13/06/24

Naomh Maoileachlainn, Port an Dúnáin v C.L.G./C.C. Naomh Colum Cille

Our senior hurlers wrapped up their Armagh league campaign this evening when they made the short journey over to Portadown to take on the host club St Malachy’s at the People’s Park in round five of the competition. 

The starting fifteen showed nine changes from Monday evening’s victory over Omagh but despite this the lads got off to a good start firing over five points from play in the first five minutes to race into a 0-5 to nil lead. 

The good start stood to us as we kept the Portadown men at arm’s length and went in at half time having built up a comfortable 0-14 to 0-7 lead with points from Lughaidh Mór (0-4), Chris Kearns (0-4), Conor Doherty (0-2), Seán Kelly (0-2 from 65s), Rónán Maguire (0-1) and Vinny McCann (0-1) making sure we held the upper hand at the short whistle. 

The St Malachy’s men opened the second half scoring from a free in the thirty second minute to reduce the deficit to five before points from Rónán Maguire (0-1), Conor Doherty (0-1) and a monster free from Poc Fada champion Seán Kelly (0-1) tipped the balance in the Black and Red favour once again. 

From then until the end of the game the sides shared 3-8 between them with Lughaidh Mór slotting over two more nice points from play to accompany his forty ninth minute goaled penalty and centre half forward Chris Kearns rifling over two fine long range points to bring his white flag tally to six for the evening. 

These scores were in response to two Portadown goals, one from a ground stroke in the forty third minute and the other from a 20 metre free in the dying embers of the game plus a further four points from the Armagh men’s talented number 10 James Hamill who contributed 1-9 to his side’s cause on the night to leave the full time score reading NCC 1-21 St. Malachy’s 2-12. 

This was a decent performance from the Cilles despite racking up 16 wides throughout the hour to the St Malachy’s tally of six. NCC had the lion’s share of possession and 1-21 over sixty minutes is a good return on any given evening!

Eoin ‘Geoff’ Robinson, deputising in goals for the absent Rory Ó Néill, had a fine game and made a few excellent saves to repel the hosts. His distribution from puck outs was consistent and he repeatedly found a Black and Red jersey from long deliveries throughout the fixture. 

Our full back line was resolute for the majority of the match and gave little away with full back Irwin Donnellan setting a great example to his corner back colleagues Liam McIllvenna and young Odhrán McMurray. 

Ryan Dubh O’Neill returned to the number six jersey this evening and had familiar faces on either wing with Seán Kelly and Caolán McLaughlin combining well in the middle third of the field throughout. 

The experienced Paul Maguire moved out from the edge of the square to partner Vinny McCann in the middle of the field with both men giving their customary wholehearted performances on the night. 

Chris Kearns was exemplary at number eleven with his link play and long range point scoring doing much to secure the two points. The energetic Rónán Maguire and tough performing Ruairí O’Hagan on either side of the half forward line went a good way to ensure NCC had a controlling grip on the game with each man making a telling contribution. 

Shea Coney battled hard in the full forward line with the two youngsters Lughaidh Mór and Conor Doherty providing a good scoring outlet throughout. 

The introductions of Darragh Coney, Tony O’Hagan, Aaron McCann and Gary Mulgrew helped the cause greatly with each man doing his bit over the course of the game. 

Manager Seámy Carron and his backroom team of Ryan Poncánach Ó Néill and Niall Gleann will be satisfied with winning their fourth game out of five in the Armagh League and will feel it’s been good preparation for the upcoming fixtures in the Cú Chulainn League and Tír Eoghain competitions. 

Foireann NCC: Eoin ‘Geoff’ Robinson, Liam McIllvenna, Irwin Donnellan, Odhrán McMurray, Seán Kelly (0-3, 2 x 65, 1 x free), Ryan Dubh O’Neill, Caolán McLaughlin, Paul Maguire, Vinny McCann (0-1), Ruairí O’Hagan, Chris Kearns (0-6), Rónán Maguire (0-2), Lughaidh Mór Ó Néill (1-6, 1-0 penalty), Shea Coney, Conor Doherty (0-3)

Fir Ionaid: Darragh Coney, Tony O’Hagan, Gary Mulgrew, Aaron McCann.