Sraith Iomána Ard Mhacha | Babhta 6

Armagh Hurling League | Round 6 

25/06/24

Naomh Monínna Cíll Sleíbhe v C.L.G./C.C. Naomh Colum Cille

Our senior hurlers made the journey to South Armagh this evening (25/06/24) to take on Naomh Monínna of Killeavy in round 6 of the Armagh division 2 senior hurling league. 

In the first game of a three way playoff for the title between ourselves, Killeavy and Castleblayney we travelled south on the back of six straight wins garnered from both the Armagh and Cú Chulainn leagues and were in a confident mood at the thought of overturning the result from our previous outing with the Armagh men. 

The lads started well and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after fifteen minutes with Chris Kearns (0-3 from play) and AJ McCann (0-1 from a free) carrying on from where they left off in the last game providing our scores in response to a pointed free from Killeavy. 

From there until half time the Black and Red kept the opposition at bay to go in five points up at the short whistle with the scoreboard reading 0-11 to 0-5 in favour of NCC with some good scores from AJ, Powder and midfielder Vinny McCann leaving us firmly in control with another half to play. 

The Killeavy men started the second half with a flurry of scores and hit us for 2-1 in the opening five minutes to wrestle back control of the game and take a 2-7 to 0-11 lead. AJ McCann stopped the flow of Naomh Monínna scores with a well executed free before Killeavy arrowed over the next three points for a 2-10 to 0-12 lead. 

We were playing catch up from there until the end and offered some resistance to the Killeavy challenge with goals from substitute John McGuigan (1-0 from play) and a three pointer from a Gary Mulgrew free in the dying minutes offering our team a glimmer of hope with the clock ticking. 

It wasn’t to be however and despite a number of points from AJ McCann, the Armagh men did enough to keep themselves in front and were worthy winners on a 2-19 to 2-14 scoreline. 

This was a typical game of two halves with NCC edging proceedings in the first and Killeavy, buoyed by their blistering start to the second half, doing more to win comfortably in the end. 

In a tough physical game, referee Paul Boylan handled things rightly and issued quite a few yellow cards plus a couple of reds as the challenges came flying in. 

We haven’t much time to dwell on this defeat and hope to get back on the horse again soon as we’re possibly back in action this Thursday evening (27/06/24) for round three of the Cú Chulainn League. More details to follow as we bid to make it three wins from three in the competition. 

Foireann NCC: Rory Poncánach Ó Néill, Odhrán McMurray, Irwin Donnellan, Conor Doherty, Seán Kelly, Ryan Dubh O’Neill, Darragh Coney, Caolán Santos Ó Corra, Vinny McCann (0-2), Rónán Maguire, Chris Kearns (0-4), Shea Coney, Gary Mulgrew (1-0 from free), AJ McCann (0-8, 0-7 frees), Lughaidh Mór Ó Néill 

Fir Ionaid: John McGuigan (1-0), Aaron McCann, Caolán McLaughlin, Ruairí O’Hagan, Eoin Robinson, Fionnán Ó Brádáin