ACHL Division 2
Clooney Gaels 4-17 St. Gall’s 0-17
Colla McDonnell and James O’Connell shared the goals as Clooney Gaels swept aside the challenge of visitors St. Gall’s in Ahoghill on Sunday.
The visitors matched their opponent during the opening exchanges with the scores tied at three apiece after seven minutes but slowly Clooney Gaels started to turn the screw and a goal from Colla McDonnell in the 16th minute put them in control.
The home side would go on to add two more majors before half time with James O’Connell getting his first of the evening in the 24th minute and ‘Colla’ completing his double, just before the break.
By half time it was as good as over with the Gaels leading 3-12 to 0-8 and the home side would go on to add a further 1-9 in the second half to run out convincing winners.
Ronan Graham 0-2, Donal Graham 0-2, James O’Connell 0-4, Dan O’Neill 0-2, Colla McDonnell 0-2, Neil O’Connell and Diarmaid Graham were the Clooney Gaels first half point scorers as they moved the ball around with great pace and precision.
Ewan Rush, Cormac Sheehan, Marcas Napier 0-2, Gairech MacAdhaimh, Ronan Crossen and Gregory McGreevey were the St. Gall’s marksmen in the opening half but it looked a long way back for the Milltown side as the teams changed ends.
There would be no comeback or no letting up from the Ahoghill side as James O’Connell went on to give a demonstration of point taking and he hit his sides opening three points of the second half before firing home his second and his sides 4th goal with 14 minutes gone.
To their credit St. Gall’s kept battling away with Gregory McGreevey, Cormac Sheehan, Aodh Mullan and Fergus Donnelly on target at the other end.
The men in Red & Black continued to add to their tally however as Ronan Graham 0-2, James O’Connell 0-2 and Noah Friel 0-2 tagged on points in the final quarter with Jackson McGreevey replying from two frees and a ‘65’ to put a better reflection on the final score-line.
This win sees Clooney Gaels climb to second place in the table with three wins from five starts, five places above St. Gall’s who have the same number of points but an inferior score difference.
The visitors were missing a few regulars on this occasion but will hope to get back to strength for the visit of St. Paul’s to Milltown in two weeks-time while the Clooney Gaels rebuilding programme looks to be well on track.
Clooney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Charlie McCloskey, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Dan O’Neill, 9 Connor Crossey, 10 Martin Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Donal Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Neil O’Connell, 15 James O’Connell
Subs: 17 Owen Neeson, 18 Joseph Logan, 21 Aodh Mullan, 19 Michael Martin, 22 Shea Neeson, 24 Ryan McPeake, 20 Oisin Kelly
St. Gall’s: 1 Kurtis McGreevey, 2 Oran McIlhatton, 3 Ewan Rush, 4 Daniel Churchill, 5 Gairech MacAdhaimh, 6 Jackson McGreevey, 7 Dubhalthach Ma Liam, 8 Jack Hopkins, 9 Gregory McGreevey, 10 Patrick Friel, 11 Cormac Sheehan, 12 Fergus Donnelly, 13 Ronan Crossen, 14 Niall O’Neill, 15 Marcas Napier.
Subs: 17 Aodh Mullan, 18 Michael McMullan, 20 Tom Ghee
Referee: Tarlach Conway