Homefit ACFL Division 1 Group 1
Lámh Dhearg 0-07-0-10 Creggan
From Kevin Herron at Hannahstown
Creggan opened their league campaign with victory over Lámh Dhearg after a 0-10-0-07 win at Hannahstown this afternoon.
Despite a slow start the visitors eventually settled into a rhythm and had the benefit of an extra-man for almost three quarters of the game after Eoin McKeown was dismissed.
Lámh Dhearg did maintain pace with the visitors at the interval though as the sides were locked on 0-06 a piece.
Although Creggan were slightly wasteful in the second period, they outscored the Lámhs 0-04-0-01 to ensure maximum points on the opening day of competitive action in Antrim.
Lámh Dhearg settled quickest of a bright but breezy afternoon in Hannahstown- they opened the scoring through a Ryan Straney converted free and Ryan Murray then squeezed a shot inside the right-hand post to double his sides advantage.
The hosts were three-points to the good inside of the first ten minutes, Ryan Straney this time playing the providers role as Eoin McKeown popped the ball between the posts.
Creggan hit back through a converted Paddy Coey free and moments later found a second score from David McGuckin after some great link-up by Coey.
Coey landed his second free of the afternoon to draw the sides level and the visitors tails were up when Liam Quinn conjured up a fourth score in succession to give his side the lead for the first-time.
Midway through the first-half Eoin McKeown was swung around as he looked to advance and referee Darren McKeown awarded a free- the man in the middle wasn’t impressed by McKeown’s reaction to the challenge and dismissed his namesake.
Creggan increased their lead and made use of their numerical advantage as Paddy Coey curled over his first point from play of the half.
Though Ryan Straney landed his second free and Ryan Murray magnificently pointed to draw the sides level for the second time at 0-05 apiece.
The visitors got their noses back in front as Aidan McKeown picked out the darting run of Tiarnan McAteer who shot over on the turn, but Ryan Straney [free] hit back after a foul on Ryan Murray to ensure that parity was restored at the break.
It took over ten minutes for the first score of the second period to arrive and it came courtesy of Ryan Murray who converted a free to edge the 14-men ahead for just the second time in the game.
Liam Quinn responded and drew Creggan level before David McGuckin was slipped in by Conor McCann to pop the ball over and edge his side 0-08-0-07 in front.
A converted Ruairi McCann free doubled the Staffordstown Road side’s advantage although they escaped a massive let-off in the last five minutes.
Marc Jordan burst forward into the penalty area and delayed pulling the trigger, eventually getting a shot off which was deflected to safety on the line by team-mate and substitute Brendan Herron – the loose ball then fell to another substitute Francis Dugan at the back post, but on the weak foot Dugan sliced at the loose ball and agonisingly hit the side netting.
Victory was secured by Creggan with Paddy Coey converting his third free of the afternoon to ensure the two-points would be heading country bound.
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, D Smyth, D Lynch, M McGarry, K Quinn, M Herron, B Rice, P Fitzsimons, D Dunne, E McKeown (0-01), R Straney (0-03f), M Jordan, R Murray (0-03, 0-01f), C Murray, T McCrudden. Subs: M McIlvenny for J Finucane (HT); A McAufield for M McGarry (HT); B Herron for T McCrudden (HT); F Dugan for D Dunne (48); D Straney for A McAufield (51).
Creggan: O Kerr, A Maguire, R Johnston, E McAteer, S Maguire, T McCann, J McCann, K Rice, A McKeown, R McCann (0-01f), L Quinn (0-02), F Burke, D McGuckin (0-02), P Coey (0-04, 0-03f), T McAteer (0-01). Subs: K Small for K Rice (HT); C McCann for A McKeown (HT); M Rodgers for M Johnston (47); L Bonnes for O Kerr (50); E Carey for E McAteer (52); D McAteer for F Burke (55).
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)
