Casement’s Social Club JHC Group 1
Ardoyne 3-9 Davitt’s 1-15
Kikckham’s Ardoyne staged a strong second half comeback to gain a share of the points in this opening game of Group 1 of the Junior Hurling Championship at Fennell Park on Friday night.
In the proverbial game of two halves it was the men from the Falls Road who looked to be coasting to a comfortable victory when they led 1-7 to 0-2 at the interval, thanks to a goal from Anthony Rowntree after 17 minutes.
Kickham’s were a different team after the break however as they set about reeling in the Davitt’s lead with Cormac Marron adding to a series of Patrick McGreevey points with a goal in the 19th minute.
The visitors looked to have done enough when they led by six with time almost up but two goals from Dean Goodall , the first a scrambled effort, looked to have sealed an unlikely win for the home side but man of the match, Christopher Gallagher tied the contest with an injury time point.
Gallagher was prominent for Davitt’s throughout the contest and his three first half points and points from Dean Mooney, Stephen McGivern and Colm McKee and 1-1 from Anthony Rowntree saw Davitt’s 1-7 to 0-2 ahead at the break, the Ardoyne points both coming from Patrick McGreevey frees.
McGreevey continued to lead the Ardoyne challenge during the second half, hitting three of four early points to close the gap to four after 8 minutes with Daniel Moore’s long range effort getting them on their way.
Christopher Gallagher hit three further points for the Falls Road side in answer to a goal from Cormac Marron and points from Caolan Wallace and Christopher McShane and it was all still to play for.
It was Davitt’s who looked to have survived the storm however as Colm McKee, Gallagher and Stephen McGivern fired over but Moore and McGreevey answered with points for the hosts and that Goodall double looked to have snatched it for Ardoyne.
Christopher Gallagher became the Davitt’s hero as he kept his cool to fire over a late equaliser and in the end both sides will have been fairly satisfied with the draw though both will feel they had the chance to win it.
Ardoyne: 1 Paddy Heaney, 2 Cormac Curran, 3 Paul Baker, 4 Martin McLaughlin, 5 Aran Stewart, 6 Michael McGreevey, 7 Christopher McShane, 8 Daniel Moore, 9 Paul McGuigan, 10 Caolan Wallace, 11 Dean Goodall, 12 Enda Slattery, 13 Matt McKillen, 14 Patrick McGreevey, 15 Kevin Holland
Subs: 19 Cormac Marron for Kevin Holland, Piaras Hull for Martin McLaughlin, 20 Fiontan Lagan for Enda Slattery, Martin McLaughlin for Cormac Curran
Davitt’s: 1 Gerards Cosgrove, 2 Odhran Cosgrove, 3 Thomas Toland, 4 Jasonm Park, 5 Peter Og Carleton, 6 Caoimhin Heaney, 7 Michael Og Rowntree, 8 Stephen McGivern, 9 Colm McKee, 10 Caoimhin Rainey, 11 Deaglan Mooney, 12 Christopher Gallagher, 13 Cormac Maguire, 25 Anthony Rowntree, 15 Marcas Toner.
Subs: 19 Stephen Thompson for Marcas Toner 18 Caoimhin McGowan, 17 Sean Kelly, 24 Leigh McGrady
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
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