McKeever Hotels IHC Group 2
St. Paul’s 4-14 Cloney Gaels 1-15
Caolan O’Duibhfhinn was on fire as he led St. Paul’s to their first Group 2 IHC victory when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Cloney Gaels on the Shaw’s Road on Saturday. The Ahoghill men went into this one having posted an impressive 7-22 in their last outing against Tir na nOg but found themselves on the back foot from early in the game against a totally committed St. Paul’s.
James O’Connell got the visitors of the mark with a point after 30 seconds but O’Duibhfinn got in for the game’s opening goal with only a minute gone and it was a lead they would retain for the greater part of the game.
Patrick Graham for the ‘Gaels’ and Sean Og McLornan exchanged further points and an Eamonn Grady point for the visitors had it level with 7 minutes on the clock.
Caolan O’Duibhfinn who’s hat trick paved the way for a St. Paul’s victory over Cloney Gaels on Saturday
James McDonnell and Sean Munce moved the Shaw’s Road outfit two in front and PJ O’Connell and Munce exchanged further minors and further exchanges between Sean Og McAlornan and Colla McDonnell kept the gap at two after 17 minutes.
The greater intensity of St. Paul’s was starting to tell however as they gave their opponents no time to settle on the ball, forcing them into unnecessary errors and a ‘65’ conversion from O’Duibhfinn and a great point from James McDonnell moved the host’s four ahead.
A sideline cut from Conal Finnegan increased that lead to five before Colla McDonnell replied with Cloney Gaels first score for 11 minutes as he converted a free.
It would be St. Paul’s who finished the half on top however as O’Duibhfinn struck a fine long range effort and Sean Munce added another in reply to one from Bernard Graham to leave the hosts 1-10 to 0-8 ahead at the short whistle.
Cloney Gaels needed to step it up if they were to turn this game around in the second half and Bernard Graham got them off to a fine start with a long range point after 20 seconds but it failed to ignite the visitors challenge.
Sean Og McLornan and Stephen Rooney replied with points for the home side with Colla McDonnell responding from a 7th minute free but the home side were still calling the shots.
They struck in devastating fashion to put themselves in firm control as O’Duibhfinn fired home his second goal in the 5th minute and when Stephen Rooney followed with another, a minute later the gap was out to 11 points.
Eamonn Brady attempts to drive Cloney Gaels forward from mid-field
Another Colla McDonnell free and fine long range point from Eamonn Brady brought it back to 9 but when Caolan O’Duibhfinn pointed a ‘65’ and followed with a goal to complete his hat-trick it was as good as over.
Ahoghill kept battling to the end but it was goals they needed and despite their best efforts they could find no way past Christopher Murray and his defence, the St. Paul’s keeper pulling of a couple of excellent stops.
A couple of late points from substitute Owen Neeson was as good as it got for the visitors who now find themselves on 2 points from 3 starts alongside St. Paul’s and Tir na nOg.
Cushendun and Glenarm lead the group on maximum point from three starts so the race seems to be for third place amongst the above mentioned and is unlikely to be decided until the last Group 2 round on the weekend of the 11th & 12th September.
St Paul’s: 1 Christopher Murray, 2 Gerard Maguire, 3 Daire Stevenson, 4 Declan Quinn, 5 Tomas Duff, 6 Lorcan Phillips, 7 Caoimhin Killyleagh, 8 Conal Finnegan, 9 Stephen Rooney, 10 Sean Munce, 11 Sean Og McLornan, 12 James McDonnell, 13 Shea Burns, 14 Caolan Crossan, 15 Caolan O’Duibhfhinn
Subs: Bairre Burns, Odhran Donnelly, Declan Chapman,
Cloney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Shea Neeson, 3 James Magee, 4 Harry O’Donnell, 5 Patrick Dougan, 6 Bernard Graham, 7 Eoin Graham, 8 Eamonn Brady, 9 Dan O’Neill, 10 Patrick Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 James O’Connell, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 PJ O’Connell, 15 Paul Crossey
Subs: Owen Neeson, Donal Graham
Referee: Coly Thompson (St. John’s)
TO VIEW MORE PICS FROM THE GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW