Antrim Hurling League – Division 2

Carey Faughs 4-16 Cloney Gaels 5-13

Carey Faughs and Cloney Gaels served up a goal fest at Ballyvoy on Sunday as they shared the points in another high scoring contest. Nine goals and 29 points were served up to the fans who attended and though the pace of the game was always a bit short of what we will see later in the season when the championship get going, it was always entertaining. Cloney Gael’s had the better of the goals, hitting five in all, their fifth, struck from outside the 20 meter line by Fionbarr O’Neill, bringing the equalising goal in the final minute.

Both teams had a goal apiece in the opening quarter, Conor McBride for the home team and Colla McDonnell for the visitors. The Faughs second had a touch of good fortune about it as a long shot from left-half back Shea Hunter deceived the Cloney goalkeeper and ended in the back of the net. That score gave the home team the edge and they opened up a five point lead but points from James O’Connell and Conor Crossey cut the gap back to three and a great three man move ended with Colla McDonnell drilling a low shot to the Carey net to send them in just two in arrears at the break. Carey 2-8 Cloney 2-6

Carey stretched their lead to five early in the second half Conal McGlynn (2) and Paddy Gillan and they appeared to be gaining a bit of control in the game, but the Cloney men are hard to shake off and back they came with points from James O’Connell and Ronan Graham, plus a goal from Colla McDonnell. Once again Carey surged ahead and Padraig Gillan got their third goal, which followed by two points from Conal McGlynn which put five between the sides again.

Cloney fought back to level again but when Carey got their fourth goal it looked like they had done enough to seal the win. However there the Ahoghill men had a sport in them yet and two late goals, the second from Fionbar O’Neill earned them a share of the points.

The result, plus Glenarm’s win over Cushendun, and Paul’s victory over St Gall’s, means there are four teams level on 14 points each.

Carey and Glenarm have both played a game less than the other two, but nobody seems certain about the circumstance around the postponement of the game in the first half of the league and if the game will indeed be played. One thing for sure it is shaping up to be a great finish to a division which never fails to produce the goods

For more pics from the Carey v Cloney Gaels game click on the link below

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