ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gaels 1-21 Carey Faughs 1-12
Ghaeil Cluanaidh continue to set the pace with Oisin Glenariffe when they proved too good for an under strength Carey Faughs in near perfect conditions in Ahoghill on Sunday.
The Ballyvoy side were well in contention when they trailed by four at half time, thanks to a goal from Conor McBride in the 26th minute but Cloney Gaels stepped it up a gear in the second half to run out winners by 9 points.
It was the Ahoghill side who made the better start to lead 0-4 to 0-1 after 9 minutes with Dan O’Neill 0-2, Eoin Graham and Colla McDonnell their marksmen and the Carey point coming from a Conall McGlynn ‘65’.
It was all Ahoghill at this stage and the excellent Dan O’Neill fired home a goal in the 13th minute and the same player added a point to move Cloney 1-5 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
Darren McGowan final added Carey’s second point in the 17th minute but Dan O’Neill replied immediately for the home side to keep the gap at seven before Colla McDonnell moved the Gaels 8 ahead with 21 minutes gone.
O’Neill was proving unmark-able at the edge of the square and he added two more points before Carey finally sprung to life with Conor McBride firing over two points and followedwith a goal in the 26th minute to serve notice that this game was not over.
Fionnbar O’Neill replied from a converted ‘65’ for the home side with Conall McGlynn responding from a late free to leave it 1-10 to 1-6 in favour of Cloney Gaels as Piarais McCaffrey sounded the half time whistle.
The Faughs made a bright start to the second half with Conall McGlynn, Daniel McBride and Michael McVeigh adding early points and Colla McDonnell and James O’Connell 0-2 replying for the Ahoghill men.
Half time substitute O’Connell was on fire as he pointed three frees and added another from play to bring his total to 0-6 by the 17th minute to move the Gaels 10 ahead and even at this stage it looked as good as over.
The visitors were still giving it their best and Conor McBride and Martin Hunter replied with points but it only served to bring another response from the rampant home side.
Colla McDonnell, Dan O’Neill, Fionnbar O’Neill with a massive point from deep in his own half and James O’Connell brought their total to 1-21 for the evening with Conor McBride replying with a late consolation point for the visitors.
This win leaves Cloney Gaels level with Oisin’s Glenariffe on points with the waterfoot side ahead in the table on score difference and the sides not scheduled to meet until Sunday 1st June in Ahoghill.
Cathaoir an Ri have struggled this season after finishing top of the division last year and winning the Antrim Intermediate Championship and going on to collect the Ulster Intermediate title but they are badly in need of points as they sit perilously close to the bottom of the table.
They are missing a number of key players at present however and I would expect them to climb up the table when they get their missing men back on board.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Jack McFall, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Harry O’Donnell, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Adam Mullan, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Bernard Graham, 10 Sean O’Neill, 11 Donal Graham, 12 Eoin Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Daniel O’Neill, 15 Ryan Martin, 18 James O’Connell
CAREY: 1 Christopher Butler, 2 Michael McVeigh, 3 John McBride, 4 Oisin Healey, 5 Somhairle Mathers, 6 Conall McGlynn, 7 Shea Hunter, 8 Michael McCormick, 9 Ryan McQuaid, 10 Callum Kane, 11 Darren McGowan, 12 Andrew McGarry, 13 Daniel McBride, 14 Connor McBride, 15 Eoin McKinley
Subs: 17 James McNeill, 19 Daniel McKinley, 20 Martin Hunter
Referee: Piarais McCaffrey