ACHL Division 2

Clooney Gaels 4-17 St. Gall’s 0-17

Colla McDonnell and James O’Connell shared the goals as Clooney Gaels swept aside the challenge of visitors St. Gall’s in Ahoghill on Sunday.

The visitors matched their opponent during the opening exchanges with the scores tied at three apiece after seven minutes but slowly Clooney Gaels started to turn the screw and a goal from Colla McDonnell in the 16th minute put them in control.

The home side would go on to add two more majors before half time with James O’Connell getting his first of the evening in the 24^th minute and ‘Colla’ completing his double, just before the break.

By half time it was as good as over with the Gaels leading 3-12 to 0-8 and the home side would go on to add a further 1-9 in the second half to run out convincing winners.

Ronan Graham 0-2, Donal Graham 0-2, James O’Connell 0-4, Dan O’Neill 0-2, Colla McDonnell 0-2, Neil O’Connell and Diarmaid Graham were the Clooney Gaels first half point scorers as they moved the ball around with great pace and precision.

Ewan Rush, Cormac Sheehan, Marcas Napier 0-2, Gairech MacAdhaimh, Ronan Crossen and Gregory McGreevey were the St. Gall’s marksmen in the opening half but it looked a long way back for the Milltown side as the teams changed ends.

There would be no comeback or no letting up from the Ahoghill side as James O’Connell went on to give a demonstration of point taking and he hit his sides opening three points of the second half before firing home his second and his sides 4^th goal with 14 minutes gone.

To their credit St. Gall’s kept battling away with Gregory McGreevey, Cormac Sheehan, Aodh Mullan and Fergus Donnelly on target at the other end.

The men in Red & Black continued to add to their tally however as Ronan Graham 0-2, James O’Connell 0-2 and Noah Friel 0-2 tagged on points in the final quarter with Jackson McGreevey replying from two frees and a ‘65’ to put a better reflection on the final score-line.

This win sees Clooney Gaels climb to second place in the table with three wins from five starts, five places above St. Gall’s who have the same number of points but an inferior score difference.

The visitors were missing a few regulars on this occasion but will hope to get back to strength for the visit of St. Paul’s to Milltown in two weeks-time while the Clooney Gaels rebuilding programme looks to be well on track.

Clooney Gaels: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dougan, 4 Charlie McCloskey, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 James Magee, 7 Diarmaid Graham, 8 Dan O’Neill, 9 Connor Crossey, 10 Martin Graham, 11 Ronan Graham, 12 Donal Graham, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Neil O’Connell, 15 James O’Connell

Subs: 17 Owen Neeson, 18 Joseph Logan, 21 Aodh Mullan, 19 Michael Martin, 22 Shea Neeson, 24 Ryan McPeake, 20 Oisin Kelly

St. Gall’s: 1 Kurtis McGreevey, 2 Oran McIlhatton, 3 Ewan Rush, 4 Daniel Churchill, 5 Gairech MacAdhaimh, 6 Jackson McGreevey, 7 Dubhalthach Ma Liam, 8 Jack Hopkins, 9 Gregory McGreevey, 10 Patrick Friel, 11 Cormac Sheehan, 12 Fergus Donnelly, 13 Ronan Crossen, 14 Niall O’Neill, 15 Marcas Napier.

Subs: 17 Aodh Mullan, 18 Michael McMullan, 20 Tom Ghee

Referee: Tarlach Conway

ACHL Division 2

Sarsfield’s 0-18 Carey 1-23

A goal from Christopher Butler, seven minutes from half time turned this competitive fixture at the Bear Pit in favour of Carey Faughs but the Ballyvoy side were pushed all the way by a Donal McKernan inspired Sarsfields.

With the visitors holding a narrow one point advantage, Butler got on the end of a deft hand pass over the top to beat the advancing David Ward from close range.

The Ballyvoy side pushed on in the closing stages of the half to increase their advantage to 1-13 to 0-8 at the short whistle and while Sarsfields threw everything at them after the break, they were always able to find a response.

Donal McKiernan opened the scoring for Sarsfields from a 50 meter free in the 2^nd minute and the ‘Paddies’ number 11 would account for the majority of his side’s score over the hour with a fine exhibition of point scoring, both from frees and play.

It was the visitor’s better team work and short passing game that would eventually give them the edge however and their wider range of scorers would prove the difference in the end over a dogged Sarsfield’s over the hour.

Christopher Butler (f) and Shea Hunter edged the visitors ahead by the 5^th minute with McKernan equalising with his seconds of the evening before Patrick Butler and Anthony McGarrigle exchanged points to leave it three apiece.

Callum Kane from play for Carey and McKernan from a 70 meter free kept the sides tied before Connor McBride raced clear and batted over to move the visitors ahead again by the 14^th minute.

It would remain nip and tuck for the next ten minutes though David Ward in the Sarsfield’s goals had to be sharp off his line to deny Christopher Butler with Brendan McQuaid, Callum Kane, Patrtick Butler and Kane again keeping the score board ticking for the Faughs and Donal McKernan 0-2, Daniel McKernan and Fionn Jemfry replying for the home side.

Butlers close range finish for the visitors and points from Conlith McKinley and Connor McBride put a bit of daylight between the sides at the halfway stage as the sharp hand passing and movement of the Cathaoir an Ri attack began to open up the Sarsfield’s defence.

Sarsfield’s returned for the second half with renewed vigour and determination and Fionn Jemfry hit a couple of early points to serve notice that this game was far from over.

The visitors responded however through Callum Kane and James ‘Rocket’ Black to restore their seven point advantage after ten minutes and it was to set a pattern that would prevail for the remainder of the half.

Points from Donal McKernan and Patrick Braniff brought a reply from Connor McBride who hit three on the bounce, the third from a very acute angle.

McKernan continued to keep his side in touch going down the home straight but the Ballyvoy side continued to respond with Christopher Butler and Connor McBride to the fore.

In the end it ended 0-10 apiece for the second half with the Faughs always able to respond to the Sarsfield’s threat and they were deserving winners in the end and find themselves amongst a group of six clubs on 6 points, two behind league leaders, Tir na nOg who have 8 points from four starts.

Sarsfield’s: 1 David Ward, 2 Oisin Coleman, 3 Jack Daniels, 4 Daragh Coleman, 5 Ronan McKenna, 28 Nicolas O’Mullane, 7 Eoin Briarty, 8 Anthony McGarrigle, 9 Oisin Coleman, 10 Gary Lennon, 11 Donal McKernan, 12 Daniel McKernan, 13 Conall Jemfry, 27 Gerard McKernan, 15 Fionn Jemfry.

Subs: 26 Patrick Braniff, 29 Liam McAllister,

Carey Faughs: 1 Steven McGinn, 2 Somhairle Mathers, 3 Sean McBride, 4 Daniel McKinley, 5 Shea Hunter, 6 John McBride, 7 Conall McGlynn, 8 Patrick Butler, 9 Callum Kane, 10 Conlith McKinley, 11 James Black, 12 Connor McBride, 13 Christopher Butler, 14 Eoin Laverty, 15 Fiachra McVeigh

Subs: 17 Brendan McQuaid, 23 Daniel Hill, 18 Collum McKiernan, 20 Eoin McKinley,

Referee: Lorenzo McMullan