ACHL Division 2
Carryduff 3-16 Ahoghill 2-12
A strong second half performance by Carryduff, led by the excellent Conor McAllister saw them overcome the challenge of Cloney Gaels in the ACHL Division 2 in Carryduff on Sunday. The hosts got off to a bright start with McAllister pointing in the first minute and following with a goal with 2 minutes gone.
Cloney responded with a point from Ronan Graham and a goal from Dan O’Neill but the Down men were moving the ball with precision and looked dangerous every time they attacked.
Conor McAllister brought his side’s total to 1-2 with another point before mid-fielder Donal Og Rooney weighed in with three of his own and one from the elusive McAllister and another from Eoin Rooney had the hosts 1-6 to 1-2 ahead by the 14th minute, the visitors second point coming from Donal Graham.
Two more from Donal Graham and Colla McDonnell for the visitors had the gap down to two by the 20th minute and that was how it remained at the break with James Lavery, James Woods and Lavery again on target for Carryduff and a Colla McDonnell double and one from Dan O’Neill leaving it 1-10 to 1-8 at the short whistle.
Carryduff got the second half off to a blistering start as Donal Og Rooney converted a ‘65’ in the opening minute and then a shot from McAllister deflected off an Ahoghill stick and finished in the net and the Down men were 6 ahead with only three minutes of the new half gone.
Cloney Gaels looked rattled but they came back with points from James O’Connell and a Colla McDonnell free but Carryduff were slowly getting on top. They replied through the excellent Conor McAllister with two on the bounce and another from substitute Tom Hickson put further distance between the sides.
A pointed free from Colla McDonnell and another from play by Eamon Brady hinted at a comeback from the Cloney Gaels but it would prove to be their final score with 14 minutes remaining.
Indeed it was Carryduff who ensured that there would be no way back going down the finishing straight with the excellent McAllister firing home his side’s third goal and Donal Og Rooney putting the icing on a fine personal performance with a point from distance.
Carryduff:
1 Conor McLornan
2 Fearghal Casey
3 Conor Cassidy
4 Ciaran Goodwin
5 David Morrissey
6 Darragh Goodwin
7 Cillian Ennis
8 James Woods
9 Donal Og Rooney
10 Michael Conway
11 Sean O’Callaghan
12 James Lavery
13 Lorcan McCaughey
14 Conor McAlister
15 Eoin Rooney