ACFL DIVISION 1
St. John’s 2-13 Creggan 2-8
An excellent goal from Laughlin McCurdy late in the game lit up a dull evening as St. John’s made it two from two with this win over Creggan in an evening throw in at Corrigan Park, the game put back to accommodate Antrim’s NHL game against Laois earlier in the day.
The first half was a bit of a slow burner with both sides taking a time to find their feet on a slippery sod but it was St. Johns who were first to register through Conall Quinn and Conhur Adams who was to have an impressive hour in the corner for the home side.
Dominic McAteer pulled one back for the visitors but the early momentum was with the Corrigan men with mid-fielder, Conal McGlade pointing from play and then converting a ‘45’ to move his side three in front.
McAteer closed the gap to two with a Creggan free but St. John’s were beginning to get on top and Paddy McBride, returning from a lengthy injury, struck a couple of fine points as half time approached with McAteer replying with his third of the day to leave it 0-6 to 0-3 at the break.
The first half had been punctuated with some heavy hits and the issuing of a number of yellow cards and Creggan were given the opportunity to draw level early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty with Jack Bohill receiving yellow for his sins and Conor Small firing home the resulting penalty.
A couple of points from the excellent Ryan McNulty in reply to one from Tiarnan McAteer edged the Johnnies noses in front before a well worked goal from Conor Hand put them four ahead and they appeared to have weathered the early second half storm.
Before the cheering had died Creggan came racing back with an unreal major of their own with Kevin Rice applying the finish and the game was back in the melting pot and the league holders seemed to be settling to the task.
Once again the men from the Whiterock found a response however with Conhur Adams hitting a couple of good points and Liam McCann striking a long range effort for the Kickham’s in reply but it would be St. John’s who would turn the screw down the finishing straight.
Paddy McBride added a couple of fine scores and Lochlan McCurdy lit up a dull evening with a superb goal and McNulty added their final point with Conor Small and Dominic McAteer replying with consolation scores for the visitors.
St. John’s: 1 Matthew Leydon, 2 Ciaran Garland, 3 Adrian Oliver, 4 Jack Bohill, 5 Luke Peden, 6 Ciaran Johnston, 7 Sean Wilson, 8 Ryan McNulty, 9 Conor Hand, 10 Paddy Nugent, 11 Conal McGlade, 12 Andy McGowan, 13 Conchur Adams, 14 Conall Gough, 15 Conall Quinn, 16 Steven Magennis, 17 Simon McDonagh, 18 Paddy McBride, 25 Matthew Mallon 28 Laughlin McCurdy
Creggan: 1) Oisin Kerr, 2) Dylan Hymphy, 3) Ricky Johnston , 4) Jake Mc Ateer, 5) Sam Maguire, 6) Aiden Maguire, 7) Joe Mc Ateer, 8) Liam Mc Cann, 9) Kevin Rice, 10) Diarmuid Mulholland, 11) Tiarnan Mc Ateer, 12) Liam Quinn, 13) Conor Small, 14) Dominic Mc Ateer, 15) Odhran Mc Larnon
