Senior Reserve Football Cup – Semi-Final
Kickhams Creggan 3-13 Erins Own, Cargin 1-14
Monday September 9th
Brendan McTaggart reports from Dunsilly
Two second half goals in the space of 60 seconds turned the tide in this semi-final with Creggan overturning a three point half time deficit to defeat Cargin at Dunsilly. The Kickhams men had five points to spare over their neighbours after an entertaining hour of football with second half goals from Dominic McAteer and Martin Dougan along with the early Frank McAuley three pointer proving decisive.
Cargin were good value for their half time lead with Kieron Close leading the charge in the opening 30 minutes. Creggan struggled to deal with Close as he sent the ball between the sticks on six occasions before half time, three of those from frees. Enda McGrogan finished the hour with 1-3 with his goal the highlight of the first half but Creggan improved after the restart. Their defence tightened with Dermot and Jamie McCann in dominant form while Oran McCann in midfield pulled the strings. Mark Dougan top scored for the Kickhams men with 1-5 over the hour in a man of the match performance as Creggan sealed a final date with Portglenone.
Cargin made a bright start to the semi-final with Close (free) and McGrogan finding their range inside the opening three minutes. Creggan made a rare foray into the Cargin half with the next attack and scored the opening goal of the game. Forcing turnover ball deep in the Creggan defence, Frank McAuley applied the finish to fire beyond Michael McGuckin after four minutes.
Cargin responded well however and by the seventh minute they had retaken the lead. Close with a brace of points (one free) before Mark Dougan landed his and Creggan’s first point of the match from wide on the right.
After the initial opening exchanges, Cargin looked to have settled better into their game. They had the lions share of possession but Creggan were picking holes in their defence and managed to keep in touch. Enda McGrogan and two Close scores were answered by Mark Dougan’s first free of the match to leave Cargin two points ahead with ten minutes of the first half remaining.
Creggan were looking more dangerous and could have had scored goals either side of a Brendan Laverty point. Aidan McKeown did score points but he had options inside for his first white flag while he blazed over after a good move saw him through on goal in the 22nd minute.
Oran McGuckin and Close (free) fired over with Oran McCann and Frank McAuley responding for Creggan before Cargin scored the opening goal of the tie. Putting together a flowing move from midfield, the Erins Own men fed McGrogan in space and he blasted the ball high to the back of Murtagh McKeague’s net in the last minute of the half.
Creggan rounded off the scoring in first half injury time with Frank McAuley adding to his early major but once again it could have been more. Through on goal he managed to scoop the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy to leave three between the sides at half time.
Half time: Cargin 1-10 Creggan 1-7
McGrogan’s goal was a sucker punch for the Kickham’s men but they were soon in the ascendancy after the restart. Jamie McCann and Close swapped points before Creggan scored their second goal of the match. Collecting the ball wide on the left, Dominic McAteer cut inside and managed to lob Michael McGuckin with a ridiculous effort. A superb strike from an acute angle and barely 60 seconds later his side were celebrating a third goal. McAteer involved in the build up this time as he combined with Matthew Rodgers to send Mark Dougan through on goal. The Creggan talisman made no mistake and gave his side a three point lead just six minutes after the restart and put them in the driving seat.
Creggan managed to keep Cargin at arm’s length for the majority of the second half as the sides traded scores. Cargin didn’t get any closer than three points with Close, Oran McGuckin and McGrogan (free) splitting the posts but Creggan answered with Dominic McAteer, three from Mark Dougan (two frees) and an injury time score from Liam McCann ensuring a five point win for the Staffordstown Road men.
TEAMS
Creggan: Murtragh McKeague; Jake McAteer, Dermot McCann, Conor McAuley; Ethan Carey-Small, Jamie McCann, Michael Dougan; Patrick McAuley, Oran McCann; Aidan McKeown, Mark Dougan, Liam McCann; Stephen McAuley, Frank McAuley, Dominic McAteer.
Scorers: Mark Dougan 1-5 (3 f’s); Frank McAuley 1-2; Dominic McAteer 1-1; Aidan McKeown 0-2; Jamie McCann 0-1; Oran McCann 0-1; Liam McCann 0-1.
Cargin: Michael McGuckin; Sean Og Quinn, Christopher Bateson, Darren Craig; Mark Keegan, Brendan Laverty, Michael Clarke; David McElhone, Ronan Gribben; Kieron Close, Enda McGrogan, Kevin O’Boyle; Peadar McKeever, Oran McGuckin, Shay Bovill.
Scorers: Kieron Close 0-8 (4 f’s); Enda McGrogan 1-3 (1 f); Oran McGuckin 0-2; Brendan Laverty 0-1.
Referee: Jarlath O’Donnell – Con Magees
Frank McAuley fires in Creggan’s opening goal late in the first half. Pic by Brendan McTaggart 
