O’Neills ACFL Division One
Creggan 0-06-2-11 Lámh Dhearg
Kevin Herron reports from Kickhams GAC
A Quickfire double from Conor Murray and Declan Lynch saw Lámh Dhearg claim two much needed league points with a 2-11-0-06 win over Creggan at the Staffordstown Road on Wednesday evening.
The visitors with a solitary league win thus far were hoping for a rare win at a venue that hasn’t been kind to them over the years.
They started off on the front foot with Kieran Fay-Kelly steering a shot over the bar and their lead was doubled when Ryan Murray linked up with brother Conor- who swung an effort between the posts.
Murray was again involved in clipping a pass to Carl Maxwell to extend the lead further, it took Creggan 13 minutes to register their opener for the evening, Kevin Rice darting through and sending his shot over the blackspot.
just before the midway point in the half, the Lámhs hit the first of their two quick goals. Marc Jordan carried the ball forward and pace and found the run of Ryan Murray and his pass into brother Conor was gratefully gobbled up and guided low to the net to give his side a 1-03-0-01 advantage.
Things got better within two minutes as Carl Maxwell forced a turnover in his own half and passed the ball off to Declan Lynch.
Lynch picked out Ryan Murray and then continued his run, getting on the end of Murray’s pass and slotting low past Oisin Kerr.
A third goal was almost in the offering when Kerr’s kick out was won by Conor Murray and his speculative lob was turned onto the bar and over.
Paddy Cunningham then dropped over an angled point as the Hannahstown side found themselves 2-05-0-01 to the good.
Creggan hit back with successive points from Dominic McAteer (free) and an Aidan Maguire point from play.
Marc McGarry played a one-two with Marc Jordan and steered his shot over, with Sam Maguire responding almost instantly at the other end.
Lámh Dhearg finished the half with a converted Paddy Cunningham free and a second score off the boot of Kieran Fay-Kelly as they led 2-08-0-04 at the midway point and were primed for victory at the Lough shore.
The visitors increased their lead upon the resumption as Declan Lynch dropped an angled shot between the posts.
Oisin Kerr replied with a superbly hit free off the deck, though his side were in need of goals- trailing by double figures.
There was a lengthy stoppage in proceedings owing to Ryan Murray sustaining a knee injury that required the Antrim forward to leave proceedings on a stretcher.
When play resumed it was Lámh Dhearg who would claim the next score, substitutes and cousins Donal Martin and Adam Murray combined, with the later swinging his shot over the bar.
Dominic McAteer doubled his tally for the evening with a splendid effort that sailed between the posts and the xoring was complete late-on when Marc Jordan took a slipped pass from Paddy Mervyn and directed his effort between the posts to secure a convincing and much needed victory for their side.
Creggan Kickham’s: O Kerr (0-01f), Jake McAteer, E Carey-Small, S McAuley, Joe McAteer, A Maguire (0-01), S Maguire (0-01), R McCann, K Rice (0-01), L Johnston, T McAteer, D Mulholland, P Coey, D McAteer (0-02, 0-01f), L McCann. Subs: O Hampsey for D Mulholland (41), S Donnelly for L Johnston (60+1), P McGuickian for A Maguire (60+6).
Lámh Dhearg: J Finucane, F Mervyn, B Rice, M McGarry (0-01), D Smith, D Lynch (1-01), M Hynes, P Mervyn, C Murray (1-02), C Maxwell (0-01), P Cunningham (0-02, 0-01f), M Jordan (0-01), K Fay-Kelly (0-02), R Murray, T McCrudden. Subs: D Martin for M Hynes (35), M McElgunn for R Murray (49), A Murray (0-01) for C Maxwell (49), N McGarry for K Fay-Kelly (60), E Stanley for D Smith (60).
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)
