Breslin Cup Final
Aghagallon 4-7 Creggan 3-7
A goal from Michael Grogan five minutes from time proved the winning score as St. Mary’s Aghagallon and Kickham’s Creggan served up an excellent Breslin Cup final today where fortunes swung in favour of both the protagonists at various stages of the game.
It was St. Mary’s Aghagallon who got off to a great start and the excellent Sean Gowdy fired to the net to give them the lead after only 30 seconds with Conor Johnston replying with a point for the Kickham’s with five minutes on the clock.
Gowdy extended the Aghagallon lead to three again before their keeper made a great save as Creggan threatened an immediate come back. St. Mary’s were calling the tune at this stage however and Gowdy got in for his second goal of the game to move his side six clear by the 13th minute.
Creggan had been under the cosh for a time but an excellent goal from Fiontan Close when he chipped the keeper just before the water break brought them right back into contention to leave it 2-1 to 1-1 in favour of St. Mary’s
When play got underway again Ronan McGuckian and Shea McCann fired over unanswered point for the Staffordstown Road side to close the gap to the minimum but once again Aghagallon found a response and Eran Loughran fired to the net to move them four in front.
Owen Mallon added a point as the Aghagallon side finished the half strongly with the Creggan keeper making a good save to keep his side in the game just before half time but as the half time whistle sounded it was Aghagallon who led 3-2 to 1-3.
On the restart Sean Gowdy extended he Aghagallon lead with a point with Conor Johnston for Creggan and Michael Grogan for St. Mary’s exchanging further points with seven minutes of the new half gone.
The Kickham’s were in need of inspiration and Conor Loughran provided it when he fired to the net and it heralded a period of dominance for his side as Conor Johnston pointed and then Fiontan Close fired home from the penalty spot in the 12th minute to put the Kickham’s two ahead.
Johnston added a point as Creggan dominated the third quarter but Sean Gowdy replied with a point for St. Mary’s to leave them trailing by the minimum at the second water break and it looked anybody’s game at this stage.
St. Mary’s appeared to have missed the boat when they missed a penalty at the start of the final quarter but they responded with a Sean Gowdy point to draw level before Fiontan Close edge the Kickham’s one ahead again and this was turning into an intriguing contest.
There was still 12 minutes remaining at this stage of the game but unfortunately for Creggan it was to be their final score of the game as Aghagallon staged a strong finish to dominate the closing stages.
The eventual winners looked in for a goal but the Creggan keeper brought off an excellent block with his feet to deny them but Aghagallon would not be denied for long as the impressive Gowdy pointed to draw the sides level again and in a strong finish Michael Grogan fired to the net to break Creggan hearts and give St. Mary’s the Breslin Cup to add to their All County Minor success a couple of weeks ago.
These clubs meet again next Sunday in the Senior Championship final with Creggan hoping to avenge today’s defeat and Aghagallon aiming for their first Senior Championship win which would put the icing on an excellent season for the club from the Armagh border.
Kickham’s Creggan: 1 Paul McNally, 2 Darach McCann, 3 Eoin Mclarnon, 4 Matthew Donaghy, 6 Liam McLarnon, 5 Peter Shore, 7 Cillian McEldowney, 8 Aidan McIlwee, 9 Tristan McCann, 10 Fiontan Close, 11 Conor Johnston, 12 Anton Martin, 13 Ronan McGuckian, 14 Conor Loughran, 15 Shea McCann, 17 Ailbe McKeown, 18 Fintan Kelly, 19 Sean Daly, 20 Colm McTeague, 21
St. Mary’s Aghagallon: 2 Darragh Smyth, 3 Christopher Hannon, 4 Cormac Mulholland, 5 Darragh Keightley, 6 Matthew Braham, 7 Sean Brankin, 8 Eoin Maginnis, 9 Ronan O’Connor, 10 Michael Grogan, 11 Aaron Kerr, 12 Owen Mallon, 13 Aidan Brady, 14 Sean Gowdy, 15 Eran Loughran, 16 Jamie Hatchett, 17 Ruairi Campbell, 18 Daniel McIlmoyle,
