Match Report

Tír na nÓg 0-2 v 2-24 ST. MARY'S AHOGHILL
ACFL DIV 2
22 November 2009

SHARP SHOOTERS BRING DIV 2 LEAGUE TITLE TO AHOGHILL

After the disappointment of losing to Lámh Dhearg last Sunday and effectively handing over the Div 2 title, Ahoghill got the opportunity to redeem themselves today in a last-ditch effort to snatch the spolis from the Hannahstown outfit. In the last fixture of the Div 2 season, Ahoghill travelled to Randalstown hoping to overcome a 23 point score difference with a comprehensive victory against relegated Tír na nÓg, to secure an unlikely league title to add to their Intermediate Championship.

With weather conditions deteriorating, both sides eventually took to the field, and from the start is was clear that the home side were fielding a heavily under-strength team. Ahoghill grabbed the initiative from the thrown-in, and within two minutes had taken the lead through Neil O'Connell. That point was to lead the way for the visitors and served as a marker for what was to follow for much of the first half, as Ahoghill raced into a six point lead with scores coming freely from Donal Graham (2), P.J. O'Connell (2) and Owen Neeson, despite playing against a strong breeze.

The home side to their credit were not allowing the visitors to have everything their own way and managed a score of their own against the run of play to put a temporary halt to the Ahoghill onslaught, however the visitors showed no mercy, and mindful of the task at hand added a further 2-5 to their tally before the half time whistle, with the scores coming from Donal Graham (0-2), Owen Neeson (1-1), T.J. Hamill (0-1), P.J. O'Connell (1-0) and Gerard Scullion (0-1), to leave the score and the interval 0-1 v 2-12.

Playing with the breeze in the second period, Ahoghill started where they had left off in the first half and started bombarding the Tír na nÓg goal embarking on a scoring blitz, adding five points through Gerard Scullion, Owen Neeson, Stephen O'Connell, and a double from P.J. O'Connell. A consolation score from the home side stopped the one way traffic temporarily but order was resored as Donal Graham converted a free for Ahoghill to regain focus for the visitors, and his score provided the impetus for a final flourish, as the Ahoghill lads added six unanswered points to their impressive tally through Chris Bradley, P.J. O'Connell (0-2), Neil O'Connell, Bernard Graham and super-sub Tom McGlone.

At the final whistle, the Ahoghill management had double-checked that the sums had all added up in their favour, allowing the visitors the chance to celebrate victory, in the knowledge that they had overcome their unlikely target to secure their second league title in as many years following their impressive run in Division 3 last season.

Today's result is the icing on the cake for this talented Ahoghill side, and just reward for their honest endeavours over the course of the 2009 season that saw them claim an historic league and championship double. Celebrations will be short-lived however, as they will soon start preparations for life in the top-flight of Antrim football - with the more modest goal of survival in Div 1 a priority for 2010.

Ahoghill (Team & Scorers): Francis Neeson; Chris McGlone (Capt), Dominic Neeson, Justin Downey; Diarmaid Graham, Martin Graham, Gerard Scullion (0-2); Neil O'Connell (0-2), Chris Bradley (0-1); T.J. Hamill (0-1), Sean O'Connell, Paul Bradley; Owen Neeson (1-3), Donal Graham (0-6, 4f) , P.J. O'Connell (1-6, 2f)

Subs: Stephen O'Connell (0-1) for Chris McGlone, Bernard Graham (0-1) for T.J. Hamill, Joe Downey for Justin Downey, Tom McGlone (0-1) for Owen Neeson, Gerard Graham for Chris Bradley.

Subs not used: Aiden Graham, Pearse Close, Malachy Friel, Conor Scullion, Gareth Neeson, John Friel, Chris O'Neill, Ryan Doherty, Chris Downey, Niall Magee.