ACHL Division 2
Cloney Gaels 4-16 St. Gall’s 4-16
With the division 2 title already heading to Ballycran, this meeting of 5th and 6th in the table was more about the bragging rights and preparation for the Intermediate Championship but Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s never the less served up an exciting game of hurling.
Only a point separated the sides at half time with St. Gall’s leading 2-11 to 3-7 as the teams headed to the dressing rooms with both sides playing their part in some excellent passages of attacking play.
Dan O’Neill fired to the St. Gall’s net to give Cloney Gaels an early lead with Ethan Walsh finding the Cloney net in the 5th minute as play swung from end to end.
Fionnbar O’Neill, Dan O’Neill, PJ O’Connell, Ronan Graham and Fionnbar again brought the home sides total to 1-5 by the 11th minute With Gregory McGreevey responding with a couple of fine efforts for the Milltown Row side.
Cloney Gaels were enjoying the better of the exchanges at this point and PJ O’Connell increased their lead when he fired home their second goal in the 13th minute with St. Gall’s responding with a flurry of points from Gregory McGreevey before a long range effort from their keeper found its way to the Ahoghill net.
PJ O’Connell replied immediately with his second goal of the game at the other end but it was St. Gall’s who dominated the closing exchanges as Aaron Mackle, Niall Fallon 0-2, Ethan Walsh and Mark Napier all added points to leave them leading by the minimum at the break.
Three quick points at the start of the second half from Fionnbar O’Neill, Donal Graham and Owen Neeson saw Cloney Gaels move two ahead but thee converted frees in reply from Niall Fallon had the visitors back in front again by the 9th minute.
It was end to end stuff as the game continued at a fast pace with Dan O’Neill for Cloney pointing before Mark Napier got through for the visitors third goal to see them hit the front once more.
Fionnbar O’Neill and Ronan Graham replied with points for the hosts as the game continued at break neck pace but St. Gall’s looked to have secured the points when Segdae MacAdhaimh fired home their fourth goal of the afternoon with 12 minutes remaining.
The Gaels looked in trouble despite points from Ronan Graham 0-2 and Bernard Graham in response to two from Daniel Churchill and Niall Fallon when they trailed by three as the game crept into time added on.
They showed their never-say-die attitude however and were rewarded when Diarmaid Graham fished to the net in the 34th minute to give them a share of the spoils, much to the delight of the Cloney faithful.
Another exciting hour-plus hurling in Ahoghill following last week’s late winning goal against Creggan and while the league title is out of sight for both sides both Cloney Gaels and St. Gall’s can be happy with their form as we edge closer to the championship.