ACHL Division 2
Creggan 3-14 Cloney Gaels 2-18
Despite playing into the breeze, Cloney Gaels made the early running in this division 2 clash of old rivals on the Staffordstown Road and led 0-4 to 0-1 after nine minutes and might well have been further ahead but for some wayward shooting.
James O’Connell, Eoin Graham, Dan O’ Neill and Ronan Graham were the men on target with Thomas McCann replying for Creggan as the visitors opened at breakneck pace.
The home side survived the early pressure and replied with a goal from Conor Loughran to tie the contest by the 10th minute and Thomas McCann added two quick points to move the Kickham’s 2 ahead.
The visitors made quick response to reassert their authority on the game and Patrick Graham fired over a good point before Colla McDonnell turned his marker and fired past Shea Devlin to restore the Ahoghill side’s lead.
Creggan were coming more into the game and Sean Duffin pointed to close the gap to the minimum in the 13th minute but a minute later James O’Connell got through for a second Cloney goal and Ronan Graham and Colla McDonnell added points to move the visitors six in front by the 16th minute.
The home side found a response again as Morgan Nelson pointed 3 frees and added another from play and a point from Niall McAuley in response to points from James O’Connell and Colla McDonnell left the visitors five in front at the short whistle.
Kickhams Creggan made a much better start to the second half and Sean Duffin and Ronan Graham exchanged points before Sean McAuley finished to the net in the 7th minute to leave just two between the sides.
Another pointed free from Morgan Nelson closed the gap to the minimum before Patrick and Ronan Graham pushed the Ahoghill side 3 in front once more but the space they were creating during the opening half was now being closed down.
They were now being made to work much harder for their scores but when James O’Connell, Dan O’Neill and Patrick Graham added points in response to one from Conor McCann, normal service looked to have been restored.
Two more pointed frees from Morgan Nelson kept the Creggan hopes alive and when the sliothar ended in Aiden Graham’s net following a goalmouth scramble the fat was very much back in the fire.
It would be James O’Connell who would provide the scores that would eventually get the Ahoghill side over the line by the minimum with Niall McAuley and Conor McCann from a free getting the home side’s final scores.
A good game of hurling between two previously unbeaten sides. For a time Cloney Gaels looked like winning it comfortably but were never able to shake off a Creggan team who kept coming back for more.
Kickham’s Creggan face a tough away fixture when they travel to Oisin Glenariffe on the 26th April while Cloney entertain Loughgiel’s second string on the same day.
Kickham’s: 1 Shea Devlin, 2 Peadar McGuckian, 3 Aiden McKeown, 5 Dan Doran, 7 Jake McAteer, 8 Sean Duffin, 10 Matthew Rogers, 11 Thomas McCann, 14 Conor McCann, 13 Sean McAuley, 16 Joseph Smith, 15 Conor Loughran, 18 Dylan Hinfey, 27 Niall McAuley, 21 Michael Carey Small, 20 Morgan Nelson.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Bernard Graham, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Charlie McCloskey, 5 Neil O’Connell, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Eamon Brady, 9 Conor Crossey, 10 Patrick Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Eoin Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Dan O’Neill, 15 James O’Connell
Subs: 17 Noah Friel, 18 Martin Graham, 19 Conal Walls, 20 Ben Friel, 21 Adam Mullan
Referee: Sean Elliott (Lamh Dhearg)
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