Dunloy’s unbeaten run put to the test by Creggan

U15 Hurling League

CREGGAN 4.07 v DUNLOY 4.13.

By Joe Rice:

There was a noticeable cross wind at Staffordstown yesterday. Both teams registered impressive scores by the first break – Creggan 2.03 v Dunloy 1.08 – to leave 4 point in it as both teams squared up for the second half. Creggan added a further 2.04 to their score while Dunloy notched up 3.05 in the second half to leave them 6 points worthy winners.

When these 2 teams last met in the League the visitors swept them away comfortably and the contest was over at half time. Creggan’s performance in the League has continually improved under the management of Davey Brady and John Devlin who have worked extremely hard as today’s performance proves. It was 5 minutes in before Dunloy registered their first point from Joseph Doherty, from play, and it was a further 4 minutes before Oisin McCallion got his first of his 5 points tally. Creggan’s first score came in the 8th minute from Conor Loughran who dropped a 40 metre free over the bar. Dunloy’s Oisin McCallion got his second score on the 14th minute while the home side were wasteful on their attempts clocking up many wides.

A goal was added for the visitors when Joseph Doherty scored from close range and their 5 point lead put distance between the sides. Conor Loughran popped up 1 minute later to get the home side’s first goal of the competition to put them within striking distance with Dunloy just 2 points in front. On the 25th minute, Shea Devlin got a major for Creggan to narrow the gap by 1 point. Two further scores for the home side’s Sean O’Hara and another from Shea Devlin on the 30th minute kept Creggan within contention. Dunloy responded well to the pressure with 4 quick points in succession – Emmett McKendry, Rory McGillan, Aaron Doherty and Ryan McClements – all getting on the score sheet.

HALF TIME SCORE: CREGGAN 2.07 v DUNLOY 1.08

The home side came out in the second half with only 4 points between them and when Shea Devlin got his second goal, 34 minutes in, the minimum separated the sides. Oisin McCallion, with his 5th point of the contest, put both teams on level terms once again. Jay McAlorum and Oisin McCallion both raised green flags to give them a 6 point advantage. Oisin Devlin reduced this to 3 by firing home a goal as he dodged Dunloy’s back line. Donnach Laverty restored the lead to 6 after a goal in the 53rd minute. For the next 10 minutes both teams added 4 points apiece – 3 further for the home side’s Conor Loughran (2 from frees) and the first score from Cillian McIldowney. Dunloy’s response was a second point from Jay McAlorum, 2 from Seamus McMullan and their last point of the game was from Damien Kinsella.

CREGGAN: No.1 Ronan Calgan, No.2 Ryan McGrath, No.3 Fintan Keane, No.4 Sean Daly, No.5 Fintan Kelly, No.6 Conor McLarnon, No. 7 Sean Og Boville, No.9 Shea Devlin (2.01), No.10 Cillian McEldowney (0.01), No.11 Conor Downey, No.12 Ronan McGuckian, No.14 Conor Loughran (1.05), No.15 Sean ‘Hara (0.01), No.16 Oisin Devlin (1.00).

DUNLOY: No.1 Patrick Skelly, No.2 Declan Martin, No.3 Paudraig McColgan, No.4 Michael Johnston, No.5 Rory Blaney, No.6 Anthony Hampson, No.7 Emmett McKendry (0.02), No.8 Damien Kinsella (0.01), No.10 Oisin McCallion (1.05), No.11 Donnach Laverty (1.00), No.12 Seamus McMullan, No.13 Joseph Doherty (1.01), No.14 Jay McAlorum (1.01), No.15 Joseph Hughes, No. 17 Oisin McGuckian, No.18 Rory McGillan, No.19 Aaron Doherty, No.20 Ryan McClements.