Cormac McKeown who’s drive and firepower from mid-field paved the way for a Con Magee’s win over Creggan in the Feile Shield on Sunday.
South West Feile Shield quarter-final
Creggan 2-5 Glenravel 5-7
Having lost to Glenavy after extra time in the Feile last week Con Magee’s made the journey to Creggan determined to make their way to the Shield semi-final. Kickham’s had suffered quite a hammering at the hands of a splendid Aldergrove side and weren’t expected to provide much of a challenge but nothing could have been further from the truth.
Indeed the home side played a big part in making this a very entertaining contest and produced some excellent passages of play but it was the overall skill and fire power of the visitors who carried the day in the end.
The visitors opened strongly with Cormac McKeown pointing a second minute free then adding another from play.The Con Magee’s continued to press and a good move saw John Mitchell fire to the net to put them in control.
Creggan gradually settled and in their first meaningful attack Ryan O’Neill fired to the net to put them right back into the contest. The visitors responded however to take control with Cormac McKeown, Michael Quinn and John Mitchell adding further goal to put them in a commanding position at the interval when they led 4-4 to 1-2.
Paul McNally, who had a good game in goals for Creggan comes out to make a timely clearance.
After the break Creggan opened strongly scoring the first three points of the half and a come-back looked possible with Conall McCann, Oisin McAteer and Callum McCann all on target. The visitors tried to respond and Paul McNally in the Creggan goals brought off a great save to deny John Mitchell.
Slowly though the visitors wrestled back control with Cormac McKeown and Ruairi McCormack driving them on from midfield and an Eamon Ward goal put the contest out of reach of the home side. The young Kickham’s never gave up however with Oisin McAteer getting a second goal and Daniel Montgomery pulling off a good save to deny Conall McCann.
A good game of football played in an excellent spirit and it was refreshing to see mentors from both sides encouraging their players when they made mistakes.
Creggan: Paul McNally, Aodhan McEldowney, Emmet McElwee, Enda McLarnon, Tristan McCann, Caolan Hughes, Kevin Robb, Finn Bradley, Joseph Quinn, Paedar McGuckin, Oisin McAteer, Callum McCann, Fintan Close, Ryan O’Neill, Conall McCann, John Paul O’Neill
Glenravel: Daniel Montgomery, Eamon Carey, Caolan Lennon, Adam McAuley, Cathan Graham, Eamon Carey, Conor Duffin, Cormac McKeown, Ruairi McCormack, Eamon Ward, Conor Laverty, Fergus Donaghy, Liam Young, Michael Quinn, John Mitchell, Fionntan Hodgson
Referee: Michael Hardy (Rasharkin)