Intermediate Hurling Championship
Cloney Gaels 0-21 Cushendun Emmet’s 0-14
Cloney Gaels have one foot in the semi-final of the Intermediate Hurling Championship after they beat Cushendun on Friday evening in poor conditions at Feystown, Glenarm to make it 3 wins out of 3. Cushendun, who are still pointless after three games, did well in the opening half and in the early stages of the second, but when Cloney upped the pace they were able to pull clear and had seven points to spare at the end.
Things have not gone well for the Emmet’s this season and with the Kilgore brothers absent all season and centre back Donal O’Hara out with a broken hand, they faced an uphill struggle after losing their first two games. They started well enough and were 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after seven minutes, Tom Scally and Dominic McQuillan giving them the lead after seven minutes. Cloney began to settle into the rhythm and points from James O’Connell, Ronan Graham and Patrick Graham had them 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after 13 minutes, and it could have been more had it not been for a couple of excellent saves by Emmet’s goalkeeper John V Morgan.
Cushendun then had their best spell of the game and four points on the trot from Sean McKay, Dominic McQuillan, Tom Scally and Conor McHugh had them two clear by the 20th minute. A point on the run by Donal Graham and a great effort from a free from inside his own half by Fionnbar O’Neill put Cloney level. Two points from Conlaoth McNeill put the Emmets two ahead but four on the spin from James O’Connell had the Ahoghill men 0-11 to 0-09 in front by the time referee Paddy Tumelty blew the half time whistle.
The Emmet’s started the second half really well and a pointed 65 from ‘Loaf’ McNeill and one from play by Tom Scally had them level by the 35th minute. It looked like we were in for a close contest, but Cloney took control again and four points without reply, three of them from James O’Connell and one from Patrick Graham, opened a three point gap. Another excellent save by Morgan in the Emmet’s goal was followed by a point from a ‘Loaf’ McNeill free and the Cushendun men were still within reach, but they managed just one more point as a James O’Connell inspired Cloney side pulled away, O’Connell getting three more points and Eamon Brady one to end up seven clear at the end.
CLONEY GAELS
Aiden Graham, Bernard Graham, Patrick Dougan, Bernard Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill. Neill O’Connell, Danny O’Neill, Eamon Brady, Connor Crossey, Donal Graham, Ronan Graham, Patrick Jr. Graham, Owen Jr Neeson, Owen Graham, James O’Connell.
CUSHENDUN EMMET’S
John V Morgan, Mark McSparran, Archie McSparran, Pearse McKeegan, Sean McKay, Jack McKay, Calum Kilgore, Aidan McSparran, Andrew Breslin, Conor McHugh, Tom Scally, Alex McMullan, Dominic McQuillan, Conrad McDonnell, Conor Bannon.
Referee – Paddy Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
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