O’Neills ACHL Division 3
Dunloy 2-15-2-16 Lámh Dhearg
Kevin Herron reports from Dunloy
Trailing 1-14-1-05 in the early stages of the second half, Lámh Dhearg fought back and hit 10-unanswered points in their 2-16-2-15 win over Dunloy 2nds at Dunloy on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors made the trip to North Antrim in search of their first league win, having lost their first two and picked out a point at home to Rasharkin last time out, whilst Dunloy were unbeaten in their first three encounters.
Dunloy started much brighter with Gabriel McTaggart and Ryan McFarline clipping over early points.
The Lámhs hit back in the form of a Declan Lynch point, but playing against the breeze in the opening half- their chances would be few and far between.
Oisin McCamphill landed three of his side’s next four scores, converting two frees and landing a fine point from range, with midfield partner Jack Martin also chipping in with a score.
The game’s opening goal would fall to Lámh Dhearg, Adam Murray’s shot was parried by Caolan McFerran, but Murray followed in and forced the ball home to make it 0-6-1-1.
In response McFarline doubled his account, Oisin McErlean floated a shot over and Oisin Elliott converted a free.
Lynch landed his second of the half and Donal Martin pointed from Conor McConville’s lay-off in-between a second Elliott free as Lámh Dhearg were beginning to get to grips with things.
The hosts would extend their lead before the break though as Barry McCloskey and Oisin McErlean popped over points.
On the 26th minute Gabriel McTaggart got underneath Sean Og Blaney’s high ball and steered a shot home to make it 1-12-1-03.
Paddy Mervyn dropped over a point in reply before the interval but his side faced a tough task in the second period.
The sides largely matched each other out in the early stages of the second half, points were traded after the restart through Jack Martin and Ryan Diamond, Conor Mort added a second point for his side and then Gabriel McTaggart and Adam Murray stroked over frees in reply.
Lámh Dhearg boosted their chances of a comeback within 10-minutes of the restart. Declan Lynch picked out Ryan Diamond with a crossfield pass and Diamond’s low diagonal shot clipped the post and in went in to make it 1-15-2-06.
Their joy was short lived though as Dunloy hit back almost instantly at the other end, a scramble ensued as the Lámhs tried to clear their lines but Gabriel McTaggart blasted a rocket of a shot past Paddy-Joe Herron from close range to open up a 2-15-2-06 lead.
McTaggart’s goal would be the last of his sides scores as the visitor’s began to chip away at the deficit,
Adam Murray stroked over two further frees with Donal Martin doubling his personal tally to close the gap to six.
Martin landed two further efforts from range and a further Murray conversion had slashed the gap to three (2-15-2-12) with plenty of time still remaining.
Murray shot over a further placed ball from range, Declan Lynch conjured his third score of proceedings and turned provider for Donal Martin to level things up with his fifth of the afternoon.
The comeback was complete in added time when Sean-Paul Gibson fizzed a crossfield ball into the path of Evan Stanley and he floated over the winning score as the Hannahstown side claimed their first league win of the campaign.
Dunloy: C McFerran, M Traynor, K O’Kane, Cathair McCloskey, J Magee, B O’Kane, S Og Blaney, O McCamphill (0-3, 0-2f), J Martin (0-2), B McCloskey (0-1), G McTaggart (2-2,0-1f), R McFarline (0-2), O McErlean (0-2), O Elliott (0-2f), C Mort (0-1). Subs: J McKeever for C Mort (48), C Cunning for O McErlean (48).
Lámh Dhearg: PJ Herron, C Camlin, C Rafferty, T McKenna, M Finnegan, P Mervyn (0-1), SP Gibson, C Boyd, C McConville, E Stanley (0-1), D Lynch (0-3), O Waldron, D Martin (0-5), R Diamond (1-1), A Murray (0-5f). Subs: F Clenaghan for C McConville (HT), M McGarry for C Rafferty (55).
Referee: Hugh Torney (Ballycran)
