ACHL Division 2
Loughgiel 2nd’s 1-21 Cloney Gaels 3-17
Cloney Gaels edged out Loughgiel Seconds by two points in an absolute classic of an ACHL Division 2 encounter at Fr. Healey Park on Wednesday night. A relentless display of attacking hurling saw the Ahoghill men withstand a fierce Loughgiel fightback to claim the spoils in a high-scoring thriller.
Ahoghill flew out of the traps and early scores from Donal Graham, Owen Neeson, Colla McDonnell, James O’Connell, and Owen Graham pushed Cloney Gaels into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after just eight minutes. Loughgiel responded through Ryan Hill and Shay McGrath, but further points from Ronan Graham and Fionnbar O’Neill kept the visitors in control.
Loughgiel found their spark in the 14th minute. Conall McCloskey pointed before the clinical Shay McGrath rattled the net to level the game at 1-5 to 0-8. The teams traded blows intensely from there. Aiden McFadden, Shane O’Boyle, and Patrick Laverty accurate for the Shamrocks, while Colla McDonnell fired home a crucial goal for Ahoghill. Late first-half points from Eamonn Brady and Roan McGarry left Cloney Gaels with a narrow 1-13 to 1-12 lead at the break.
Loughgiel levelled immediately after the restart through a Donal McKinley point, but Cloney Gaels responded instantly. The lethal Colla McDonnell broke through the Shamrocks’ defence to blast home his second goal of the match. McKinley and Conall McCloskey hit back with points for Loughgiel, beginning a frantic sequence where the sides traded scores. Roan McGarry, Patrick Laverty, and Shay McGrath were all on target for the hosts, while McDonnell and James O’Connell kept the scoreboard ticking for Ahoghill.
With the game on a knife-edge, Cloney Gaels struck a definitive blow when Owen Neeson found the net for his side’s third goal. Neeson quickly followed up with a point to stretch the Ahoghill lead. Loughgiel refused to yield, scoring late points from Shane O’Boyle, McGarry, and McGrath to cut the gap back to two but that would be as close as they got.
The Ahoghill side soaked up a lot of pressure during the closing minutes with Aiden Graham and Fionnbarr O’Neill putting their bodies on the line to ensure the points went the way of the visitors
- Cloney Gaels: Aidan Graham, Patrick Dougan (Harry O’Donnell 50’), James Magee, Bernard Graham, Fionnbar O’Neill, Ronan Graham, Eoin Graham, Eamonn Brady, Conor Crossey, Donal Graham, James O’Connell, Patrick Graham, Colla McDonnell, Owen Neeson, Noah Friel (PJ O’Connell 40’). Subs Used: Ben Friel, Michael Martin, Ryan Martin, Ryan McPeake.
- Loughgiel: Shea McDonnell, Cahir Connolly, Aidan McFadden, Ashdon McGarry, Conall McCloskey, Tiago McGarry, Tomas McNulty, Patrick Laverty, Roan Fitzhenry, Donal McKinley, Shane O’Boyle, Pearce Patterson, Roan McGarry, Ryan Hill, Shay McGrath. Subs Available: Danny McAuley, Daniel O’Mullan, Ronan Casey.