ACFL Division 1
St Mary’s Ahoghill 0-11 Kickham’s Creggan 0-14
Reigning league champions Creggan moved up into third place in their attempt to reclaim the Eddie Fitzsimmons trophy with a win over St. Mary’s Ahoghill in Clooney on Saturday.
The Kickham’s have a way to travel if they are to reclaim that hard earned title but this victory in Clooney was a first step over the in-form St Mary’s side and they will look to continue in such positivity until they run out of road.
Ahoghill may well have anticipated more of the same following victory over today’s opponents, a few weeks ago but in the event it was their visitors who opened their account quickly with a point from Conor Small after only a couple of minutes.
The centre forward, who has recovered from a long term injury was cool in the precision based finish but when the home side’s central defender James ‘Bobby’ Magee was fouled on his way forward Ronan Graham sent the resultant award firmly between the posts to bring the sides level.
It was the visitors who enjoyed the better start to proceedings with Tiernan Mc Larnon fully employed in the fetch and carry role and he opened the way for Paddy Coey to split the posts in the 7th minute and Sean Duffin following suit to see the Kickham’s lead 0-03 to 0-01 at the end of the opening quarter.
The visitors were working hard to reduce the influence of the home side in the central zone as they broke the ball to hinder the high fielding abilities of Tom Mc Glone and his partner Patrick Graham and it led to the next score as a long range Conor Small finish moved them 0-04 to 0-01 ahead by the 20th minute.
Ahoghill replied and a superb long range kick out by Noel Crossey sent Bernard Graham away on a solo run before fisting between the posts and when James O’ Connell pointed a free following a foul on Tom Mc Glone, the home side were right back in the contest.
Creggan replied with a ‘mark’ yielding the opening for a clever Dominic Mc Ateer point but in the event it was to be the home side who were to finish the period in the positive.
Ronan and Gerard Graham added back to back points and when the pace laden Eamon Brady advanced to add another in time added only a point separated the sides at the half way stage with Creggan 0-06 to 0-05 ahead.
All still to play for as the second half commenced and it was Creggan who were first to strike with a 32nd minute Dominic Mc Ateer point delivered in style. The Clooney side replied however through back to back points from Patrick Graham to level the contest.
Odhran Mc Larnon added a point to the visitor’s total, but Ahoghill responded again and Danny O’ Neill nipped clear to finish in style.
Only a point separated to sides as the last quarter got under way but the complexion of the game was about to change as Creggan kicked three points on the bounce through Paddy Coey, Sean Duffin, and the hard grafting Dominic Mc Ateer to move 0-12 to 0-08 ahead.
The home side rang the changes as the clock counted down as Martin Graham, Colla, Mc Donald, Paddy Dougan, and Joseph Downey were all given game time.
Ahoghill battled hard to take something from the game in the latter stages and Danny O’ Neill pointed before Donal Graham added another but Creggan finished on top and late points from Conor Small and Tiernan Mc Larnon eased the Kickham’s men over the winning line.
This win moves Creggan into third place in the table with 15 points from 13 starts, one place behind Cargin and one ahead of Aghagallon who have the same number of points but have played a game less.
Aghagallon and Cargin meet on Sunday in Aghagallon while league leaders Portglenone are on 19 points from 12 starts but face a difficult away fixture against Lamh Dhearg on the same day.
Ahoghill: Noel Crossey, Seamus Mc Keever, James Magee, Harry O’ Donnell, Fionnbar O’ Neill, Eamon Brady (0-01), Diarmuid Graham, Paddy Graham (0-02), Tom Mc Glone, Danny O’ Neill (0-02), Donal Graham, Bernard Graham (0-01), James O’ Connell (0-01), Ronan Graham (0-02), Gerard Graham (0-01)
Referee R Matthews (Rossa)
Subs
Colla Mc Donald
Martin Graham
Joe Downey
Paddy Dougan
Creggan: Oisin Kerr, E Carey Small, Ricki Johnston, Jake Mc Ateer, Sam Maguire, Aidan Maguire (0-01), Joe Mc Ateer, Dermot Mc Cann, Kealan Mc Cann, Sean Duffin (0-02)Conor Small (0-02), Liam Quinn (0-02), Pat Coey (0-03), Dominic Mc Ateer (0-03), Odhran Mc Larnon (0-01) Tiernan Mc Larnon
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
