Hoemfit ACFL Division One 

Creggan 1-15-0-08 Lámh Dhearg 

Kevin Herron reports from Staffordstown Road 

Creggan made it two wins on the spin and sit top of the Homefit ACFL Division One after seeing off Lámh Dhearg 1-15-0-08 on home turf this afternoon. 

The hosts had started brightly but Lámh Dhearg hit a purple patch and led at the break, though had the advantage of a strong first half wind. 

Creggan turned things around in the second half hour and a Ruairi McCann goal turned the game in his sides favour as they ran out convincing winners in the end. 

An early Tiarnan McAteer point had his side ahead in the early stages and the County champions enjoyed the majority of the possession stakes and forced a free- which was converted by Jamie McCann. 

Lámh Dhearg opened their afternoon account courtesy of a Carl Maxwell point after the forward had played a pass to Ben Rice and took the return. 

Kickham’s restored their two-point advantage through a Ruairi McCann free, but it would prove to be their final score of the half as the visitors stepped things up. 

Carl Maxwell had his second score of the half after receiving a pass from Shaun McManus on the loop and Ben Rice confidently steered an effort high over the bar to level at 0-03 apiece. 

A converted Maxwell free gave his side the led for the first time and at that was extended before the break when Daire Larkin fielded a high pass from Aaron McAufield and claimed the advanced mark- which he swung over to ensure the Hannahstown side were 0-05-0-03 ahead at the interval. 

Playing with the wind advantage in the second period, Creggan set about claiming the early scores. 

Kealan McCann was slipped through, and he elected to shoot over the bar when a goal was perhaps available, a second converted free of the afternoon from Jamie then tied proceedings up. 

Mark McIlvenny needed to be alert and made an excellent block to keep out the first goal of the afternoon. 

Ten minutes into the half Lámh Dhearg nipped back in front through a Daire Larkin point after Ryan Diamond linked-up well with the full-forward.

It was a short-lived lead however as substitute Kevin Small produced a fine point to draw things up at 0-06 each. 

Creggan hit regained the lead through a Ruairi McCann point, Small followed up with his second score since being introduced into proceedings and an impressive shot from Tiarnan McAteer dropped over the bar to open up a three-point lead. 

On 46 minutes the hosts took a firm grip on the game with the only goal, substitute Paddy Coey played a pass to Matthew Rodgers out wide, and the corner-forward played possession back in field where it was worked into Ruairi McCann unmarked at the back post to hammer past McIlvenny and make it 1-09-0-06. 

Substitute Dominic McAteer then showed incredible skill and composure to curl a shot between the posts, he would kick another after taking the ball on the loop from Kaelan McCann- in between times Daire Larkin kicked his third point of the afternoon. 

Kaelan McCann doubled his tally for the half, and it was the first of his sides final four scores of the game.  

The lively Tiarnan McAteer added two more with Eunan guiding a shot over in-between times.  

Cormac Hannan swung over a late free for the Lámhs but the game was over as a contest at that stage as Creggan were convincing 1-15-0-08 winners at the end as the County champions topped the summit after four games. 

Creggan: O Kerr, J McAteer, Richard Johnston, E McAteer (0-01), E Carey-Small, J McCann (0-02f), K Burke, L Johnston, K McCann (0-02), R McCann (1-02,0-01f), F Burke, T McAteer (0-04), M Rodgers, D McGuicken, Martin Johnston. Subs: S Maguire for M Johnston (12), P Coey for S Maguire (34), K Small (0-02) for L Johnston (34), D McAteer (0-02) for M Rodgers (47), A McKeown for D McGuicken (52). 

Lámh Dhearg: M McIlvenny, F Mervyn, M McGarry, R Murray, D Smith, P Mervyn, P Larkin, C Hannan (0-01f), A McAufield, C Maxwell (0-03, 0-01f), B Rice (0-01), R Diamond, S McManus, D Larkin (0-03, 0-01m), N McGarry. Subs: E Campbell for A McAufield (48), C Boyd for D Smith (48), A McAufield for P Mervyn (52). 

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)