Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship – Group 2
Con Magees 0-14 Cloney Gaels 2-19
Cloney Gaels joined neighbours Tir na nOg at the top of the Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2 table when they travelled to Fr Maginn Park on Saturday and beat the Con Magees to maintain their 100% record in the group, Tir na nÓg’s superior goal difference giving them the edge.
The Glenravel men did not make it easy for their visitors during the opening half and trailed by just three nearing half time, but the Ahoghill men finished the first half with a goal to lead by six at the break. The goal, brilliantly taken by right half forward Patrick Graham jnr., gave them the boost they needed and started to really press home their advantage in the second half to pull away and win in the end with a bit to spare.
Cloney Gaels started strongly and early points from Colla McDonnell and Eamon Brady were followed by a goal from centre forward Ronan Graham to put them five clear. Declan Traynor opened the Con Magees account with a point, and though James O’Connell came back with one for the visitors soon afterwards, Traynor and Declan McKeown kept the home team in touch with two well taken scores. Gael’s Fionnbar O’Neill sent one over direct from a sideline cut on twelve minutes and Patrick Dougan added one from play to push Cloney 1-5 to 0-3 ahead, but three in a row from placed balls by Sean McKay brought the Glenravel men back to within three points with just two minutes of the opening half remaining, but Patrick Graham’s brilliant goal, which he kicked to the net following a spectacular high catch, put the visitors six clear at half time.
Cormac McKeown hit the opening score of the second half and Sean McKay added another from a free, but the visitors responded well and two points by James O’Connell and one from full forward Eoin Graham stretched his team’s lead even further. Declan Traynor pulled one back for the home side, but three more without reply by the Gaels pushed their advantage out to eight by the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter was less intense and the scoring dropped off from both sides with Cloney adding just three more to their total while Sean McKay hit one for the home side from a free.
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