McCotter got matters underway.
Playing into the wind in the opening half it was Cloney Gaels who raced into an early lead when Patrick Graham soloed through for the game’s opening point.
The visitors responded positively however as Brogan O’Connor, Aaron Cosgrove and Conor Kerr shot them into a three point lead but with James O’Connell starting to find his range, the Ahoghill side had closed the gap to the minimum by the 18th minute.
The Gaels had lost Neil O’Connell at this stage to injury to be replaced by Owen Graham and were struck another blow when their defence got itself in a tangle and Aaron Cosgrove forced the ball home through a crowded goalmouth to make it 1-6 to 0-5 after 21 minutes.
That score settled the Waterfoot side and Cosgrove, Oliver Kearney, and two from Seanie McIntosh saw them head to the shelter of the dressing rooms with a fairly healthy 1-10 to 0-5 halftime lead.
The new management team would have undoubtedly reminded their side that this one was far from over, given the renowned fighting spirit of their former charges and so it proved to be.
Despite having to replace their centre-half, James ‘Bobby’ Magee at the interval the Ahoghill side returned to the contest with renewed vigour and with the elements now in their favour they set about eating into the Oisin’s lead.
Clooney Gaels dominated the opening exchanges of the second half as James O’Connell struck three points (2 frees) and Owen ‘Soda’ Graham and Martin Graham added unanswered points by the 10th minute and suddenly the Glenariffe half time lead was looking vulnerable.
Aaron Cosgrove finally got the visitors on their way again but another long range point from play and a well struck free from around mid-field by the mercurial O’Connell had it back to three by the 17th minute.
Noah Friel added another to leave just two in and the Oisin’s lead had been cut to two and the Waterfoot side were in need of some inspiration and Aaron Cosgrove volleyed over when he might have had a goal.
Seanie McIntosh eased them four ahead once more direct from a ‘65’ and the same player added another from a free to move the visitors five ahead and it looked like they had weathered the Clooney storm.
It was not the case however as Eoin Graham replied with a point and James O’Connell pointed another free to leave a goal between the sides but that was as close as the home side would get.
Aaron Cosgrove and Conor Kerr replied with points for the Oisin’s as they game edged into time added on with Ahoghill’s only reply coming from a Conor McGarry point.
After the game it became clear just how the Ahoghill men regarded their former mentors as they shook hands with the Cloney management and with all the team at the final whistle.
Cloney Gaels: Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dugan, 4 Connell Walls, 5 Fienberg Graham, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Bernard Graham, 9 Conor Crossey, 10 Martin Graham, 11 Patrick Graham, 12 James O’Connell, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Neil O’Connell, 15 Noah Friel.
Subs: Owen Graham for Neil O’Connell, Conor McGarry for James Magee, Shea Neeson for ConallWalls, Jack McFall for Noah Friel, Ryan Neeson for Colla McDonnell
Oisin Glenariffe: 1 Paul McMullan, 2 Patrick McIlwaine, 3 Niall Murray,4 Cailin Devlin, 5 Donall Kearney, 6 Michael Haughey, 7 Daniel Kearney, 8 Oliver Kearney, 9 Odhran Gillan, 10 Seanie McIntosh, 11 Conor Kerr, 12 Ronan Leech, 13 Brogan O’Connor, 14 Aaron Cosgrove, 15 Ben O’Boyle
Subs: Maìrtin McAllister for Patrick McIlwaine and Dan McKillop for Ronan Leech
Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)
