ACHL Division 2
Tir na nOg 1-15 Cloney Gaels 1-13
Tir na nOg rode the gale-force storm that blew into their face in the second half to secure an opening day win in division 2 of the ACHL when they withstood the challenge of Cloney Gaels in the proverbial game of two halves.
Despite playing into the elements in the opening half it was the Ahoghill side who opened first through a Colla McDonnell free in the 4th minute but the home side slowly settled and Emmet Murray and Kevin McCann edged them ahead for the first time with 6 minutes on the clock.
Cloney Gaels were back on terms when Fionnbar O’Neill struck a free from distance and as the Randalstown side began to adjust to the difficult breeze, Tiarnan Bonnes edged them ahead again from a 65 meter free.
Colla McDonnell, who top scored for Cloney Gaels misjudges the flight of the sliothar as Manus Smith Challenges
Colla McDonnell tied the contest for the third time from a 16th minute free and given the strength of the wind, the Ahoghill management would have been happy how things were developing.
Slowly though the Whitehill side began to stamp their authority on proceedings as Kevin McCann edged them ahead and Connor McCamphill struck two excellent points from distance as they began to find their range.
The momentum was now very much with Tir na nOg as Sean McKinley, Tiarnan Bonnes and Joshua Higgins moved them seven ahead before Fionnbar O’Neill finally got Ahoghill’s final point of the half from a ‘65’ in the 29th minute.
There would be one final play and Declan Mallon split the posts to leave Tir na nOg 0-11 to 0-4 ahead at the break but given the strength of the breeze, the Cloney side certainly didn’t look out of it.
With the wind now firmly at their backs Cloney Gaels were expected to push on but it was the home side who extended their lead when Colm Duffin pointed in the 3d minute.
The Gaels came back strongly however with points from Diarmaid Graham 0-2, and Colla McDonnell 0-2 f’s and another from play but Tiarnan Bonnes and Daniel Martin kept the score board ticking at the other end before Colla McDonnell finished to the net after 13 minutes for the Ahoghill side.
McDonnell’s goal left just two between the sides and it still looked anybody’s game at this stage of the contest though Cloney’s insistence on going for long distance scores was failing to pay dividends.
They were made to pay when after a period of dominance from the visitors, Tir na nOg struck decisively and Emmet Murray started and finished a move which saw him bat to the net from close range.
Ryan O’Neill on the attack for Tir na nOg
Murray’s goal would prove the difference in the end though Cloney Gaels replied with points from Colla McDonnell, Fionnbar O’Neill 0-2 and Patrick Graham, it was Colm Duffin who sent over the final point of the game to see the Whitehill side home by two points.
Emmet Murray, Colm Duffin, Tiarnan Bonnes and Ryan O’Neill were excellent for a solid Tir na nOg while Colla McDonnell was the outstanding performer for a Cloney Gaels side who missed too many scoring chances.
Tir na nOg: 1 Caoimhin Duffin, 2 Brandon McLarnon, 3 Oliver McAtamney, 4 Manus Smith, 5 Ryan O’Neill, 6 Ciaran O’Neill, 7 Daniel Martin, 8 Connor McCamphill, 9 Emmet Murray, 10 Kevin McCann, 11 Sean McKinley, 12 Joshua Higgins, 13 Tiarnan Bonnes, 14 Declan Mallon, 15 Colm Duffin
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Diarmaid Graham, 7 Bernard Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 10 Patrick Graham, 11 Jack McFall, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Eoin Graham, 15 Noah Friel, 17 Ben Friel, 18 Conall Walls, 19 Daniel O’Neill, 20 Donal Graham
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)
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