ACHL Division 2
Tir na nOg 2-16 Kickham’s 3-11
Tir na nog, Randalstown withstood a late rally from neighbours, Kickham’s Creggan to take the points in a very competitive ACHL division 2 encounter at Whitehill on Wednesday night.
Little separated the sides over the hour but the home side looked to have sewn things up when they led by six with only minutes remaining.
A Matthew Rogers point and a goal from Conor McCann, when he drove a 20 meter free through a crowded goalmouth reduced the gap to two and the Whitehill side were forced to endure a few more anxious moments before referee, Barry Winters blew for full-time.
In a game played at real championship intensity it was Colm Duffin who edged Tir na nog into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after being sent through by Emmet Murray.
The referee barely had time to record the score when Matthew Rodgers raced clear at the other end to tie the scoring and then Conor Small got a delicate touch to a Teddy McKeown delivery to redirect the sliotar past Kevin Sheerin and give the visitors the lead.
It was end to end stuff with Sean Duffin hitting a number of fine points for the Randalstown side and when a speculative delivery from Darragh Fagan went all the way to the Creggan net in the 19th minute the sides were level again.
A pointed Ciaran Logan free and 2 more from the excellent Sean Duffin edged the Whitehill men three ahead but Creggan replied through a Morgan Nelson free and a great point from play to leave just one between the sides.
Sean Duffin for Tir na nOg and his namesake, Sean Duffin for the Kickham’s exchanged late points to leave the home side leading by the minimum as Barry Winters sounded his whistle for half time.
Morgan Nelson brought it all square again from a Creggan free in the third minute of the new half but Tir na nOg replied with three on the bounce from Ciaran Logan 0-2 and a superb effort from Colm Duffin to lead by three with 9 minutes gone.
Kickham’s replied through a Morgan Nelson free but the momentum was very much with the home side at this stage and Tairnan Bonnes, Colm Duffin, Emmet Murray and Sean Duffin put them six in front by the 22nd minute and it looked as good as over.
The visitors were still giving it everything however and Matthew Rodgers pointed before Conor McCann drilled a close range free to the Tir na nOg net to put his side right back into contention.
A minute earlier the same player saw his attempt from a free come back of an upright and with the home support baying for full-time the home defence stood firm to withstand a late onslaught and claim the points.
A very entertaining and competitive game of hurling and over the hour Tir na nOg did just enough to deserve the victory but their opponents kept battling to the end and on another day might have had something for their efforts.
Tir na nOg: 1 Kevin Sheerin, 2 Dylan McLarnon, 3 Ciaran O’Neill, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Caoimhin Duffin, 6 Sean Duffin, 7 Sean McKinley, 8 Brandon McLarnon, 9 Connor McCamphill, 10 Ciaran Logan, 11 Colm Duffin, 12 Joshua Higgins, 13 Tairnan Bonnes, 14 Emmet Murray, 15 Darragh Fagan.
Subs: Oliver mcAtamney for Bonnes, Declan Mallon forLogan, Neil Shannon for Fagan, Brian Fitzgerald
Kickham’s: 1 Shea Devlin, 2 Dylan Hinfey, 3 Jake McAteer, 4 Peadar McGuckian, 5 Senan O’Boyle, 6 Kealan McCann, 7 Aiden McKeown, 8 Dan Doran, 9 Ruairi McCann, 10 Matthew Rodgers, 11 Morgan Nelson, 22 Sean Duffin, 13 Conor Small, 14 Conor McCann, 15 Sean McAuley.
Subs: Oran McCann, Conor Loughran, Ronan mcGuckian
Referee: Barry Winters
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