Senior Reserve Cup (Semi Final)
St Brigid’s 4-15 Kickham’s Creggan 1-21
A late rally and an injury time goal from mid fielder Conor Slevin following a rare mistake in the Creggan rear guard saw St Brigid’s secure a berth in the Senior Reserve ‘Cup’ competition following an enthralling thrill a minute encounter at Dunsilly today.
The second period substitute latched onto a Marcus Lynch pass to deliver and a further Peter Webb point saw passage to the decider secured.
Nothing separated the sides in the opening period but it was the South Belfast men who got away to a flyer with points from Peter Webb and Conor Slevin sandwiching a 3rd minute Damien Magee goal.
The corner man who was lively throughout was sent on his way when Niall Lundy secured kick out and the finish saw them nip into a 1-02 to 0-0 lead.
Creggan finally got themselves going with a mark Dougan point settling the butterflies and the wily corner man really rolled back the years in the opening quarter raising a further white flags to ensure his side were within a score as the teams took respite from the conditions with the city men at 1-05 to 0-05.
Creggan gained in confidence as the game proceeded in helter-skelter activity with nothing between the sides as score at one end prompted return at the other end. Frank Mc Auley and Lee Johnston bagged points apiece in reply to a Declan Magee effort at the other end the retain advantage at 1-06 to 0-7.
In the event the South West side took the lead in the 23rd minute when a Jake Mc Ateer clearance opened the way for a well laid counter as Mark Dougan so turned his hand to provider and his delivery opened the way for David Mc Guckin to finish to the net.
The closing minutes of the first period continued in the end to end activity and after a pointed Peter Webb free kick secured parity on the board for St Brigid’s a superbly struck Mark Dougan free from away out on the left wing restored advantage for Creggan and further points by David Mc Guckin and Dougan opened a three point gap as the end of the half approached.
St. Brigid’s finished the half strongly and onlookers fully entertained and a Peter Webb goal in the 27th minute saw St Brigid’s draw abreast before late points from Damien Magee Darragh Fox gave thema two point interval advantage at 2-10 to 1-11.
The second half was not to disappoint in quality and after a bright opening by the men from Creggan and points apiece from David McGuckin and the excellent Dougan saw them draw level.
Creggan took the lead as Mark Dougan raised another white with Damien Magee replying at the other end and when the latter claimed another just before the second water break the sides were tied at 2-11 to 1-14 and a place in the decider was still up for grabs.
The last quarter saw replacement Sean Duffin signal arrival with a point and when the impressive Keelan Mc Cann followed suit Creggan looked in the driving seat.
Another pointed free from the impressive Peter Webb reduced the Creggan advantage to the minimum and the centre forward added another a few minutes later to leave just one between the sides.
David Mc Guckin and Sean Duffin responded with point for the Kickham’s to move them a point ahead as the clocked ticked down and when Keelan McCann followed with another Creggan looked to be heading for a place in the final.
St Brigid’s launched another attack however and Marcus Lynch chased and claimed what looked a lost cause before crossing to replacement Conor Slevin to fire home.
The die was cast, and a late Peter Webb free yielded a further point to secure a 4-15 to 1-21 winning scoreline and a place in the decider.
Creggan: Tom Johnston, John Mc Auley, Ethan Small, Jake Mc Ateer, Dylan Hinfey, Keelan Mc Cann, Lee Johnston (0-01), Odhran Mc Cann, Dermot Mulholland, David Mc Guckin (1-01), Joe Mc Ateer (0-01), Sean Mc Auley, Frank Mc Auley (0-01), Mark Dougan (0-09)
Subs: Sean Duffin (0-01) for S Mulholland
Matthew Rogers for S Mc Auley
St Brigid’s: Kevin McGovern, Sean Mc Kernan, Daniel Foster, Joe Mc Carney, Thomas Mc Carney, Rueben Carelton, Peter Lundy, Conor Slevin, Cathal Conway, Niall Lundy, Peter Webb, Ben Doherty, Damien Magee, Darragh Fox, Marcus Lynch
Subs: Toirleach Brolly
Donal Bradley
Donal Harrison
Diarmuid Mc Laughlin
Referee Richie Leahy (St Comgall’s)