ACFL Division 1
Kickham’s Creggan 1-06 Casement’s Portglenone (0-14)
Casement’s Portglenone have made a confident start to the season and they travelled to Creggan on Sunday to take on the reigning league champions and John McKeever’s charges continued their recent good form and collected another brace of points.
The dark clouds which had threatened rain for a while delivered just in time for the thrown in with the Bannsider’s entering the fray as slight favourites having won their opening two games but this assignment looked their toughest to date.
The home side started on a positive note but failed to give first employment to the scoreboard attendant and it was the visitors who were to open account through Michael Hagan.
Conor Magee and Ryan Convery had combined to make approach for the centre forward to raise white but it was all square a few moments later when Sean Duffin replied in kind at the other end.
A close game looked in prospect in the early stages but Casements were to prove more proficient in their delivery to their forwards with sweeper, Jonny Convery pushing forward in attack and Ryan Convery in the thick of the action.
A foul on the latter opened the way for Michael Hagan to split the posts again in the 10th minute before Aiden McAleese made it 0-03 to 0-01 with another point shortly after.
Casement’s were sharp in their approach through the hands while Creggan relied on the long delivery and the visitors went further ahead when the accurate Aiden McAleese raised another white flag to ensure a three point advantage at the start of the second quarter.
The home side were struggling in defence as Portglenone continued to attack in numbers and the visitors added points through Ronan Kelly (0-2) and Niall McKeever with Creggan looking ill at ease.
Thehome side suffered another blow in the second quarter as injury forced experienced centre back Aodhan Maguire out of the game.
Casement’s increased their lead when net minder Ryan O’Neill delivered a long range effort between the posts in the 26h minute to open up a seven point lead.
Creggan had the last say of the half when Dominic McAteer despatched a free between the posts and as things got a little heated the man in charge issued a couple of yellow cards with the visitors holding a 0-09 to 0-03 lead at the break.
Casement’s continued to dominate as the second half got under way with the home sides Marty Johnston and sweeper Odhran McLarnon working tirelessly to repel their dominant visitors.
It was to no avail as Portglenone continued to press forward with Aiden McAleese and Michael Hagan adding points to move them 0-12 to 0-03 ahead as the clock ticked down and it looked all over at this stage.
Creggan fought to the end however with Marty Johnston leading by example and Liam Quinn prominent in attack. As the last quarter commenced a long delivery form Jake Mc Ateer was seized on by wing man Quinn and although his initial effort was blocked, mid fielder Johnston was quick to react, rising above the Ports defence to fist to the back of the net.
Liam Quinn added a point to further reduce the Casement’s lead but points at the other end by the excellent Aiden Mc Aleese and centre back Daniel Mc Nicholl made it 0-14 to 1-04 and the die was cast.
Creggan battled to the end and late points from Sean Duffin and Marty Johnston kept their fading hopes alive but that was as close as they got with things threatening to boil over in the closing stages and referee Darren McKeown was forced to issue red cards to a player from both sides.
Creggan: Oisin Kerr (0-01), Jake Mc Ateer, Ethan Carey Small, Sam Maguire, Dylan Hinfey, Aodhan Maguire, Joe Mc Ateer, Kevin Rice, Martin Johnston (1-02), Liam Quinn (0-02), Sean Duffin (0-01), Tiarnan Mc Ateer, Conor Small, Dominic Mc Ateer, Odhran Mc Larnon
Casement’s: Ryan O’ Neill (0-01), Ronan Delargy, Jonny Convery (0-01), Conor Magee, Caolan Tierney, Damien Mc Nicholl, Ryan Convery, Niall Delargy, Niall Mc Keever (0-01), Fergal O’ Kane (0-02), Michael Hagan (0-02), Stephen Kelly, Ronan Kelly, Aiden Mc Aleese (0-06), Conal Delargy
Referee D Mc Keown (St Gall’s)
