IHC Group 2
Tir na nOg 1-24 Cloney Gaels 3-13
The Intermediate Hurling Championship looks set to go right down to the wire following this high scoring thriller between Tir na nOg and Cloney Gaels at a sun kissed Whitehill on Saturday evening.
Going into this game the Ahoghill side had recorded three wins from three starts and looked odds on favourites to win the group but a power packed performance from the Randalstown side saw them take tonight’s laurels and moves them to the top of the group on score difference.
It was Cloney Gaels who edged the early exchanges as James O’Connell and Donal Graham eased them into a two point lead before Sean Duffin got his side off ther mark from a free in the 6th minute.
O’Connell from another free moved the Ahoghill men two ahead once more but Duffin’s unerring accuracy from the placed ball would prove significant as the home side took control.
Duffin (f), and two from Eamonn Og McAllister saw the home side hit the front by the 9th minute and another from the Tir na nOg sharp shooter and one from Ciaran Logan moved them three ahead.
James O’Connell replied from a free and added another from play as the visitors fought to get their own game together but Josh Higgins responded with a good point to edge Tir na nOg further ahead.
The Whitehill side were fighting with a great intensity and desire as Eamonn Og, Aaron McNeilly and Duffin again moved the Og’s five in front by the 21st minute and further points from Ciaran Logan had them 0-12 to 0-5 in front with five minutes remaining to the break.
Their opponents had been sloppy and untidy in their passing with the ferocity of the opposition clearly knocking them off their stride but they rallied with a point from Owen Neeson and a goal from the strangely quiet James O’Connell to close the gap to three.
Eoin Graham did the spade work as he cut in with pace from the right wing and O’Connell was on hand to apply the finish from close range and put his side back into contention.
Aaron McNeilly and Niall Devlin added late points for the Whitehill side in reply to one from Owen Neeson for the visitors to leave the half time score 0-14 to 1-7 in favour of the home side and it was a lead they richly deserved.
Duffin would increase that lead to five with his 5th of the evening on the restart and then Aiden Graham pulled off a fine save to deny Darragh Fagan as the home side continued to press.
Cloney Gaels replied with a point from Eamonn Brady but significantly the visitors hit four wides in an 8 minute period where they dominated possession and Eamonn Og McAllister responded with one at the other end before Dan O’Neill finally opened the visitors second half account.
It brought a response from the men from Ahoghill and James O’Connell finished a good move with his side’s second goal to close the gap to the minimum as Emmet Murray replace Niall Devlin in the Tir na nOg side.
Aaron McNeill and Sean Duffin from a free and Owen Neeson and James O’Connell for the visitors exchanged points to keep the gap at one before the Randalstown side stepped it up a gear once more.
Eamonn Og, Sean Duffin 0-2 (f’s) and Ciaran O’Neill struck four on the bounce and then an indirect free from distance by McNeilly fell invitingly for Eamonn Og McAllister who kicked to the net from close range.
It was as good as over at this stage with Josh Higgins and Sean Duffin adding late points but Cloney fought to the end and were rewarded with a late goal from Eoin Graham.
This win moved Tir na nOg to the top of Group 2 on score difference with today’s opponents joined on four points by St. Paul’s, who defeated Cushendun and Sarsfield’s who beat Glenravel.
So it will go down to the final day of the season with Cloney Gaels entertaining Sarsfields on the 21st September and Tir na nOg away to St. Paul’s on the same day and at the same time.
Tir na nOg: Kevin Sheerin, 2 Manus Smith, 3 Christy Sheerin, 4 Brandon McLarnon, 5 Caoimhin Duffin, 6 Sean Duffin, , 18 Aaron McNeilly, 8 Daniel Martin, 9 Ciaran McKeown, 10 Darragh Fagan, 11 Ciaran Logan, 12 Ciaran O’Neill, 13 Eamonn Og McAllister, 14 Niall Devlin, 15 Josh Higgins.
Subs: Emmet Murray for Niall Devlin, Neil Shannon for Ciaran McKeown, Conor McCamphill for Josh Higgins
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Neil O’Connell, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Dan O’Neill, 10 Donal Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 James O’Connell, 14 Eoin Graham, 15 Owen Neeson
Subs: Conor Crossey
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
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