Photographs & Report: Joe Rice
O’Neill’s ACHL Division 3
Creggan 2-12 Carey 0-20
Creggan’s keeper, Emmett Long was shown Red late in this very competitive division 3 hurling league meeting as Carey picked up two very useful points in a tight contest on the Staffordstown Road on Wednesday night to keep their promotion hopes alive.
Carey arrived at Paric Ciceam with the man power, fire power and determination, to seek revenge for their defeat in the intermediate final in 2015 and improve their fading chances of promotion. In a keenly contested contest they did just that while putting a dent in Creggan’s promotion hopes.
Carey’s Patrick Gillan pointed within seconds of referee Francis Traynor throwing the ball in and from then on they were always in front, at one stage 6 points ahead.
Creggan, had several early missed attempts from frees and from play and it was almost ten minutes before Oran McCann got their first point. This was met by two further points from Patrick Gilllan and two from Martin Hunter. Creggan responded with a point from Conor McCann from play to leave the visitors leading by 3 points with twenty minutes gone.
With 7 minutes remaining to the break Carey increased their lead with two further points from play, one apiece from Sean McLoughlin and Sean McBride, to go five up as they went up through the gears. Creggan finally found a response, hitting a purple patch as they scored 5 points in as many minutes with Jake McAateer, 0.01,Teddy Mckeown, 0.01, Sam Maguire 0.01 and Conor McCann 0.02 the men on target.
As the home side appeared to be getting on top, Carey responded with five of their own as Martin Hunter 0.01,Conor McBride 0.02,Daniel McBride 0.01 and Sean McLoughlin 0.01 split the posts to leave them leading by four at the break
Half-time Creggan, 0.08 ,Carey 0.12
The Glens Men got proceedings under way in the second half with an early point from Conor McBride before Creggan hit back with a point from Conor McCann but for the next 6 minutes it was all Carey and points from, Conor McBride 0.03, John McBride 0.02 and Daniel McBride 0.01 edged them 10 ahead.
As the match was slipping away from the South West side they were awarded a 20 meter free and when Conor McCann stepped up there was only one thing on his mind and he hammered the sliotar to the back of the net.
Play was now flowing end to end with points exchanged but the North Antrim men held the upper hand as they still led by four going into the closing stages. The Kickham’s were handed another lifeline however as Conor McCann was dragged down in the square as he bore down on goal.
Referee Francis Traynor pointed to the penalty spot and up stepped McCann to make no mistake and leave the minimum between the sides. In a nail biting finish Conor McBride bagged the next point for Carey while Conor McCann got his teams last score of the match, with the last puck of the game to leave Carey victorious by two points.
Carey will be delighted with the two points, and are now third in the league, two behind Creggan in second and four behind leaders Ahoghill who recorded a big win away to Gort ha Mona on the same night. Creggan travel to Cloney on Sunday and will be hoping to put this reverse behind them in what looks like the match of the day while Carey have St. Paul’s as visitors.
CREGGAN: Emmett Long, Enda Maguire, Donal Carey, Dannan O‘Hara, Ciaran Rice, Kevin Small, Jake McAteer 0.01,Keelan McCann, Dermot Carey, Teddy McKeown 0,01, Nial McAuley, Oran McCann 0.01, Conor McCann,2.08, Mick Maguire, Sam Maguire 0.01
Peter Graham for Ciaran Rice. injured
CAREY: Cristopher Butler, Eoin Hill, Sean McBride, Zach McCaughey, Michael McVeigh, Shea Hunter, James McCouaig, Daniel McBride 0.02, Caolan McCaughan, Sean Mcloughlin 0.02, John McBride 0.01, Conor M cBride 0.07, Patrick Gillan 0.06, Martin Hunter 0.03, Fiachra McVeigh
Referee: Francis Traynor (Loughgiel)