Ahane’s Junior A team travelled to Na Piarsaigh to take on Claughaun this evening in the third round of the Woodlands House Hotel Junior A County Championship. Having suffered a heavy defeat to Crecora Manister last weekend Ahane were looking to redeem themselves and restore the pride in the jersey. As has been the case with all the games over the weekend the warm conditions made it difficult for players but in fairness to both teams they played out a good game of hurling.

Claughaun hit the ground running and scored 1-02 in the first 5 minutes. Ahane were a little shell shocked at the quick start but never let the heads drop and defended well under the pressure of the Claughaun forwards. Ahane were anchored at the back by their captain Mike Hayes who had a good game throughout. However Claughaun continued to take their scoring chances and at the first water break the score was Ahane 0-00 Claughaun 1-06.

Ahane stepped it up a few gears after the water break and suddenly hit a purple patch where they got points from Kevin Morrissey, Johnny Meskell, Paul O’Connor, Andrew Shanahan, and Tom Doheny. It was in the 25th minute that Ahane managed to break through on goal and the ball landed with Andrew Minehan who dutifully rifled it into the back of the Claughaun net much to the delight of the Ahane crowd in attendance. Claughaun scored their 7th point of the game in the 29th minute of the half but not two minutes later Johnny stepped over a placed ball and popped it over the bar. Just before the referee blew the half time whistle Paul scored another point to add to his tally for the day. At half time the score board read Ahane 1-07 Claughaun 1-08.

The second half started and conditions remained warm. Again Claughaun were the quicker to start and they got 2 unanswered points. In the 4th minute of the half Macauley Murtagh got on a ball and managed to strike it to the back of Jonathan Hayes’ goal. Claughaun pushed on and widened the gap to seven despite missing two 65’s minutes after each other. For the next number of minutes Claughaun remained in control of the game and they pushed the gap to nine. In fairness to the Ahane lads they worked hard around the middle of the field with Paul O’Connor, Johnny Meskell and Shane Hackett working well and trying to deliver ball into the Ahane forwards. Johnny got Ahane’s first score of the half in the 13th minute and the score at the second water break was Ahane 1-08 Claughaun 2-15. Claughaun continued to put serious pressure on the 6 Ahane backs and they were denied a sure goal by a fantastic save from Jonathan in the Ahane goal. From that Conor Morrissey got a point and Ahane were back to being 9 points down. Paul launched a high ball into the Ahane full forward line in the 29th minute and full forward James Hayes plucked it from the sky and buried it into the Claughaun net brining the gap back to 6. Peter Donohoe then tagged on another point and brought it back to 5 however Claughaun got the last score of the game and the score at the full time whistle was Ahane 2-10 Claughaun 2-16.

A serious comeback in the first half and then again in the second half by the Ahane lads who just ran out of time in the end.

Ahane Team: J. Hayes; A. Carroll, M. Hayes ( C ), M. Fox, S. Hackett, S. Richardson, C. Hefnernan; P. O’Grady, J. Meskell; A. Shanahan, D. McCarthy, T. Doheny, K. Morrissey, A. Minehan, P. O’Connor

Substitutes: W. O’Leary, C. Morrissey (for P. O’Grady ½ time), P. Minehan, P. Donohoe (For T. Doheny 2nd ½), J. Hayes (for K. Morrissey 2nd ½), L. O’Sullivan, J. McGuire, J. Barry (for A. Minehan 2nd ½), M. Hickey (for M. Fox 2nd½)