Featured Image: Colla McDonnell celebrates after netting for Cloney Gaels
ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gaels 4-21 Kickham’s Creggan 4-20
There have been many fine contests between these two South West rivals over the years and this one at Cloney on Sunday rates up there with the best of them.
Two excellent hurling teams going head to head over the hour in a game of end to end hurling with fortunes swinging one way and then the other.
With time almost up the Kickham’s looked to have wrestled the initiative for Cloney Gaels when they led by a goal and a point in response from a Colla McDonnell free didn’t seem enough as the clock ticked down.
In one last dramatic piece of action however James O’Connell sent his shot to the Creggan net to grab a win from the jaws of defeat, much to the delight of the Cloney faithful who were privileged to witness this great game of hurling.
Dan O’Neill who found the net for Cloney Gael’s opener
Both sides went at it tooth and nail right from the throw in as Morgan Nelson pointed Creggan ahead but their lead didn’t last long as Dan O’Neill robbed Odhran Hampsey before finishing to the net for the game’s opening goal.
O’Neill turned provider as Colla McDonnell added a second for the home side in response to a point from Sean McAuley as Conor John Crossey was forced to retire with a finger injury to be replaced by Owen Neeson in the Ahoghill side.
It was a case of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ as Tommy McCann got the final touch to a long delivery from mid-field and deflect his shot past Aiden Graham to make it 2-1 to 1-2 with just ten minutes gone.
The home side responded as James O’Connell, Colla McDonnell 0-2 (f’s), Fionnbar O’Neill and James O’Connell added points, O’Neill’s a massive effort from 70 meters out.
Just when it looked like Cloney Gaels were taking control, Kickham’s made a strong statement of intent as Sam Maguire, Teddy McKeown, Ruairi McCann and Morgan Nelson hit points at the other end and only a goal separated the protagonists after 18 minutes of exciting hurling.
Things got even better for the Staffordstown Road side when Dan Doran found the net to square the contest with 8 minutes remaining to the break and the tit for tat sequence continued in the minutes leading up to the break.
It was the Ahoghill side who fared better however as Colla McDonnell, James O’Connell, Patrick Graham and Ronan Graham found the target with Daniel Doran 0-2 and Ruairi McCann replying for the visitors to leave the ‘Gaels’ 2 ahead at the short whistle.
The early exchanges in the second half remained even with a goal from Kevin Rice moving the visitors two in front by the 6th minute but once again the Ahoghill men found a response.
Things seemed to be swinging their way when a massive free from Fionnbar O’Neill from deep in his own half sailed all the way to the Creggan net and points from Colla McDonnell and James O’Connell edged them three ahead.
Kevin Rice who scored Creggan’s opening goal
PJ O’Connell marked his introduction with a point in response to one from Sean McAuley for the visitors and the point for point exchanges continued with James O’Connell, Fionnbar O’Neill and James O’Connell again on target for the Cloney men and Morgan Nelson and Sean McAuley replying at the other end.
It still looked anybody’s game and Kevin Rice punished hesitancy in the Ahoghill defence to finish to the net from close range to level matters once more with both sides producing some great passages of play.
Morgan Nelson and Ruairi McCann appeared to have sealed it for the Kickham’s as they moved them three in front with only minutes remaining but the final chapter of this compelling drama had not yet been written.
Colla McDonnell, who had been dangerous throughout, pointed a free to leave two between the sides but Creggan had a chance to tie it up when Kevin Small looked in for a goal but Aiden Graham pulled off an excellent save.
And as the Creggan bench called for full-time Cloney Gaels launched one last attack and James O’Connell became their hero as he finished to the net from distance.
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Bernard Graham, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Ronan Graham, 7 Eoin Graham, 8 Eamonn Graham, 9 Patrick Dougan, 10 Donal Graham, 11 James O’Connell, 12 Patrick Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Dan O’Neill, 15 Conor Paul Crossey
Subs: 19 Owen Neeson, 21 PJ O’Connell, 23 Diarmuid Graham, 18 Rian Martin, 22 Conall Walls.
Kickham’s Creggan: 1 Conor McCann, 2 Conor McLarnon, 3 Odhran Hampsey, 4 Peadar McGuckian, 5 Senan O’Boyle, 6 Kealan McCann, 7 Aidan mcKeown, 8 Sam Maguire, 9 Ronan McGuckian, 10 Sean McAuley, 11 Ruairi McCann, 12 Daniel Doran, 13 Thomas McCann, 14 Kevin Rice, 15 Morgan Nelson
Subs: 17 Michael Maguire, 18 Ryan McGrath, 19 Paul Colgan, 20 Lee Johnston
Referee: Lorenzo McMullan
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW