ACHL Division 2
Ballycastle 1-11 Cloney Gaels 0-21
Cloney Gaels collected their second win in Division 2 when they travelled to Ballycastle on Sunday and recorded a good win over the Ballycastle second string.
The Ahoghill side looked in a bit of trouble at the halfway point but staged a strong second half comeback to reign in and then overcome the spirited challenge of their hosts.
It was the McQuillan’s who led 1-9 to 0-10 at half time with a goal from Dermot Donnelly in the 22nd minute sending them to the dressing rooms with a 2 point lead at half time.
Lorcan Donnelly and Callum Campbell for Ballycastle and Noah Friel and Colla McDonnell for the visitors exchanged early points and the tit for tat exchanges continued during the early stages as Patrick Graham, James O’Connell and Colla McDonnell brought their side’s total to 5 by the 13th minute.
McQuillan’s kept in touch through Lorcan Donnelly and Oisin McAuley and further exchanges between Fionbarr O’Neill and James McShane had the visitors one ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
It was end to end action at this stage as James McShane for McQuillan’s and Fionnbar O’Neill from a sideline cut for the Ahoghill side kept the scoreboard ticking and another from Eoin Graham had Cloney two ahead.
Back came Ballycastle with a point from Lorcan Donnelly with James O’Connell keeping the gap at two with a fine point for the Ahoghill side.
Just when it looked like Cloney Gaels were gaining the upper hand, McQuillan’s replied with a decisive goal from Dermot Donnelly and points from Callum Campbell and Lorcan Donnelly with Colla McDonnell replying with the final point of the half for the Ahoghill men.
COME-BACK
Ahoghill were back on level terms within 6 minutes of the second half with points from Conor Crossey and a Colla McDonnell free and further points from McDonnell and James O’Connell saw them move 2 in front with 8 minutes of the half gone.
It was all Cloney Gaels at this stage as Colla McDonnell (f) and Dan O’Neill extended their lead to four before Lorcan Donnelly finally opened Ballycastle’s second half scoring with a point in the 10th minute.
It was brief respite for the home side as Cloney Gaels began to turn the screw with Colla McDonnell, Fionbarr O’Neill 0-2, James O’Connell 0-2 bringing the visitors total for the evening to 0-21 with Ballycastle’s only reply coming from a James McShane point with 3 minutes remaining.
A good win for Cloney Gaels who have made a slow start to this year’s league campaign but on the evidence of Sunday’s performance they should soon be climbing up the table.
Ballycastle: 1 Ruairi McShane, 2 Oisin Donnelly, 3 Ciaran McKeague, 4 Conor Mooney, 5 Ronan Laverty, 6 James Bakewell, 7 Oisin McAuley, 8 Callum Campbell, 9 Luke Connolly, 10 Gavin McToal, 11 James McShane, 12 Lorcan Donnelly, 13 Cormac Dallas, 14 Dermot Donnelly, 15 Feargal McKiernan.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Ryan Martin, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Ronan Graham, 7 Eoin Graham, 8 Conor Crossey, 9 Patrick Graham, 10 Donal Graham, 11 Jack McFall, 12 Noah Friel, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Dan O’Neill, 15 James O’Connell.
17 Ben Friel, 18 Conal Walls, 19 Michael Martin, 21 Owen Neeson
Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)