CLOUGHANEELY FOLLOWED up their recent key away win over MacCumhaills with this hard earned home victory over Milford, another of the teams in the battle to avoid relegation from the Brian McCormick Sports and Leisure Division One.
Cloughaneely 2-11 Milford 0-14
By Charlie Collins in Falcarragh Milford will reflect on two missed second-half penalties as they suffered yet another narrow defeat – a result that leaves them four points behind Cloughaneely in the league table and increasing the pressure on them to start winning games.
The home team started well and scored the opening two points, Sean Maguire and Cillian Gallagher converting inside four minutes.
However Milford with the aid of the breeze responded with five points in a row, Cathal McGettigan got three with Luke Barrett and TJ Evesson also raising the white flag.
They also had a brilliant goal opportunity in the 12th minute when Kyle Black’s lob hit the crossbar and Daragh Black pounced, but his goalbound shot was somehow blocked and cleared.
Cloughaneely hit back and were level when Cillian Gallagher reacted quickest when Paul Sweeney’s shot was blocked to slot the ball to the net, 1-02 to 0-05.
In the 19th minute Luke Barrett went on a super long run before setting up Cathal McGettigan but his shot was brilliantly blocked on the line and cleared, a second super goal chance for the visitors not converted.
McGettigan and Maguire exchanged four points, Kevin Mulhearn put the home team ahead again but two Christopher Barrett points from play left Milford one ahead at the break 1-05 to 0-09.
Cloughaneely opened the second-half with a second goal. A ball inside found Paul Sweeney found Ciaran McFadden whose shot was well saved by Caolan McGettigan, but Sweeney followed up to palm the ball to the net and the home team led by two points.
Three minutes later Milford were awarded a penalty. Pauric Curley was fouled but Conor McHugh, who had just come on, blasted wide.
Shortly afterwards Curley was red-carded by referee Jimmy White after an exchange of words.
The next 12 minutes produced four points for each team.
Sub John Fitzgerald got two and Maguire and Gallagher one each for the home team while Luke Barrett added three and Daragh Black another for Milford to leave it 2-9 to 0-13.
In the 58th minute Milford were awarded another penalty when Black was fouled but ‘keeper Sean McClafferty dived to his left to deny Chrostopher Barrett and Milford’s chance was gone.
Maguire and the excellent John Fitzgerald added points for Cloughaneely.
Black got Milford’s final point to leave in 2-11 to 0-14 at the end and Cloughaneely four points clear of Milford in the league table.
Cloughaneely:Sean McClafferty; Ciaran McFadden, Kevin Mulhearn (0-1), Noel Sweeney; Martin Harley, Cian McFadden, Michael Fitzgerald; Ciaran Scanlon, Michael Maguire; Aidan Doohan, Ciaran McGeady, Darren Ferry; Cillian Gallagher (1-2), Paul Sweeney (1-0), Sean Maguire (0-5, 3f).Subs: Finn McGinley for Harley (black card, 16) , John Fitzgerald (0-3) for Ferry (black card, 42), Michael McHugh for Cian McFadden (44).
Milford: Caolan McGettigan; Peter Curran, Conor McNulty, TJ Evesson (0-1); James Doyle, Paddy Peoples, Gavin Grier; Joey Cullen, Luke Barrett (0-4, 2f); Cathal McGettigan (0-5, 3f, 1 ‘45), Christopher Barrett (0-2), Gary Merritt; Daragh Black (0-2), Pauric Curley, Kyle Black. Subs:Conor McHugh, Conor Coll and Rory O’Donnell for Merritt, Curran and McGettigan (half-time), Sean Black for McNulty (45), Marty Doyle for K.Black (49).
Referee:Jimmy White.
