Under-21 B Championship (Qtr final)
Tir na nOg 1-10 Creggan Kickham’s 0-10 (aet)
A Jack O’ Mahoney goal despatched in the second period of extra time proved the difference as Tir na nOg upset the odds to progress into the last four in the under-21 B championship at the expense of their near neighbours Kickham’s Creggan at a muddy Whitehill on Sunday.
The Randalstown side entered the fray as the outsiders in this local derby but obviously well prepared for the occasion they started on the positive and were never headed throughout.
The home side enjoyed a two point advantage at the end of the opening period and dominating the central zone with the rear guard coping well with the threat posed by the Creggan front men, they seemed comfortable.
The second half continued in the same mode with the home side leading the way and a superb finish by corner forward Darren Wright in the 48th minute edged Damien ‘Scotchy’ O’Hagan’s men 0-08 to 0-04 ahead and Tir na nOg looked bound for the semi-finals.
Creggan were far from finished however and began to get to grips at mid-field where John McCann was now operating following a direct switch with Conor Small and they started to reel in the Tir na nOg lead.
Small, who looked more at home in the full forward berth, sent a close range free between the posts just into time added and it was at level pegging, 0-08 apiece at the long blast with ‘extra time’ to follow.
The extra twenty minutes began like the opening period with a Ciaran Dobbin point which was all that divided the sides at the end of the first half.
Creggan drew level again shortly into the second ten minutes but the Blues hit back with a slick approach and an even more impressive finish with corner forward Jack O’ Mahoney finding the net to send the Whitehill men through to the semi-final
It took the near neighbours a time to get going on the Whitehill terrain which was less than ideal with the heavy overnight rain taking toll on the surface, and it was left to the nimble Ciaran Dobbin to get the scoring show on the road as he raised the opening white in favour of the Whitehill Blues in the 15th minute.
Both sides in turn had missed opportunities before a well claimed Sean Duffin fetch sent the more than lively centre forward away to raise white. Aaron Mc Neilly who was another to impress was just wide of the target shortly afterwards following a strong solo run as he attempted to edge his side further ahead.
The man in the middle had to look to his notebook shortly after the opening score as an altercation on the sideline concluded when one from each team saw red. A sensible decision by the match official to see order restored, and indeed the Rasharkin based whistler had a good game in conditions far from ideal.
Creggan first score arrived in the 20th minute as Conor Small sent a 30 metre free between the posts but a foul on the incoming Ciaran Dobbin saw him reply from the resulting free to make it 0-02 to 0-01.
The visitors were on level terms again when centre forward Tiernan McAteer took a cross field delivery from Liam Quinn to send over and there was little between the sides at this stage.
The home side were coping well with conditions and after Ciaran Dobbin split the posts for the third time the Mc Cormick brothers, Darren and Barry combined with Dobbin to set up Michael Tolan and he fired between the uprights to see the Whitehill men gain a two point lead.
Creggan replied and a foul on the high fielding John McCann opened the way for Conor Small to split the posts and reduce the deficit to the minimum by the 28th minute.
The home side finished strongly and a strong run by Aaron McNeilly saw him effortlessly cover 60 metres before sending over the bar to see the Whitehill side take respite holding a 0-05 to 0-03 advantage.
The second period started like the first with no employment given to the scoreboard attendant until the 40th minute.
Both sides had come close before Dara Feagan split the posts following an eye catching interception by Barry McCormick to send Tir na nOg on their way again.
An S P McAtamney’s clearance then set up another home attack as Aaron McNeilly, and Michael Tolan combined to set up Ciaran Dobbin who sent over to extend his side’s lead.
The Randalstown boys were at 0-07 to 0-03 and although a superb long range point by Creggan’s John McCann which followed in the 45th minute saw the gap narrowed a quick reply by the flame haired Darren Wright restored the four point cushion.
The upset looked on as the game progressed to the latter stages but Creggan were far from finished and as the home side attempted to run down the clock with a dangerous ‘keep ball policy’ they were to be caught napping.
Conor Small now in front line duty split the posts in the 51st minute and when John Mc Cann gathered a poor clearance a couple of minutes later to follow suit only a couple of points separated the sides.
The Whitehill boys were fighting desperately to hold on but they looked semi-final bound when net-minder S Paul McAtamney stood tall to deny Tiernan McAteer in the 58th minute.
The Staffordstown Road side were not to be denied however and after Aaron Harbinson gathered a poor clearance to send over the bar in the 59th minute, Conor Small punished an over carrying offence to add another in time added on and the Kickham’s men had come from away off the pace to draw level with twenty minutes extra time required to determine the outcome.
Both the sides were back to their full quota of fifteen as Conor Fitzgerald entered the fray as replacement for the home side and Creggan recalled to duty the previously black carded Tiernan McAteer.
Tir na Nog were first away as replacement Ciaran Fitzgerald sent the ever willing and available Ciaran Dobbin in for a 62nd minute point and although the Creggan men created openings they were unable to reply by the end of the first ten minutes.
The visitors drew level within minutes of the restart as John McCann grabbed another fine score as he split the posts from long range.
A draw looked a distinct possibility at this stage but the Whitehill boys had other ideas and a combination involving Darren Mc Cormick and Ciaran Dobbin opened the way for replacement Ciaran Fitzgerald to raise white in the 73rd minute to add impetus to the men in blue and white. The Randalstown men were now on top and were intent on crossing the winning line.
The redoubtable Aaron Mc Neilly was just wide of the target after another gut busting approach, and Ciaran Dobbin was off target a minute later as they tried to drive home their advantage.
Creggan tried to move forward in search of a score and a reply but the home side stood strong in defence as Declan Mallon, who had played a leading role in a man marking role on Liam Quinn, intervened to claim the leather.
The corner man’s clearance was good and when the ball was moved to Ciaran Dobbin on the right hand side to cross to the incoming Jack O’ Mahoney, the corner forward fired into the top corner to put his side four ahead with time almost up.
Creggan fought to the final whistle but the Whitehill side were in no mood to concede and a late Liam Quinn point proved to be only a consolation score with the long blast signalling a place in the under-21 B semi-final for Tir na Nog, 1-10 to 0-10 winners.
Referee Karol Doherty (St Mary’s Rasharkin)
Tir na Nog: S P Mc Atamney, Declan Mallon, Dermot Martin, Emmett Martin, Barry Mc Cormick, Darren Mc Cormick, Aaron Mc Neilly (0-01), Dara Feagan (0-01), Sean Duffin, Aidan Tolan, Ciaran Dobbin (0-05), Mark Tolan (0-01), Darren Wright (0-01), Ronan O’ Neill, Jack O’ Mahoney (1-00).
Subs:
Ciaran Fitzgerald (1-01) for A Tolan
Daniel Hastings for D Mallon (black card)
Stephen Carey for D Feagan
Creggan: Tom Johnston, Malachy Mc Ivor, Declan Carey, John Mc Auley, Jake Mc Ateer, Jamie Mc Cann, Ciaran Mc Ateer, Conor Small (0-04), Kevin Small, Eunan Mc Ateer, Tiernan Mc Ateer (0-01), Aaron Harbinson (0-01), Liam Quinn (0-01), John Mc Cann (0-03), Matthew Rogers.
Subs: Mark Mulholland for T Mc Ateer
Tiernan Mc Ateer for C Mc Ateer
Referee: Karol Doherty (Rasharkin)
PHOTOGRAPHS: EUNAN MC ATEER