ACHL Division 2
Tir na nOg 4-12 Carryduff 1-16
Two first half goals from Kevin Sheerin and a third in the second half and another from substitute Emmet Murray proved the difference in the end in this fiercely contested ACHL Division 2 contest between Tir na nOg and Carryduff at Whitehill on Saturday evening.
After a spell at the other end of the field for the Randalstown side ‘Scamper’ has returned to his once familiar berth at full-forward and team captain Sheerin showed that he has lost none of his old scoring prowess.
He got his side on their way with the game’s opening point and batted a hanging ball to the net for his first goal in the 9th minute after Dominic Sharkey struck a couple of excellent points for the county Down visitors.
Carryduff, whose jersey numbers bore little resemblance to their playing positions, came back with a series of well struck points through Darragh Goodwin, Conall Watson and Eoin Roonery to draw level by the 14th minute with Tir na nog’s other point coming from Aaron McNeilly.
It was nip and tuck for a while with EamonOg McAllister for Tir na nOg and Conall Watson exchanging further points but a second goal from Sheerin moved the home side two in front after 22 minutes.
The visitors responded through the excellent Donal Rooney to draw level but Kevin Sheerin gave the home side a one point lead at the interval as he pointed a 28th minute free.
Rooney fired over the equaliser on the restart and then edged Carryduff ahead and when the same player pointed a 4th minute free the Down side appeared to be gaining the upper hand.
Aaron McNeilly from a free and Daniel Martin with a good point from play tied the contest once more and as things became a bit physical, Kevin Sheerin moved his side ahead once more and Niall Devlin fired over from close range when he might have had a goal.
A goal did arrive but it was at the other end when Eoin Rooney drilled his shot low to the net to briefly give the visitors the lead again but it wasn’t to last as Tir na nOg found another response.
Eamon Og and Aaron McNeilly pointed to make it all square before Sean O’Callaghan edged the Down men briefly ahead with 9 minutes remaining.
Tir na nOg introduced Emmet Murray for Ciaran McKeown as Kevin Sheerin took advantage of a defensive slipup to complete his hat trick and Murray announced his arrival when he fired to the net from close range after a ‘65’ had dropped invitingly into his path.
Donal Rooney replied with a couple of points for Carryduff but it was too little-too late and it is Tir na nOg who move top of the division after four rounds of games and were good value for their win in the end.
Tir na nOg: 1 Michael Higgins, 2 Tony Martin, 3 Daniel Martin, 4 Dara Martin, 5 Brandon McLarnon, 6 Caoimhin Duffin, 7 Sean McKinley, 8 Joshua Higgins, 9 Ciaran McKeown, 10 Aaron McNeilly, 11 Eamon Og McAllister, 12 Oliver McAtamney, 13 Niall Devlin, 14 Kevin Sheerin, 15 Declan Marron, Subs: Emmet Murray,
Carryduff: 1 Conor McLornan, 2 Fearghal Casey, 3 Conor McAlister, 4 Ciaran Goodwin, 5 Conor O’Reilly, 6 James Lavery, 7 Adrian Downey, 8 Sean O’Callaghan, 9 Eoin Rooney, 10 Conall Watson, 11 James Woods, 12 Darragh Goodwin, 13 Tiarnan McMeel, 14 Lorcan McCaughey, 15 Oran Teague, 17 Dominic Sharkey, 18 Niall McArdle, 19 Michael Conway, 20 Donal Rooney, 21 John Leneghan, 22 Liam Lavery, 23 Ciaran Rogers
Referee: Niall Clifford (Armagh)
