ACHL Division 2 (round two)
Clooney Gaels 1-10 Kickham’s Creggan 1-22
A superb exhibition of marksmanship from wing half forward Odhran McCann hallmarked a second half revival from Creggan as they came from seven points in arrears at half time to cross the finish line twelve points ahead.
In a game of the proverbial two halves McCann made an immense contribution, finishing the game with 0-14 points and proving unstoppable on the day.
The Clooney men had dominated the opening period, quicker to the ball on most occasions with Francis Neeson strong in the rear guard and Danny O’Neill to the fore in the offensive and they looked on the way to victory when a Pearce Downey goal aided them to a 1-09 to 0-05 interval advantage.
Little had separated the South West rivals in the opening phase and after county star Conor McCann opened account for the visitors, Eoin Neeson made reply in kind at the other end a minute later.
Similarly when Conor Small was out in front to collect from Aiden Mc Keown to raise a 4th minute white flag Neeson was again quick to make reply.
The opening few minutes promised a close encounter between these keen South West rivals but after a strong intervention by the home side full back Francis Neeson and a long hoisted clearance opened the way for full forward Pearce Downey to find the net in the 8th minute Ahoghill began to take control.
Pearse Downey who’s goal gave Ahoghill the lead is challenged by Aodhan Maguire of Creggan
Morgan Nelson grabbed a point back for the Kickham’s after Downey’s strike but the home side really upped the ante and their first time hurling with a strong intensity earned due reward and with Danny O’ Neill lording it on the right hand side they had earned a nine point lead, 1-09 to 0-03 by the 23rd minute.
Eoin Neeson, Danny O’Neill, and Ronan Graham raised white flags apiece to see the Clooney men move into a 1-05 to 0-03 advantage by the end of the opening quarter.
The Kickham’s just could not get a hold of the sliothar as the home side dominated in most departments with mid-fielder Martin Graham grabbing a couple of eye catching long range points and the impressive Danny O’ Neill adding another before Eoin Neeson despatched an 80 metre free between the uprights.
Creggan having looked very much second best for most of the half finished strongly and a long range Keelan McCann 26th minute point preceded another from Odhran McCann a few minutes later.
The late Mc Cann point was to reduce the deficit and see the home side take respite at 1-09 to 0-05 but the 29th minute white raised was to open a scoring spree which was to lengthen considerably in the second half.
Dan O’Connell who caused the Creggan defence problems in the opening half
Having concluded the opening period on the positive Creggan began the second thirty minutes in a similar mode and such was the velocity of the exit from the start traps they had raised a further five white flags in as many minutes.
A long range Aiden McKeown point despatched within a few seconds of resumption added impetus and as the home side came under increasing pressure Odhran McCann rose to fetch out on the right hand side before splitting the posts.
The Clooney lads looked to have lost their way as Conor McCann claimed a poor clearance to return post haste between the posts and struggling to regain composure the concession of back to back frees allowed Odhran McCann to add another couple.
The home side needed a score to aid morale which seemed to be evaporating quickly as the swagger of the opening period was gone but a fine Eoin Neeson point from 60 metres following a foul on mid-fielder ‘Bobby’ Magee in the 40th minute failed to have the desired effect.
Conor Small goes past Diarmuid Graham before scoring Creggan’s goal late in the game
Indeed it was to prove the last occasion that the home side would make a mark as Creggan led by the pin point accuracy of Odhran McCann went on to dominate the contest.
The Clooney men were struggling to get a hand on the sliotar as Creggan strode forward with a trio of unanswered McCann pointed frees from distance as the visitors drew abreast before a long range Aiden McKeown point edged them ahead 0-14 to 1-10 by the 42nd minute.
Odhran McCann continued to find the target as the Clooney resistance crumbled as he added a further five points from placed efforts in quick succession and when a Jake McAteer interception and clearance opened the way for Conor Small to find the net in the 25th minute the die was cast.
The home side were under strong fire and quite unable to make escape as their visitors turned the screw, adding further punishment as a late point from Conor McCann and a couple more from Odhran McCann saw them cross the line 1-22 to 1-10 ahead and the points secured.
Clooney Gaels: Patrick Graham, Stephen O’ Connell, Francis Neeson, Diarmuid Graham, Bernard Graham, Neil O’ Connell, Eamon Brady, James Magee, Martin Graham (0-02), Eoin Neeson (0-04), Donal Graham, Eoin Graham, Danny O’ Neill (0-02), Pearce Downey (1-00), Ronan Graham (0-02)
Subs:
Sean O’ Connell for E Graham (inj)
James Mc Meill for D Graham
Creggan: Eamon Long, Jake McAteer, Aodhan Maguire, Enda Maguire, Kevin Small, Ciaran Rice, Liam McCann, Keelan McCann (0-01), Aiden McKeown (0-02), Conor McCann (0-03), Thomas McCann, Odhran McCann (0-14), Conor Small (1-01), Michael Maguire, Morgan Nelson (0-01)
Subs:
Dannan O’ Hara for E Maguire
James Dougan for M Maguire
Martin Mc Cann for M Nelson
Daniel Mulholland for L Mc Cann
Ethan Small for J Mc Ateer
Referee B Toland (Lamh Dhearg)
Odhran McCann who scored 0-14 as Kickham’s Creggan defeated Clooney gaels in thre ACHL Division 2 in Ahoghill on Sunday