Cloughaneely eke out narrow home win over Milford

Michéal McHugh kicked a late winner for Cloich Cheann Fhaola as they sneaked the points in Division 2 against neighbours Milford at Páirc Naomh Fionán.

The one-point win means Cloich Cheann Fhaola edge away from the relegation zone, although will need to keep their eyes on the ball for another week or two, while a top three spot now looks like a bridge too far for Milford.

It was the visitors who began the scoring with a point from Cathal McGettigan which was quickly answered by a Darren McGeever point for the home side. Both sides exchanged scores for a period then with Kyle Black and Kane Barrett scoring a point each from play for Milford while Donnachadh Ó Baoighill and Shaun McClafferty scored a point each from a free kick and a 45 respectively for Cloich Cheann Fhaola.

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A free taken by Ó Baoighill edged the home side ahead and he soon followed with a goal leaving them 4 points clear for a period and a point from Christopher Barrett maximised that lead. Milford finished the first half strong with Cathal McGettigan scoring 1-3 and a Kane Barrett point gave Milford a one point lead at half time.

Cathal McGettigan added to that lead with a point from a 45 at the start of the second half but it was Cloich Cheann Fhaola who really kicked on during this period with points coming from Shaun Curran and Patrick Doohan while Ó Baoighill picked up another two points. Milford were left scoreless during this 10 minute period until McGettigan posted another point for the visitors which was quickly answered by a point from John Fitzgerald who made a return for Cloich Cheann Fhaola after a long term injury.

Shea McBride reduced Cloich Cheann Fhaola's lead to one point but this was soon followed by the night's first and only two-pointer from Cathal McGettigan leaving Milford one point ahead with 8 minutes to go until the final whistle. The teams were neck on neck for the final period in the game with points coming from Donnachadh Ó Baoighill and John Fitzgerald for the home side and Kane Barrett answering for the visitors leaving the teams level in the dying minutes of the game and it was a point from midfielder, McHugh that ensured a win for the home side and the crucial two league points as they enter the final rounds of the league.

Cloich Cheann Fhaola scorers: Donnachadh Ó Baoighill 1-6, 6f; John Fitzgerald 0-2, f; Shaun McClafferty (0-1, 45; Darren McGeever,  Christopher Barrett, Shaun Curran, Patrick Doohan, Michéal Mc Hugh 0-1
Milford scorers: Cathal McGettigan 1-7, 0-4f 1 2pt, 0-1 45; Kane Barrett 0-4; Kyle Black and Shea McBride (0-1)

Cloich Cheann Fhaola: Shaun McClafferty, Remy Moran, Cian McFadden, Cormac Coyle, Seamus Doogan, Darren McGeever, Ciaran McGeady, Michéal McHugh, Conor Coyle, Shaun Curran, Donnachadh Ó Baoighill, Patrick Doohan, Pádraig Coyle, Shaun Maguire, Christopher Barrett. Subs: Carragher Friel for Barrett (37), John Fitzgerald for Doohan (40), Doohan for McGeady (56)
Milford: Killian Hagan, Anthony Curran, Peter Curran, Kyle Black, Patrick Ferry, Conor Coll, Gavin Reilly, Lorcan Friel, Eoghan O'Donnell, Rory O'Brien, Finn Coll, Cathal McGettigan, Peter McCleary, Kane Barrett, Shea McBride. Subs: Shaun Coffey for Ferry (41), Darragh Black for McCleary (43), Joey Cullen for McBride (55)
Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultán)