An Riocht Gac Club Notes
April 23, 2012By Andrew Magorrian
* An Riocht Senior footballers faced Kilclief on Friday evening at Dunavil in a closely contested encounter which saw the home team come out eventual winners. John Clarke opened the scoring with a well taken point before Owen Curran registered Kilcliefs first score of the game from a placed ball. Rory Cunningham again put An Riocht infront but Ciaran Sloan pointed another free to level things up. Chris Killen and Owen Curran traded scored free kicks before Sloan added one more from play. Two superbly taken Chris Killen frees and another great John Clarke score from play brought the half to a close, An Riocht 0-06 Kilclief 0-04.
An Riocht started the second half the brighter, with points from Liam McVeigh and another Killen free, they stretched there lead to 4 points, but then came the Kilclief comeback! They seemed hungrier for possession and that paid off as Conor Sloan finished off a great team move with a neat finish past Brendan McVeigh in the An Riocht net. Kilclief continued to pour men forward and three more unanswered points from Donnan Richie, Conor Sloan, and Owen Curran increased the pressure on the home team. Chris Killen (two frees) brought the game level before another fantastic piece of attacking play from Sean Clarke, running from his own full back line, evading tackles, played a few one twos and slotted the ball over the ball. An Riocht were now in the ascendancy and were starting to get a few breaking balls round the midfield area, and passes were finally finding their intended targets. In-form Chris Killen scored another free kick, before half back Michael Trainor stuck over a great point from distance to put An Riocht three points up with time almost up. Kilclief put pressure on the An Riocht, but they defence stood firm and some courageous defending from the classy Liam McVeigh and veteran Deaglan O'Reilly seen An Riocht out winners, 0-13 to 1-07
An Riocht had strong performances from Liam McVeigh and Deaglan O'Rielly at the back, Paddy Gartland won a lot of breaking ball around the middle and once again, Chris Killen free taking was impeccable.
An Riocht Team: Brendan McVeigh, Michael Clarke, Deaglan O'Reilly, Sean Clarke, Michael Trainor, Liam McVeigh, Conor Doyle, Paul Murney, John Clarke, Paddy Gartland, Chris Killen, Rory Cunningham, Conor Cole, Ronan McAlinden, Kieran McVeigh Subs used: Jerry Lee Cordell Nathan Mc Comiskey
* The Senior Reserves faced Castlewellan on Wednesday past in a match that turned into a real goal fest. Aidan McVeigh stood out for An Riocht in the first half, scoring 1-01 and could also had a second goal but could keep his footing in the box. Castlewellan's pace upfront was causing serious damage and four first half goals put Castlewellan in a commanding position. An Riocht tried tirelessly in the second half but misplaced passing was happening all to often and Castlewellan were picking off scores with ease. Conor Cole moved from midfield to full forward and it proved a smart change as he scored 1-02 to add to two pointed free's earlier in the game. Just as the Kingdom looked to be gathering some momentum Castlewellan hit three more goals in quick succession to kill any hopes of a Kingdom comeback. Jerry-Lee Cordell netted the final goal of the game, before Gavin Finnegan pointed as the final whistle sounded. Castlewellan 7-16 An Riocht 3-11 An Riocht Team: B Allen, J McCartan, M Clarke, R Clarke, S Sloan, A O'Hanlon, S McVeigh, D White, C Cole, R White, K McVeigh, P Gartland, A McVeigh, J Cordell, M White. Subs: G Keenan, C Cunningham, P Cordell, G Finnegan
Then on Sunday afternoon, An Riocht hosted Mayobridge. And again were on the losing side of the result with a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-05, with Conor Cole (1-03) & Rory Cunningham (0-02) doing the scoring for An Riocht. An Riocht Team: B Allen, J Cordell, M Clarke, R Clarke, S McVeigh, A O'Hanlon, C Cunningham, G Keenan, C Cole, S Sloan, P Cordell, R Cunningham, S Clrake, J McCartan, M White. Subs: B Rodgers, D Clarke, D Flanagan, G Finnegan
* The U16 footballers played Bryansford on Thursday evening in what proved to be a tightly contested match. An Riocht raced into a three-nil lead with scores from Ronan White, Deaglan Morgan and a Michael O'Rourke free kick before two great points from Peter Brannigan either side of a smart Steven Doran save and one from Cormac O'Hagan tied the game up. John Paul Farrell charged through the middle to slot over before O'Hagan tapped over and Callum McDonald point to leave it Bryansford 0-05 An Riocht 0-04 at the break.
