Under-21A Football Championship (semi-final)
Tir na nOg Randalstown 0-12 Kickham’s Creggan 0-12 (aet)
(Tir na nOg Progress 5-4 on Penalties)
A superb save from Tir na nOg net minder Ricardo Conceicao, denied Creggan’s Eunan McAteer from this penalty spot in a penalty ‘shoot out’ following a period of extra time which failed to separate Tir na nOg and Kickham’s in Sunday’s Antirm Under 21 A football semi-final at Ahoghill.
Portuguese Conceicao, who has lived in Randalstown for the past 12 years, proved the hero of the hour with an oustanding save during normal time, plus the vital stop in the shoot out, to earn his side a place in the final following a hugely competitive semi-final battle between these parish rivals.
The sides could not be separated following an absorbing 80 minutes of football which included twenty minutes of extra time and resulted in a penalty kick decider. The Tir na nOg keeper, who had fully underlined his credentials with several excellent saves during the game denied Eunan McAteer from the spot and when Aodhan Toland made no mistake to end the series the Randalstown boys were final bound.
Both side have impressed in this year’s U21 competition to date as Tir na nOg and Creggan lined out in in a contest flavoured by the ‘local derby’ ingredient that ensured a good crowd to today’s game in Ahoghill.
The Randalstown side, who had impressed in their quarter final win over St. John’s, started confidently and domination in the central zone saw them raise a couple of early white flags without reply.
Both did exchange wides in the opening minutes but when Darragh Fegan rose highest to collect in the 4th minute he opened the way for corner forward Joe Webb to split the posts.
Ciaran O’ Neill’s delivery opened the door for Eamon Og McAllister to follow suit a minute later but the wing half forward was just off target. O’Neill was the provider again as he linked up with Ciaran Dobbin to double the Tir na nOg tally, a couple of minutes later.
The Randalstown lad’s early domination was not to last however as Creggan settled to the job on hand and Jamie Mc Cann calmly slotted a 40 metre free between the posts before Tiernan McAteer nipped up the right hand side to add another and level the contest.
Having seen their early advantage wiped out the Whitehill boys responded when Darragh Fegan climbed highest to collect and when he was impeded, Aaron McNeilly claimed full retribution when despatching the resultant award between the posts.
Feagan was again prominent as he claimed the resultant kick out and found Aodhan Toland coming off the shoulder to fire over to see the Randalstown side move 0-04 to 0-02 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
Having struggled to gain a foothold in the opening quarter Creggan looked for the quick counter and it began to pay dividends in the second quarter.
Tir na nOg began to find the going tough and were punished for some wayward passing as the Creggan rearguard stood firm.
A smart intervention by flame haired John Mc Auley paved the way for Dominic Mc Ateer to help himself to an eye catching 17th minute point and when Kevin Small followed suit from distance a few minutes later they were back on terms at 0-04 apiece.
Creggan had taken a firm grip on proceedings and only a smart save by Tir na nOg net minder Ricardo Conceicao denied Dominic Mc Ateer after a well laid approach put the impressive corner forward in the clear.
Kevin Small gained some consolation a couple of minutes later as he made strong approach to blast over the bar when a goal looked possible with the centre forward’s effort ensuring a 0-05 to 0-04 interval advantage.
The Randalstown side looked to make a positive start to the second half but in the event it was the Kickham’s who were to make the better start and an early point by the fleet footed Liam Quinn saw them double their advantage.
Tir na nOg were on the back foot and struggling to break through a tough tackling Creggan defensive unit in which Jamie McCann led by example.
The Kickham’s were now dominating at mid-field through the Burke brothers but the target was proving elusive as the usually reliable Kevin Small sent wide of the target and Eunan McAteer’s effort drifted wrong side of the post.
The Whitehill side were not finding it any easier at the other end as both Joe Webb and Eamon og Mc Allister were wayward in their finishing before Kevin Small’s 45th minute effort ensured a three point advantage for the Kickham’s, 0-07 to 0-04 at the commencement of the final quarter.
Having failed to score for almost thirty minutes the Whitehill boys were struggling and a place in the final looked to be drifting away.
They really needed a score to restore confidence but ‘cometh the hour cometh the man’ and Darragh Feagan answered the call.
The Big mid fielder who had started well before fading from the scene was about to impose his authority on the game again and in a devastating few minutes he was to ensure parity on the board.
Impeded on the advance after a smart Darren Mc Cormick intervention Feagan soon dusted himself off to despatch the resultant award between the posts before accepting an Aaron McNeilly delivery to send a superb long range effort on the same pathway, a minute later.
The deficit had been reduced to the minimum and was soon to be erased as Darragh Feagan completed a quick fire treble and when he then punished an indiscretion on replacement Emmett Murray to raise another white flag and level the contest at 0-07 apiece.
The concluding minute saw a Kevin Small point to claim advantage answered in kind by Peter Cullen within a couple of minutes and both sides had chances to gain the day with Kevin Small’s effort finding the post and then John McAuley made smart intervention at the other end to deny Eamon Og McAllister, signalling a period of extra time.
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Ciaran O’ Neill’s 3rd minute punched effort gave the Randalstown men the lead on the restart but two points from Dominic McAteer and another from Ciaran Rice saw the Kickham’s move 0-03 to 0-01 ahead.
Indeed it took another smart intervention by Tir na nOg keeper Ricardo Conceicao to deny Kevin Small and a goal here would have put the Staffordstown Road side firmly in the driving seat.
Creggan were having the better of things and livewire corner man, Dominic Mc Ateer extended their lead with a further point before Tir na nOg centre back Darren Mc Cormick strode forward to raise a splendid white flag just on the cusp of half time with Creggan a couple ahead at 0-04 to 0-02.
Tir na nOg started the concluding ten minutes a couple of points in arrears and with the excellent Ciaran O’ Neill having left the fray they looked in trouble.
Cramp was proving a problem for both sides with frequent halts in play and Ciaran O’ Neill returned to the action following treatment, adopting a new role at full forward.
His first contribution was to fist an Aaron McNeilly free over the bar and McNeilly then held his nerve to send a 25 metre free between the posts. Both sides did their utmost to find a winner but McNeilly’s was to prove the games last score and a penalty ‘shoot out’ was ordered.
Ricardo Conceicao became the Tir na nOg hero with his penalty save to earn his side a place in the decider against St Brigid’s on a day where it was unfortunate to have a loser.
Tir na nOg: Ricardo Conceicao, Mark Porter, Declan Mallon, Oliver McAtamney, Peter Cullen (0-010, Darren McCormick (0-01), Aaron McNeilly (0-02), Ciaran O’ Neill (0-03), Darragh Feagan (0-03), Eamon Og McAllister, Aodhan Toland (0-01), Ciaran Dobbin, Rory Griffin, Stephen Carey, Joe Webb (0-01),
Subs
Emmett Murray for S Carey
Creggan: Tom Johnston, John McAuley, Ethan Carey Small, Ciaran McAteer, Ciaran Rice (0-01), Jamie McCann (0-01), Mark Mulholland, Killian Burke, Ronan Burke, Tiernan McAteer (0-01), Kevin Small (0-03), Dermot Carey, Dominic McAteer (0-03), Liam Quinn (0-03), Eunan McAteer
Subs
Liam Mc Cann for C Mc Ateer
Morgan Nelson for R Burke
Eoin Mc Auley for L Quinn
Dermot Mulholland for M Nelson
Referee Karol Doherty (St Mary’s Rasharkin)
