ACHL Division 2
Shane O’Neill’s 0-24 Clooney Gaels 0-18
A virtuoso display from Niall McGarel kept Shane O’Neill’s on target for promotion to division1 following this six point win over rivals Cloney Gaels at Feystown on Wednesday night.
McGarel was in imperious form as he contributed 0-13 on the night from both placed balls and play and proved a real handful for an Ahoghill side who were missing a number of regulars.
It was the visitors from Ahoghill who made the early running, led by the excellent Ronan Graham, as they moved into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes with Ronan Graham 0-2, Donal Graham 0-2 and Colla McDonnell the men on target and McGarel replying for the Feystown side.
Niall McGarel and Ciaran Magill closed the gap to two before Martin Graham edged the visitors three in front again with a point in the 12th minute but the home side were coming more and more into the game.
McGarel, Daniel Black and Sean O’Boyle for Shane O’Neill’s in response to two converted Donal Graham frees and a massive free from Fionnbar O’Neill had the Clooney side three to the good by the 17th minute but slowly the home side began to close the gap.
Two long range frees from Niall McGarel and one from Darren Hamill from 70 meters had the side’s level before the excellent McGarel edged his side ahead for the first time with 7 minutes remaining to the break.
The visitors rallied in the closing stages of the half with Ronan Graham, Owen Neeson and Diarmaid Graham on target in response to points from Dylan McLaughlin and Aidan Scullion to leave it all square at the break.
HT Glenarm 0-12 Ahoghill 0-12
Blistering starts to the second half has been a feature in Shane O’Neill’s success this season and they came flying out of the starting blocks on Wednesday night with Daniel Black, Niall McGarel, Dylan McLaughlin, McGarel with two more, Blain McDermott and a further trio from McGarel moving them 9 clear by the 14th minute.
The visitors looked shell shocked but Donal Graham finally got them of the mark and they did show some improvement in the final quarter but never really looked like getting back into contention.
The home side continued to score freely with Ciaran Magill 0-2 and Niall McGarel keeping the score board ticking and Ronan Graham on target with two for the visitors.
Both sides ran their benches in the closing stages but by this juncture the home side were out of sight and Owen Neeson’s point in the 32nd minute for the ‘Gaels’ was merely consolation.
This win moves the Glenarm side onto 16 points from 11 starts where they are joined by Carey Faughs who have the same number of points from the same number of games.
Clooney Gaels are still in contention with 14 points from 12 games and St. Paul’s are well in the hunt with 14 points from 11 games so nothing is decided yet.
Glenarm will meet the Carey Faughs this Sunday in Feystown and the sides are due to meet again on the final day of the season in Ballyvoy and the race for the title may well go down to that final day fixture.
Shane O’Neill’s: 1 Michael Abram, 2 Joshua Quinn, 3 Barry Hamill, 4 Sean Scullion, 5 Aidan Scullion, 6 Darren Hamill, 7 Declan McDermott, 8 Kieran O’Boyle, 9 Daniel Black, 10 Dylan McLaughlin, 11 Ciaran Magill, 21 Blain McDermott, 13 Conal Ward, 14 Niall McGarel, 15 Sean O’Boyle.
Subs: Paul Magill, Ryan McLaughlin
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 Patrick Graham, 4 Harry O’Donnell, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Conor Crossey, 9 Martin Graham, 10 Donal Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Jack McFall, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Noah Friel, 15 Owen Neeson.
Subs: Charlie McCloskey, Conall Walls, Michael Martin, Ben Friel
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)