ACFL Division 2
Ahoghill 0-17 Lisburn 2-6
St. Mary’s Ahoghill continued their good run in division 2 when they overcame the challenge of St. Patrick’s Lisburn in Cloney on Wednesday night.
James O’Connell served notice that his return to match fitness is well underway when he kicked 2 early 2 pointers and Donal Graham followed with another as the home side took full advantage of the breeze to move 0-6 ahead after 4 minutes.
It was all St. Mary’s during the opening exchanges as Diarmaid Graham and Patrick Dougan, with his side’s fourth Orange flag of the half added to the St. Mary’s total and when James O’Connell hit another double they were 0-11 ahead.
St. Patrick’s had been under the cosh up until this point but they did finish the half strongly and kicked the final three points with Colm Burns and two from Oisin Gorman putting a better look on the score-line at half time.
James O’Connell extended the Ahoghill lead from a pointed free in the opening minute of the second half but St. Patrick’s replied from a Che Smith pointed free and when Tom Buckley followed with a goal in the 6th minute their comeback looked to be underway.
Not lying down on the job! James O’Connell who finished with 0-8 as Ahoghill beat St. Patrick’s Lisburn in Cloney on Wednesday night.
Two minutes later Oisin Gorman got in for a second goal and the Ahoghill lead had been reduced to two points and the game had swung the way of the visitors and required a response from the home side.
And respond they did as Ronan Graham pointed a free and Patrick Graham added a fine score from play before Eamon Doyle replied for the visitors to leave three between the sides with 14 minutes gone.
The visitors would add only one further point however as St. Mary’s finished strongly to dominate the final quarter.
James O’Connell put the icing on a fine individual performance as he brought his total to 0-8 for the evening and the impressive Ronan Graham added two more to see the home side comfortably home and move just one point behind Naomh Eanna at the top of the table after 4 rounds of games.
St. Mary’s Ahoghill: 1 Gerard Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Shea Neeson, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Diarmaid Graham, 7 Eamonn Brady, 8 Ronan Graham, 9 Patrick Graham, 10 Dan O’Neill, 11 Donal Graham, 12 Patrick Dougan, 13 James O’Connell, 14 Noel Crossey, 15 Colla McDonnell
Subs: 20 Ben Friel, 21 Noah Friel, 22 Seamus McKeever, 23 Ryan Martin
St. Patrick’s Lisburn: 1 Peter O’Neill, 2 Jack Brodrick, 3 Sean Burns, 4 Conor Doran, 5 Jack McMullan, 6 Ben McMullan, 7 Colm Burns, 8 Tom Buckley, 9 Adam Patterson, 10 Daire Austin, 11 Oisin Gorman, 13 Josh McMullan, 14 Jude Rafferty, 15 Che Smith, 18 Eamonn Doyle
Referee: Cathal McDermott