An Riocht started the second half well and drew the game level in the thirty-fourth minute when John Paul Farrell point well again. From the resulting kickout Bryansford broke at pace and it took a great diving save from Steven Doran in the AN Riocht goals to prevent the 'Ford going three points clear. The inform Peter Brannigan pointed well before Michael O'Rourke and Jack Walker added scores for the visitors. Corey Laverty pointed well before Conor Clarke ran from his own full back line and kicked a super score. Thomas McKibben and Peter Brannigan put the 'Ford one point up with time nearly up. Just as it looked like An Riocht were to be consigned to their first league defeat of the season, Captain Nathan McComiskey grabbed the team by the scruff off the neck, ran from midfield, turned smartly and stuck the ball over the bar just as the final whistle sounded to salvage a draw for An Riocht. Final score: An Riocht 0-09 Bryansford 0-09.
Best for An Riocht were Steven Doran, who was confident under the high ball and made two great saves. Conor Clarke and Stephen McDowell excelled in defence while at, Jack Walker and John Paul Farrell tried had to win the midfield battle and upfront Ronan White was in wirey form.
An Riocht Team: Steven Doran, Andrew Harper, Kory Colgan, Conor Clarke, Ben Rafferty, Nathan McComiskey, Stephen McDowell, Jack Walker, John Paul Farrell, Deaglan Morgan, Ronan White, Steven Flood, Aaron Eastwood, Michael O'Rourke, Darragh Campbell. Subs: Marc Rooney, Joe McCulla, Liam Rodgers
* The U14 Footballers took on Glenn on Thursday on a bitterly cold and rainy night, but emerged victorious in a high scoring encounter. An Riocht had the better of the first half but would have found them self behind if not for the effort of goalkeeper Thomas Sloan, who made 4 top drawer save in the opening stages of the game. Points from Liam Rodgers and Paddy McComiskey and goals from Jack Rafferty & Corey McCormack gave An Riocht a 2-02 to 0-04 halftime lead.
An Riocht turned on the style in the second half with goals from Jack Rafferty (3), Ronan Campbell, Corey McCormack, Liam Rodgers, and points from Caomhan Campbell, Marc Rooney, Jack Rafferty (2) and Dane Matthews, saw An Riocht run out easy winners. Final Score - An Riocht 8-08 Glenn 2-7
An Riocht Team: Thomas Sloan, Michael Harper, Daniel Hardy, Shane Cunningham, Conal Baldwin, Jack Rafferty, Liam Rodgers, Conor Small, Corey McCormack, Dane Matthews, Ronan Campbell, Paddy McComiskey, Marc Rooney. Subs: Caomhan Campbell, Phillip Curran, Eoin Sloan
The U14 Camogie team travelled to Liatriom on Tuesday evening. The girls were out classed by a strong Liatriom side, but to the girls credit they played their best, and Beth Colgan in the An Riocht net kept who the score down, the score did not refelct the fight the girls put in. Final Score An Riocht 0-00 Liatriom 10-04 Up next for the girls is Ballyholland at Dunavil on Tuesday 8th May.
* An Riocht Slieve Donard Challenge in Association with PIPS will take place on Sun 6thMay. Registration is £5, includes Bbq & Drink. To register contact Tara on 07921829544
* Thanks to all who helped out and supported the 'Healthy Breakfast' on Saturday morning.
Tuesday 24th U16 Camogie Home v Ben Dearg & U18 Football Away v Bryansford
Thursday 26th U16 Football Home v Carryduff
Friday 27th Senior Football Away v Loughinisland
Saturday 28th Ulster Camogie Feile at Dunavil & U8 Football Blitz in Atticall.
Sunday 29 U12 Football in Mitchels & Seconds Football in Clonduff.
Monday 30 April Senior Camogie in Bredagh & Senior Football v Rostrevor at Dunavil
Tuesday 1st May U16 Camogie in Castlewellan & U18 Football v Carryduff at Dunavil. Executive Committee meeting. Tweet
