Laverty Cup (Qtr Final)
Erin’s own Cargin 1-10 Kickham’s Creggan 1-06
Cargin made progress into the semi-final of the Laverty Cup when a strong opening period performance proved the platform for an eventual win.
The Toome lads had the assistance of the brisk breeze on their backs in the first period and with Pat Shivers and Paudie Mc Laughlin dominant in the central zone, they had a useful, if not substantial 0-08 to 0-03 lead by the end of the first thirty minutes.
The Erin’s own lads did add further supplement to their lead shortly into the start of the second half when a well laid counterattack progressing through a number of hands concluded with a Sean Og O’ Neill delivery opening the way for the strong running Paudie Mc Laughlin to finish to the net.
The visitors with the assistance of the elements worked hard to reduce the deficit but they struggled to penetrate a stout home defence in which the Johnston brothers, Orrin and Malachai, and Ruairi Mc Cann caught the eye. Late in the game Eunan McAteer strode forward to deliver a 56th minute penalty to the back of the net and reduce the deficit to a handful of points but that was to be as close as they were to get.
Cargin were quick to make use of the strong breeze as the home side played hosts to their near neighbours and keenest rivals from Creggan in a quarter final pairing in the Laverty cup.
Ronan Gribbin had the ball between the sticks after Pat Shivers claimed the opening throw in to send the centre forward on his way to open his side’s account.
Creggan were quick to follow suit as Dominic Mc Ateer defied the elements as he despatched a 40 metre free kick directly between the posts following a foul on the advancing Morgan Nelson.
The home side were not to linger abreast with their visitors for long however as Pat Shivers sent over back to back frees awarded for infringements committed on Paudie Mc Laughlin and Ronan Gribbin respectively, in the 4th and 5th minutes.
Although the home side were dominant in possession they were not foot perfect in advance with misplaced passing a problem at times but they had moved half dozen points ahead by the 20th minute,
Shay Bovill was on hand to punish a 13th minute indiscretion on Sean og O’ Neill as he sent the award directly between the posts and when Eunan Quinn was similarly man handled a minute later the former fully punished the indiscretion as he added another point.
Pat Shivers made it 0-06 to 0-01 in the 19th minute after Eunan Quinn claimed the leather to send the mid-fielder on his way and when Sean Og O’ Neill received from Ben Dobbin to send Pat Shivers in for another point the home side looked in control.
The Creggan lads having struggled to gain access, and hampered by the strong breeze in the opening phase broke away in the 25th minute as Dominic Mc Ateer came wide on the right to claim a Morgan Nelson delivery and transfer between the Cargin posts.
The home side were quick to return fire after full back Odhran Lynn made timely interception and clearance to send Ronan Gribbin racing away on the left hand side to add a point but it was to be the visitors who were to have the last say in the opening period as ace marksman Dominic Mc Ateer added a third point.
Joe Mc Ateer had been halted in motion on his way up the right hand side and the resultant free was sent over the black spot but Cargin still had a 0-08 to 0-03 advantage at the short blast.
The Toome lads started the second half facing the breeze but despite this they were quickly into stride and an opening minute strike as Paudie Mc Laughlin delivered to the back of the net much aided the cause.
An Odhran Lynn interception had halted a Creggan advance to initiate a slick counter which concluded when Sean og O’ Neill collected on the right hand side to deliver a pint point delivery to the incoming Paudie Mc Laughlin to finish to the net.
Cargin were now in a strong position with a 1-08 to 0-03 lead and although the ever accurate Dominic Mc Ateer added a point to the Creggan total as play quickly returned to the other end a couple of minutes later further white flags raised by Shay Bovill and an excellent Ruairi Mc Cann effort saw the home side at 1-10 to 0-04 and residing in a good place at the 44th minute.
The home side came close to adding a second goal in the 46th minute but Malachai Johnston’s attempt when he made approach from the right wing came off the post.
The die looked cast as the quarter final tie entered the last ten minutes but although the Kickham’s side looked beaten they were certainly in no mood to ‘cry enough’ and back to back Dominic Mc Ateer points raised their hopes.
Cargin looked like thy had done enough but they were halted in their tracks as a lofted Dermot Mulholland delivery was seized by Lee Martin inside the Cargin square and when the big man was hauled to the turf a penalty was the decision.
Eunan Mc Ateer stepped forward to send the award firmly to the net but time was not to be a friend of the visitors as the long blast followed within seconds to the relief of the home contingent as Cargin crossed the winning line at 1-10 to 1-06 to proceed to the semi-final.
Cargin: Odhran Molloy, Sean Og Quinn, Odhran Lynn, Orrin Johnston, Malachai Johnston, Mark Keegan, Ruairi Mc Cann (0-01), Pat Shivers (0-02), Paudie Mc Laughlin (1-00), Eunan Quinn, Ruairi Gribbin (0-02), Brian Dobbin, Sean Mc Auley, Shay Bovill (0-04), Sean Og Mc Cann
Subs
Conor Kelly for B Dobbin
Creggan: Joel Dudley, Rory Mc Veigh, Aaron Hughes, Peter Mc Ginley, Oran Hampsey, Eunan Mc Ateer (1-00), Conor Magee, Lee Martin, Dermot Mulholland, Joe Mc Ateer, Morgan Nelson, Sean Duffin, Ethan Carey-Small, Dominic Mc Ateer (0-05), Aaron Harbinson
Referee John Moran (St James Aldergrove)