ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gaels 5-13 Carryduff 1-20
Cloney Gaels got back to winning ways following a number of recent defeats to Cushendun, Sarsfields and Glenariffe and a draw with Shane O’Neill’s.
Goals win games is the old adage and on this occasion the Ahoghill side hit five, four in the opening half but despite that they were only four ahead at the interval, thanks mainly to the point scoring of Carryduff’s Darragh Goodwin, who registered 0-4 in the first half.
It was Diarmaid Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill and Colla McDonnell who got Cloney Gaels of to a perfect start with three goals in the opening ten minutes and a fourth from Conor Crossey at the end of the opening quarter saw them 4-4 to 0-11 ahead at the short whistle.
The Ahoghill points came from James O’Connell 0-3 and Noah Friel while Conor McAllister 0-3, Ciaran Goodwin, Eoin Rooney and Gareth O’Lionsigh were the other Carryduff point scorers.
After the break Cloney Gaels were more reliant on their point taking though they did add a fifth goal through Fionnbar O’Neill from the penalty spot with two minutes remaining to ensure there would be no way back for the county Down men.
Colla McDonnell added to his opening half goal with 0-2 in the second half while James O’Connell brought his total for the hour to 0-6 while Eoin Graham, Diarmaid Graham, Dan O’Neill and Owen Neeson were the other point scorers.
Donal Rooney led the Carryduff challenge with half a dozen second half points with Eoin Rooney 0-4 also impressing for the visitors and Conor McAllister getting their goal.
A good win for the Ahoghill side which leaves them in joint second place but the victory was somewhat tempered by the fact that Oisin’s Glenariffe claimed the league title on the same day with a win over Shane O’Neill’s in Waterfoot.
With two rounds of games still remaining these games will turn to Championship preparations and Cloney Gaels will hope to build on Sunday’s win as they finish their league programme with away games away to Cloughmills and at home to Tir na nOg.