O’Neill’s Sportswear ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 2-09-1-08 Creggan
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Lámh Dhearg made it back-to-back league wins with a 2-09-1-08 win over Creggan at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening.
The visitors started strongly and held a 0-03-0-00 lead after three minutes. Paddy Coey converted an early free and Kealan McCann swung a high effort between the posts to double their lead.
The next kick-out caused havoc in the home defence and Dominic McAteer took advantage and opted for a point when a goal opportunity was potentially in the offing.
It took 13 minutes for the Lámhs to find their scoring range through a Fionn Mervyn point, but that was the catalyst for the home side.
Just after the midway point in the half they hit the front when Mervyn slipped a pass to Matthew McElgunn and the midfielder took off towards goal and floated a shot into the top corner to give his side a 1-01-0-03 advantage.
Their lead was extended when Ben Rice burst forward and showed composure to steer a shot between the posts.
Creggan had a 20-minutes scoreless period that ended when Paddy Coey kicked successive frees in a matter of minutes to tie things up at 1-02-0-05.
Lámh Dhearg would restore their two-point advantage at the break courtesy of converted Conor Murray and Carl Maxwell frees.
The sides traded the first four scores of the second period, Conor Murray added two further frees to his personal tally and increased the hosts lead in the process.
In-between times Sean Duffin would convert a free of his own and Paddy Coey kicked his first from play.
On 48 minutes the games decisive score arrived, Shaun McManus claimed Gerard Smyth’s kick-out and quickly switched it off to Declan Smyth.
Smyth carried the ball forward before picking out Adam Murray whose turn and shot came back off the post, Murray saw his follow-up shot blocked on the line before he found the net at the third time of asking to move the Lámhs 2-06-0-07 ahead.
The goal scorer added a point a few minutes later and further scores from Conor Murray (free) and Declan Smyth ensured the points were almost safe.
Paddy Coey kicked his fourth free of the evening and would get the opportunity to half the deficit when the visitors were awarded a penalty two minutes into added time.
Coey sent Lámhs keeper Gerard Smyth the wrong way, it was little more than consolation however as the hosts hung on to claim the spoils and move above Creggan in the league table.
Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, F Mervyn (0-01), B Rice (0-01), P Larkin, D Martin, M McGarry, M Hynds, M McElgunn (1-00), S McManus, D Smyth (0-01), A Murray (1-01), C Maxwell (0-01f), T McCrudden, C Murray (0-04f), P Mervyn. Subs: M Jordan for C Maxwell (47), N McGarry for F Mervyn (53), C Boyd for S McManus (58).
Creggan: L Bonnes, O Hampsey, E Carey-Small, S Maguire, C McCann, A Maguire, J McAteer, C McCann, K McCann (0-01), S Duffin (0-01f), C Small, T McLarnon, P Coey (1-05, 1-00p, 0-04f), D McAteer (0-01), O McLarnon. Subs: L McCann for E Carey-Small (17), L Quinn for O McLarnon (HT), A McKeown for C Small (47), J McAteer for D McAteer (53).
Referee: Darren McKeown (St Gall’s)
