O’Neill’s ACFL Division One
Creggan 5-14-1-09 Lámh Dhearg
Kevin Herron reports from Staffordstown Road
Within 16 minutes of his second half introduction, substitute Matthew Rodgers bagged a second half hat-trick as Creggan ran up a 5-14-1-09 win over Lámh Dhearg at their Staffordstown Road base on Saturday evening.
Defeat to Tir na nOg on Wednesday evening meant there was very little margin for error if the hosts were to hang onto the last remaining play-off spot for league, whilst the Lámh’s headed to Staffordstown looking for the points that would have saw them move clear of the relegation play-offs at the other end of the table.
A trip on Declan Smith allowed Paddy Cunningham to kick the game’s opening score, but after Joe McAteer was felled- Conor Small levelled from the resulting placed ball.
McAteer was on hand to briefly edge his side in front shortly afterwards- though Adam Murray restored parity from an advanced mark.
Lámh Dhearg regained the lead when captain Terry McCrudden dropped over from play; only for Tiarnan McLarnon to swing a shot inside the near post and draw the team’s level at 0-03 apiece.
The hosts pulled ahead again with the opening goal on the 19th minute, Jamie McCann played a short one-two and was able to steer his shot beyond the reach of Gerard Smyth and into the net.
Creggan’s confidence was growing and Conor Small extended his sides lead after McAteer was dragged down and Tiarnan McAteer then kicked an advanced mark.
A second goal almost arrived on the 26th minute when a hooked pass into the path of Dominic McAteer sent the corner-forward scampering through and his effort crashed back off the post.
Tiarnan McLarnon and Small (free) would add further points before the break as Creggan held a comfortable 1-07-0-03 advantage.
Lámh Dhearg began the second period with more intent and Marc McGarry laid the ball off to Declan Smith who clipped a shot over.
Joe McAteer hit back at the other end and on the 36th minute Creggan took a huge stride to victory when Ethan Carey-Small slipped a pass to Sean Duffin and he struck a low shot in at the near post to make it 2-08-0-04.
Another score followed when Jamie McCann hoisted over from range, with Paddy Cunningham replying after Conor Murray was felled at the other end.
Further points were traded after Conor McCann fisted over and Ben Rice swept over following Paddy Cunningham winning a breaking ball in midfield.
Creggan showed their ruthless streak with 2-01 in a three-minute period, first when Kealan McCann dropped a perfect shot over, then Dominic McAteer robbed Terry McCrudden and burst forward before slipping in substitute Matthew Rodgers to apply the finish.
In between a brace of Paddy Cunningham frees, Rodgers doubled his goal tally with a quarter of an hour remaining, getting his fist to a high ball that dropped towards the square to move the hosts 4-11-0-08 ahead.
Substitute Hugh McNulty dropped over another point and Joe McAteer sent his shot sailing between the large posts in the aftermath.
Conor Murray popped over from Paddy Cunningham’s precise pass as the Lámhs sought a little bit of respectability, but at the other end Rodgers inflicted further misery when he claimed an advanced mark and then took off towards the target and hit the spot for a 16-minute hat-trick.
There was scant consolation for the visitors when Paddy Cunningham hung up a free that Pearse Fitzsimons palmed to the net, but Ethan Carey-Small dropped over in the aftermath to a seal a comfortable win for Creggan that keeps them in 4th spot and on-route for a league play-off position come the conclusion on July 3rd.
Creggan: O Kerr, S Maguire, R Johnston, C McCann (0-01), E Carey-Small (0-01), A Maguire, J McCann (1-01), K McCann (0-01), P McAuley, T McLarnon (0-02), J McAteer (0-03), S Duffin (1-00), D McAteer, T McAteer (0-01m), C Small (0-03f). Subs: M Rodgers (3-00) for C Small (37), H McNulty for P McAuley (48), F Close for C McCann (49), D McCann for T McLarnon (52).
Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, R Murray, M McGarry, A McAufield, D Smith (0-01), B Rice (0-01), D Martin, J Quinn, P Fitzsimons (1-00), C Fegan-Lappin, T McCrudden (0-01), D Murray, P Cunningham (0-04f), C Murray (0-01), A Murray (0-01m). Subs: N McGarry for C Fegan-Lappin (29), R Diamond for D Murray (39), D Straney for B Rice (41), M Finnegan for D Martin (46), E Breen for D Smith (53).
Referee: Kevin Parke (Naomh Eanna)
