Under-21 A Football Championship (quarter-final)
Kickham’s Creggan 2-16 St Ergnat’s Moneyglass 2-04
Pics by Bert Trowlen
Kickham’s Creggan advanced to the semi-final stages of the under-21 football championship when they held off the spirited challenge of near neighbours, St Ergnat’s Moneyglass in almost perfect conditions on the Staffordstown road this morning.
The home side had the better of things in the opening period and had earned a six point advantage, 0-08 to 0-02 at the break aided by the error strewn ways of their visitors and Ciaran Mc Cartney’s charges looked in charge at the break.
Moneyglass were forced into change at an early juncture when both Sean Kelly and Conal Prenter limped out of the contest and when Tiernan McAteer despatched a 37th minute penalty to the net to supplement a flurry of points the home side looked home and hosed, 1-14 to 0-02 ahead nearing the end of the last quarter.
Moneyglass looked down and out at such juncture with Seanachan Duffin denied by the post shortly into the second half and a way back looked all but impossible.
The Marian Hill lads didn’t lose heart however and gaining a foothold in the central zone with Seanachan Duffin and Dermot McErlain prominent and back to back goals from the latter, and Gary Murray breathed new life into their efforts.
The St Ergnat’s lads had gained a glimpse of light for a time but such was not to last and back to back points from the impressive Dominic McAteer saw the Kickham’s back on the positive trail and a late goal from the penalty spot eased them over the line and into the semis.
An attractive fixture on paper which drew a fair crowd to the Staffordstown road but after the visitors started well but without a score, the home side took control.
Matthew Rogers opened account to see Creggan away and Morgan Nelson followed suit before a trio of white flags raised by Dominic McAteer opened a 0-05 to 0-00 gap.
St Ergnat’s struggled to settle and looked tentative in the extreme with wayward passing punished and forced into early change as Conal Prenter was forced out of the action with an early injury.
They were six points adrift after Creggan centre back Jamie McCann strode forward to send a 40 metre free between the posts with Seanachan Duffin’s 20th minute free which yielded a point seeing the Moneyglass lads off the mark.
Creggan continued to dominate in the latter stages of the first half, moving the ball with confidence in contrast to their guests and had a willing target man in Dominic McAteer.
The corner forward added a further score as he came in front to grasp Kevin Small’s delivery and forward between the posts.
Moneyglass were forced into another change in the latter stages of the opening period as Sean Kelly, who had been struggling for a time was forced to call it a day.
Matthew Rogers added a point to the Creggan total in the 27th minute with Seanachan Duffin replying from a 30 metre free just prior to the short whistle with Creggan taking n 0-08 to 0-02 lead into the break.
Sean Kelly was back on board in a new role with the defender occupying the net minder role with the towering Gary Murray taking up the full forward position.
In the event it was to be the home side who were first away as Dominic Mc Ateer raised a 32nd minute white.
Moneyglass had a chance to make quick reply when a slick approach involving replacement Jack Mc Coy and Dermot McErlain sent Seanachan Duffin in on the target with goal on his mind.
The big man was upended inside the square to earn a penalty, but after accepting the spot kick duties himself he was most unlucky to see his effort hit the post and the clearance which followed opened the way for Tiernan Mc Ateer to raise white at the other end.
Creggan were in control and after Kevin Small added a point Killian Burke seized the resultant kick out to send Tiernan McAteer away on the left to fire to the corner of the net.
Creggan added points through Jamie McCann, Morgan Nelson and Dominic McAteer to see them move 1-13 to 0-02 ahead and they looked on their way to the semi-final.
Moneyglass trailing by fifteen points continued to battle against impossible odds as the next few minutes would underline.
A Seanachan Duffin point was to spark a mini revival as Dermot McErlain sent Gary Murray in for a goal and then Patrick Mc Cormick and Seanachan Duffin combined to send Dermot ‘Buggsy’ Mc Erlain in to add another major.
Duffin added a further point and the gap which had previously looked insurmountable a couple of minutes earlier had been reduced to seven.
Creggan looked in a bit of trouble for the first time in the game but responded as a Jamie McCann clearance opened the way for Dominic McAteer to raise a further white flag at the other end.
The corner man was accuracy personified throughout and he was quick to add another before a foul on Morgan Nelson inside the square saw Kevin Small step forward to despatch the resultant penalty out of t reach of Sean Kelly to see the Kickham’s into the semi-final.
Creggan:Tom Johnston, John Mc Auley, Ethan Carey Small, Eoin Mc Auley, Ciaran Rice, Jamie Mc Cann (0-02), Mark Mulholland, Killian Burke, Ronan Burke, Tiernan Mc Ateer (1-01), Kevin Small (1-01), Dermot Carey, Dominic Mc Ateer (0-08), Morgan nelson (0-02)
Subs
Ciaran Mc Ateer for E Mc Auley
Moneyglass: Gary Murray (1-00), Michael Martin, Peter Mc Cormick, Diarmuid Scullin, Eamon Kelly, Pat Mc Cormick, Callum Mc Stocker, Dermot Mc Erlain (1-00), Michael Mc Laughlin, Seanachan Duffin (0-04), Ben Hamill, Sean Kelly, Conal Prenter, Enda Duffin.
Subs:
Ross Donnelly for C Prenter
Jack Mc Coy for S Kelly
S Kelly for R Donnelly
Referee C McDonald (St Gall’s)
