Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 1
Cloney Gaels 3-26 St. Paul’s 2-16
Cloney Gaels hit an impressive 3-26 as they overcame the challenge of Visitors St. Paul’s in the opening Group 1 game of the Intermediate Hurling Championship in Ahoghill on Sunday.
The final score-line was a little unkind to a St. Paul’s side who played some excellent hurling but didn’t have the accuracy of a free scoring home side who denied them space at the other end of the field.
Cloney Gaels led 1-13 to 1-9 at the end of a fairly even opening half with both sides missing good goal opportunities but the turning point came 7 minutes into the second half when Colla McDonnell fired to the corner of the visitors net.
Patrick Graham hit a third for the Ahoghill side at the end of the third quarter to put it out of reach of the visitors who kept battling to the end and were reward with a consolation goal from Patrick Doyle in injury time.
It was visitors St. Paul’s who were first on target with Declan Chapman pointing them ahead in the opening minute with Ronan Graham striking the equaliser from 60 meters with four minutes on the clock.
A James O’Connell free and another by the same player from a ‘65’ had Cloney Gaels two ahead by the 8th minute with Conall Duffy replying to close the gap to one.
Duffy then saw his effort on goal come back of an upright and Aiden Graham pulled off a good save to deny Lorcan Phillips who was quickest to react on the follow up and it seemed to bring the home side to life.
James O’Connell from a free, Dan O’Neill and Colla McDonnell added points and then Graham hit a great effort from out on the left to move the home side five in front by the 13th minute.
Caolan O’Duibhfinn wasted a good opportunity to bring the visitors back into contention before Eamonn Brady raced through for a good point at the other end and when Eoin Graham fired to the net at the end of the opening quarter, the Gaels had moved 9 ahead.
It was just reward for the Cloney number 14 who’s pace and strong running had opened up the St. Paul’s defence on at least three previous occasions with St. Paul’s calling full-back Frankie Sewell ashore soon after and introducing Caoimhin Killyleah with Bairre Burns moving to full-back.
It brought about improvement as the Shaw’s Road side began to enjoy some success with Sean Munce, Conall Duffy, Caolan O’Duibhfinn and Lorcan Phillips adding points in reply to one from Diarmaid Graham for the home side.
Further points from Declan Chapman and a 31st minute goal from the same player had it back to five at the halfway stage with James O’Connell keeping the score board ticking for the Gaels.
Phillips hit another point, 30 seconds into the second half to close the gap to four and James O’Connell and O’Duibhfinn exchanged pointed frees before Patrick Graham moved Cloney five ahead once more.
McDonnell’s goal in the 7th minute came after a bad miss from James O’Connell and saw the Ahoghill men find another gear as O’Connell 0-2 and Bobby Magee extended their lead to 9 by the 12th minute.
St. Paul’s were still contesting every ball and replied with points from Caolan O’Duibhfinn and Stephen Rooney but when Patrick Graham got in for Cloney Gaels third goal it looked as good as over.
James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell, Eoin Graham and substitute, Jack McFall added to the Cloney total with four on the bounce before Patrick Doyle pulled one back for the visitors with six minutes remaining.
O’Connell from a free and Fionnbar O’Neill with a massive point, Eoin Graham and Dan O’Neill concluded the scoring for the home side with Caolan O’Duibhfinn from a free and Doyle’s injury time goal putting a better look on the final score-line.
This win sees Cloney Gaels join Tir na nOg and Sarsfields at the top of the table. The Whitehill side recorded a facile win over Con Magee’s at Whitehill while Sarsfields had three to spare over Cushendun at the ‘Bear Pit’
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Daniel O’Neill, 10 Donal Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Eoin Graham, 15 James O’Connell
Subs: Shea Neeson, Jack McFall, Neill O’Connell, Eoin Neeson, Charlie McCloskey
St. Paul’s: 1 Chris Murray, 2 Ciaran O’Carroll, 3 Frankie Sewell, 4 Tiarnan Auld, 5 Thomas Duff, 6 Stephen Rooney, 7 Marcas Munce, 8 Sean Lawell, 9 Bairre Burns, 10 Caolan O’Duibhfinn, 11 Lorcan Phillips, 12 Declan Chapman, 13 Conall Duffy, 14 Patrick Doyle, 15 Sean Munce
Subs: Ciaran Killyleah, Declan Quinn, Liam Walsh, Callum Murray
Referee: Darren McKeown
TO SEE MORE PICS BY BRIAN McKEE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW