WITH ST NAUL’S sitting in the relegation zone a win was a must for them as they travelled to Paírc Naomh Fhionán this evening to face Cloughaneely.
Cloughaneely 2-13 St Naul’s 2-5
It was a tough, entertaining game between the two sides. Naul’s got off to the best possible start by blasting home a goal in the seventh minute where a Stephen Griffin pass across the front of the goals found Shane Griffin who found the back of the net.
This was quickly backed up by a converted free from Stephen Griffin. Cloughaneely managed to get their first score on the board when, relative newcomer to the senior squad, Eamonn McHugh, knocked over an excellent long range point in the 13th minute.
Shaun McGarvey subsequently converted two frees to bring the home-side within one point of St Naul’s. Having been kept scoreless for a period of 20 minutes St Naul’s had to work hard to earn their first point from play in the 19th minute thanks to Cathal Lowther.
[adrotate group=”45″]Cloughaneely finished the half strongly with a couple of great points from Cillian Gallagher and two points from substitute Shaun McGuire. There was a slight discrepancy on the half-time score as St Naul’s were noted to have one extra point and Cloughaneely deducted one point.
The correct score was Cloughaneely 0-7 St Naul’s 1-2
With little between the teams it made for a tough battle throughout the second half. John Fitzgerald knocked over his first point of the day in the 32nd minute for Cloughaneely.
[adrotate group=”82″]However, a converted Stephen Griffin free followed in quick response. Despite the tough Naul’s defence Cloughaneely managed to pull further away as a result of points from Cillian Gallagher and Darren McGeever.
Cloughaneely caused further damage in the 39th minute when Cillian Gallagher placed the ball perfectly for John Fitzgerald to register Cloughaneely’s opening goal of the game. Darren Ferry then immediately added another point to the hosts’ tally.
St Naul’s continued strongly and were rewarded for their persistence in the 42nd minute when a well placed ball from Stephen Griffin found John Rose who added a second goal to the St Naul’s total, which was subsequently backed up by another Griffin point and point from John Rose.
[adrotate group=”74″]Cloughaneely managed to maintain their lead with points from Darren McGeever and Fitzgerald (31 min). An injury time goal from Lee O’Brien secured the win for the home-side.
Cloughaneely: Ciaran Gallagher, Martin Ferry, Paul McFadden, John Harley, Paddy Cannon, Eamonn McHugh (0-1), Ciaran McGeady, Kevin Mulhern , Michael McCausland, Cillian Gallagher (0-3), Darren Ferry (0-1), John McGarvey, Eugene McGuire, Shaun McGarvey (0-2, 2f), John Fitzgerald (1-2) Subs: Shaun McGuire (0-2) for Shaun McGarvey (28); Darren McGeever (0-2) for Martin Ferry (half-time), Lee O’Brien (1-0) for Eugene McGuire (37), Ciaran McFadden Snr for Michael Causland (Black card, 48).
St Naul’s: Patrick Burke, Conor McBrearty, Brendan McCole, Martin Breslin, Edward Kane, Aidan Kennedy, Andrew Gallagher, Lee McBrearty, Des McGroarty, Stephen Griffin (0-3, 2f), Cathal Lowther (0-1), John Rose (1-1) , Brian McCale, Shaun Griffin (1-0), Shane Conneely. Subs: Barry Rose for Edward Kane (HT), Andrew Gallagher
Tags: