IFC Group 1
Ahoghill 1-17 St. Paul’s 2-14
Cloney Gaels and St. Paul’s couldn’t be separated in Ahoghill on Friday night in Group 1 of the Intermediate Hurling Championship. The home side played with the breeze in the opening half but failed to take advantage of the elements with the contest tied at 0-9 each at the break.
Against the wind Cloney appeared to be gaining the upper hand and had built up a fairly healthy lead but 2 late goals from the excellent Caolan Ó Duibhfinn earned the visitors a valuable share of the points.
It was tit for tat during the opening exchanges in Ahoghill with the sides tied at 6 apiece after 20 minutes with Ó Duibhfinn 0-3, Sean Og McLaren 0-2 and Thomas Duff on the mark for St. Paul’s and James O’Connell 0-3, Patrick Graham, Donal Graham and Colla McDonnell the Cloney marksmen.
Sean Lawell, Ó Duibhfinn and Declan Chapman brought the visitors total to 9 by the half way stage with Ronan Graham and ‘Jimmy’ O’Connell 0-2 for the home side ensuring it was all tied as Piaras McCaffery sounded the half time whistle.
The Ahoghill side looked to be gaining control at the start of the second half and they struck with points from James O’Connell which sandwiched a Patrick Graham goal in the 3d minute.
Further points from Colla McDonnell and Patrick Graham had the hosts 7 ahead by the 14th minute and they looked on their way to their second Group 1 win.
The Shaw’s Road side finally opened their second half account when Caolan Ó Duibhfinn split the posts in the 15th minute from a ‘65’ and he followed with another from a free but points from Diarmuid Graham and two pointed frees from Jimmy O’ looked to have sealed it with 8 minutes remaining.
St. Paul’s had other ideas however as Sean Og McLaren pointed and the impressive Ó Duibhfinn followed with a goal in the 28th minute and when he added a second, two minutes into in jury time the fat was very much back in the fire.
In between McLaren added two points for the visitors and O’Connell’s 9th of the evening meant that it was all square at the end of an excellent game of championship hurling.
This result leaves Cloney Gaels topping the table with 3 points from 2 starts while Creggan and Rasharkin are on 2 from one start and St. Paul’s sit 4th with 1 point from 2 starts.
The Ahoghill men travel to Rasharkin in their next game on Saturday the 23d August while St. Paul’s don’t play again to the 6th September when they entertain Rasharkin.
Ahoghill: 1 Aiden Graham 2. HarryO’Donnell 3. Bobby Magee 4. Paddy Dougan 5. Fionnbar O’Neill 6. Diarmaid Graham 7. Dan O’Neill 8. Eamon Brady 9. Conor Crossey 10. Donal Graham 11. Ronan Graham 12. Patrick Graham 13. Colla McDonnell 14. Eoin Graham 15. James O’Connell.
Subs Used: Bernard Graham for Harry O’Donnell, Owen Neeson for Eoin Graham Tom McGlone for Colla McDonnell
St. Paul’s: 1 Chris Murray, 2 Mark Munce, 3 Daire Stevenson, 4 Tiarnán Auld 5 Thomas Duff, 6 Stephen Rooney, 7 Caoimhin Killyeagh, 8 Sean Lawell (0-1), 9 Diarmuid O’Sullivan, 10 Lorcan Phillips, 11 Sean Og McLaren 0-5, 12 Caolan Crossan, 13 Declan Chapman, 14 Caolan Ó Duibhfinn (2-7),15 Conal Finnegan 0-1
Subs Used: Odhrán Donnelly, Seán Munce, Paudhric McKevitt, Garrett Cowan & Pól Magee.
Referee: Piaras McCaffrey