Super Saul blow away Clonduff

Super Saul blow away Clonduff

4 June 2025

SAUL arrived at Clonduff in search of their first win, as the hosts looked to firm up their third-place position in league. 

Clonduff got off the mark with an early free awarded, which was coolly converted by Arthur McConville. 

The visitors responded five minutes into the game, with Philip Doran converting a free from the right sideline. 

The home side’s second point came from another free, when Cathal Kinsella was penalised for a tackle on Patrick O’Hagan, who took his point. 

Saul quickly played the ball out, with Ciaràn Harney and Gary Murdock’s link-up play leading to a great two-pointer from Doran.

Clonduff’s hit back as McConville scored from play and Senàn Carr lost his marker to easily tap over the bar.

Harney opened his account in the 10th minute, clipping a close-range free over the bar and from there, the game really opened up. 

Saul intercepted the Clonduff kick-out and as James Mahoney went through on goal, he picked out Conor Powderly for the opening goal of the evening.

Clonduff’s Will Kelly scored two points in quick succession, both from frees, before Harney added to his tally two minutes before half-time.

Rory Mullen got up well to claim possession from the Clonduff kick-out and hooked a pass over to Doran, who cut the ball back across goal for Murdock to smash home.

Carr converted the final point of the half, as Saul went into the break with a 2-5 to 0-8 advantage.

It was a big second half for Saul, and they started it off well, as Doran took an early point from play. 

Five minutes into the second half, a tackle on Ronan Connor was brought up by the referee and it was Harney who secured the point. 

It took eight minutes for Clonduff to get back into the scoring rhythm, with McConville getting an outstanding two-pointer. 

Saul responded when Doran broke down the left, left his marker, Callum Green, on the platform and laid the ball off to Mahoney, who was there to finish with a goal.

Clonduff replied to the goal with quick kick-out, from which Jayme Gribben fed McConville another two-point score. 

It was proving to be a great second half and the fourth goal of the game came in the 43rd minute, when Doran played a high ball, after a great one-two with Darragh Higgins, and Kinsella applied the fishing touch. 

Clonduff brought Darren O’Hagan into the game and he immediately made an impact, scoring a pair of two-pointers in three minutes. 

With seven minutes remaining, Saul held a two-point, but it was halved when McConville scored a close free. 

Harney restored the two-point margin with a free, only for Darren O’Hagan and Conor Og O’Hagan to level the scoring. 

Saul got an advantage 

with another Harney point, however, Patrick O’Hagan squared the game with a minute left to play.

The kick-out led to one final attack for Saul and although there appeared to be a push in the back of Doran, the referee signalled full-time and the game ended in a draw. 

Saul will be disappointed not to leave with victory, while Clonduff were relieved to get a point out of the game.

Saul: J Hazard, C Kinsella, J Fitzsimons, J Magilton, P Doran, L Harney, R Mullen, C Powderly, J Johnston, R Connor, J Mahoney, J Hayes, G Murdock, R Connolly, L Carew. Subs: D Higgins, L Cunningham, C Laverty, R Gilchrist, M Connor.

Clonduff: C Carr, S Close, C Green, S Carr, B Britton, C Brannigan, E Gribben, J Gribben, W Kelly, A McConville, P O’Hagan, G Carvill, T Close, M Devlin, J Brown. Subs: D O’Hagan, L Sweeney, C O’Hagan, S McConville, T Smith.