U21 Football Championship
Kickham’s Creggan 1-13 Casement’s Portglenone 1-13
Perhaps it’s the time of the year but the build up to this year’s U21 football championship hasn’t been greeted with unbridled enthusiasm but those who made the journey to Quinn Park on Saturday for the meeting of Kickham’s Creggan and Casement’s Portglenone must surely have changed their mind after witnessing this cracker of a contest.
Those present were entertained to an excellent game of football that had everything. Great scores, a penalty save, near misses and two teams who gave it everything in an excellent hour’s football. The Staffordstown Road side looked like they might have too much in the tank early on when they raced into a five point lead after 13 minutes but in the end would have been happy to gain a share of the points.
The game had several moments of drama, none more so than when Portglenone keeper, James McLarnon was shown a black card after bringing down Dominic McAteer at the expense of a penalty. McLarnon was replaced by Andrew Hasson and what an immediate impact the Rasharkin native made when he dived to his left to brilliantly turn away Conor Small’s penalty.
Portglenone looked to have done enough to win it as the clock counted down and the Casement’s leading by two points but Liam Quinn kicked two late frees to tie the contest and from the kick-out Karol Doherty sounded his full-time whistle.
It was Creggan who made the better start with Kevin Small ruling mid-field and Conor Small and Liam Quinn threatening to take the Portglenone defence apart early on as they raced into an early lead. Conor Small from a third minute free, Tiarnan McAteer and Liam Quinn (0-2) saw them race 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after 12 minutes, the Portglenone score coming from the impressive Michael Hagan.
Jamie McCann moved up field to increase the Creggan lead and Tiarnan McAteer shot just wide when well-placed as the Kickham’s threatened to run riot before Hagan responded with the Casement’s second point at the other end.
That score was immediately cancelled out by Conor Small but slowly the young Casement’s were starting to get a foothold in the game and Oisin Doherty fired over an excellent point in the 18th minute followed by another from Michael Hagan to lift their spirits.
Dominic McAteer and Eunan McAteer for Creggan and Michael Hagan 0-2 for the Ports exchanged further points as the game began to liven up and the Portglenone defence were now getting to grips with the Small and Quinn threat and making some excellent interceptions and turn overs.
The game was now being played at a fast pace with Tiarnan McAteer extending the Creggan lead but again Casement’s replied in style with Caolan Tierney and the impressive Oisin Doherty raising white and then Michael Hagan looked in for the game’s opening goal but after turning his marker his shot sailed just wide of the post.
The goal wasn’t long arriving however and after Tom Johnston failed to deal with a high inviting delivery he was robbed when attempting to clear with Fergal O’Kane flicking the ball to the net.
At this stage Creggan had lost impressive mid-fielder, Kevin Small who came down awkwardly after challenging for a high ball but they finished the half strongly with a Conor Small point and a somewhat fortune but well taken goal from Tiarnan McAteer.
James McLarnon in the Casement’s goal made an excellent stop to deny McAteer’s initial effort, pushing his shot onto the crossbar but the ball rebounded kindly to the number 11 and he drilled his first time ground shot to the corner of the net.
That left the half time score 1-10 to 0-10 in favour of Creggan and with the wind at their back for the second half they looked to be in the driver’s seat but Portglenone were now playing with a lot of confidence and purpose and didn’t look ready to throw in the towel.
It was Creggan who started the second half brightly but Conor Small had a goal bound effort saved by James McLarnon in the third minute with a defender in the right place to make a timely clearance.
Portglenone responded as they began to take the game to their opponents and they went on to dominate for long periods with Jack McAleese getting them on their way with a point in the sixth minute.
Michael Hagan added another from an 8th minute free before the incident at the other end which led to the penalty and the dismissal of James McLarnon to a black card. Andrew Hasson made a dream introduction with an excellent save from Conor Small’s penalty and his save seemed to lift his team.
Caolan Tierney levelled the contest with a point at the end of the third quarter and might have had a goal but opted to fist over after robbing Tom Johnston with young Oisin Doherty doing the initial spade work to create the opening.
Portglenone were now calling the shots, pressing high and creating a lot of turn over as Ronan Kelly edged them in front for the first time and Brian McGuigan announced his arrival with another in the 17th minute to put them two ahead.
Liam Quinn kept the Kickham’s in touch from a free with eight minutes remaining but when Ronan Kelly replied at the other end to again extend the Port’s lead to two in the 55th minute the Bann-siders looked to have claimed the day.
It’s never over till it’s over however and Liam Quinn, who had been kept relatively quiet by the Portglenone defence became the Creggan hero after Andrew Hasson superbly tipped away a Conor Small goal-bound effort at the expense of a ‘45’.
Quinn directed the resulting ‘45’ between the uprights and with time almost up he was fouled to the right of goal and After picking himself up of the ground he sent the resulting free over the bar to tie the contest and earn his side an unlikely draw.
Kickham’s Creggan: Tom Johnston, Ciaran Rice, John McAuley, Donal Carey, Jamie McCann, Jake McAteer, Kealan McCann, Kevin Small, Eunan McAteer, Tiarnan McAteer, Niall McAuley, Liam Quinn, Conor Small, Dominic McAteer. Subs: Brian McGurk for Kevin Small
Caement’s: James McLarnon, Christie Convery, Ryan McGuigan, Ryan Convery, Declan Dobbin, Conor Magee, Oisin Doherty, Stephen Kelly, Callum Lynch, Caolan Tierney, Ronan Kelly, Patrick Graffin, Jack McAleese, Michael Hagan, Fergan O’Kane, Subs: Andrew Hasson for James McLarnon, Brian McGuigan.
Referee: Karol Doherty (Rasharkin)