ACHL Division 4
Ciceam Ard Eoin 5-16 Rossa 1-14
After a poor opening day display against Belfast Saints, Ardoyne got their season back on track with a determined and skilful display against O’Donovan Rossa at Fennell Park. Both sides entertained the gathered crowd with a very competitive game played in a good spirit in which both sides had their periods of domination.
The afternoon began with the teams holding a Minute’s Silence in memory of the tragic loss of Fionnuala Walsh from the Rossa community.
Rossa were first to get the scoreboard ticking over with a point from Jim Close in opening minute. Ardoyne were quick to respond with a Cormac Barnes making his presence known for Ardoyne with a nice pass to Paddy Heaney who duly dispatched the sliothar over the bar. The in-form Padraig McGreevy eased Ardoyne ahead only to see Niall May bulge the net for the men from the West.
With 10 minutes gone and opening exchanges over, Ardoyne began to dominate with McGreevy and Barnes causing havoc in the Rossa defence. The Falls Road men stuck with Ardoyne and finished the half with two consecutive points to leave 7 points between the sides at half-time.
Half-Time: Ciceam Ard Eoin 2-10 Rossa 1-06
It was the men from the West who came out the blocks strongly as the second half got underway. They dominated the first 15 minutes of the half with Conor O’Neill knocking over points from both play and frees that saw Rossa put 8 points on the scoreboard to only one point in reply from Ardoyne.
Rossa had by now reduced the deficit to 2 points. Paddy Heaney stepped up for the Ardoyne men, and along with the growing influence of Aran Stewart and the accuracy of McGreevy, Ardoyne regained the imitative and scored 3-03 without reply in the final 15 minutes. Cormac Barnes had one of his best displays in the Ardoyne jersey, finishing with 2-02 to his credit, including an inspirational overhead strike that somehow ended up in the Rossa net.
A great display of hurling from both teams with each one learning much that will benefit them as the season unfolds.
Ciceam Ard Eoin: Connor O’Neill, Sean Searle, Paul Baker, Cormac Curran, Dan Moore, Caolan Wallace (1-0), Paul Mcguigan, Piarais Hull, Dean Goodall, Paddy Heaney (0-01), Matt McKillen, Aran Stewart (0-04), Cormac Barnes (2-02), Padraig McGreevy (2-09, 6f), Diarmuid Martin, Enda Slattery, Eamonn MacLochlainn, Cahal Clarke, Stephen Hill, Martin McLaughlin, Fiachra McVicker, David Saunders, Paul O’Halloran
O’Donovan Rossa: Niall Crossan, Setanta McDonald, Andrew McLean, Conall Shortt, Fiachra McDonald, Niall Devlin, Adam Devlin, Conor O’Neill (0-08, 6f), Matthew McKernan (0-01), Conor Rocks, Michael Murray, Jim Reynolds, Niall May (1-02), Michael Close, James Close (0-03, 1f)
Referee: Niall Clifford
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