Homefit Football League Division 1
St John’s 1-8 Creggan 0-14
County champions Creggan produced a strong second half performance to beat St John’s at Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening and as a result move into joint second place in the league table with Cargin, with a game in hand.
Trailing by two points at half time Creggan looked more assured in the second half and despite having a man sent off, due to a second yellow card, they fought back to take the victory by two points
After Darren McKeogh had given St John’s an early lead Creggan hit back with points from Keelan McCann and Paddy Coey to go in front in the 8th minute. They appeared to be set to stretch that lead when they were awarded a penalty soon afterwards but Kevin Small’s shot was saved by the Johnnies goalkeeper Eoghan Rua Lambert and the danger cleared. Paddy McBride drew the home side level with a point on 10 minutes, and though Paddy Coey edged Creggan back in front on 12 minutes, St John’s were soon in front when corner forward Andy McGowan got out in front of his marker to win a good ball before breaking through and sending a left footed shot to the Creggan net.
After Ceggan’s Fintan Burke and Paddy McBride exchanged points Creggan hit two in a row through goalkeeper Oisin Kerr, who came up to stroke over a 45, and the excellent Coey, who added another to his first half tally to bring his team back on terms. Two in a row from Paddy McBride frees put the home team one ahead again, and though Oisin Kerr converted his second from a placed ball on 30 minutes to to bring his team back on terms, another McBride point from a free sent the Johnnies in with a one point lead at the break.
McBride increased the Johnnies lead to two with a point from play within seconds of the restart, but points from Tiernan and Dominic McAteer had the county champions back level just three minutes later. Two Paddy Coey points from frees had Creggan two clear by the 40th minute but St John’s closed the gap again when corner back Ciaran Garland made his way up from the back to send over an excellent score. However that was to be St John’s last score of the game and despite having Killian Burke sent off, after receiving a second yellow card, Creggan managed the game well and added late points through Matthew Rodgers and Dominic McAteer to win by three in the end.
