ACHL Division 3
Lamh Dhearg 1-10 Kickham’s Creggan 1-23
Creggan had a comfortable win at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening with 13 points to spare in a sober and good natured contest, where both teams struggled for numbers. Dual clubs, Lamh Dhearg & Creggan, again struggled to find the numbers to field in this year’s League.
As, with many clubs missing players through emigration, injury and other factors, it is a credit to both managements to be able to field their team each week.
Lamh Dhearg’s No.12, Aidan McGuigan, opened his side’s account 2 minutes in to the game, pointing from close range. The visitors managed the next 5 points without reply, one a piece for Thomas & Keelan McCann and 3 Conor McCann converted frees, conceded by needless fouling.
Sixteen minutes in, Lamh Dhearg had raked up an additional 3 points from Aidan Murray, Aidan McGuigan and Donal Martin as the visitors maintained their 1 point lead to leave the minimum between the sides.
As we headed into the second quarter, possession was almost 50/50 with Lamh Dhearg being guilty of poor accuracy. Sean Duffin and Conor McCann added to the visitors tally to put the visitors 3 in front.
The home side responded, Donal Martin, leaving his marker and charging in on goal and only a superb save by Creggan’ s Cormac Rice prevented the contest being level at this stage.
As we approached half time, Creggan upped their momentum with points from Jake McAteer and Michael Maguire, plus another 2 converted frees and a 27 minute goal for Conor McCann. Aidan Murray got a second point as Referee, Lerenzo McMullan, blew the whistle for Half Time.
As the second half got underway the home side needed to eat into Creggan’s 8 point lead and Aidan McGuigan reduced that lead to 7 from the throw in. Sean Duffin responded for the visitors and it was nip & tuck for the next 10 minutes with Lamh Dhearg getting the better of their opponents score for score – two additional points for Aidan Murray and 1 each for Sean Paul Gibson and Evan Stanley, in addition to Donal Martin’s superb goal in the 33rdminute.
Creggan’s response was gradual giving the pace of the game – 5 more converted frees from Conor McCann, 3 additional points from Sean McAuley, while Conleith McGrenaghan, Sean Duffiin and Jake McAteer all added to the visitors tally.
As we entered the last quarter, the home side retained most of the position , but poor accuracy, indecision and giving away unnecessary frees cost them dearly and at this stage their luck had run out with Adam Murray’s attempt on goal being deflected over the bar by the Creggan’s keeper.
Aaron Ferris’ attempt minutes later was narrowly saved. Donal Martin got his side’s final score of the game as Creggan finished comfortable winners in the end in a game that was up for the taking on several occasions.
LAMH DHERG: No.1 Rhys Camlinn, No.2 Aidan McCague, No.3 Odran Walldran, No.4 Tiernan McKenna, No.5 Dan Murray, No.6 Ryan Diamond, No.7 Sean Paul Gibson (0.01), No.8 Ciaran Boyd, No.9 Evan Stanly (0.01), No.10 Mark Finegan, No.11 Adam Murray (0.04), No.12 Aidan McGuigan (0.02), No.13 Donal Martin (1.02), No.14 Michael McGarry No.15 Aaron Ferris.
CREGGAN: No.1 Cormac Rice, No.2 Peadar McGuckian, No.3 Aidan McKeown, No.4 Paul Colgan, No.5 Niall McAuley No.6 Keelan McCann (0.01), No.7 Sennan O’Boyle, No.8 Sean Duffin (0.03), No.9 Jake McAteer (0.02), No.10 Michael Maguire (0.01), No.11 Thomas McCann (0.01), No.13 Sean McAuley (0.03), No.14 Conor McCann (1.11), No.15 Dylan Humphrey, No.17 Conleith McGrenaghan (0.01), No.18 Brendan Maguire, No.19 Joseph Smyth, No.20 Aidan Maguire.
REFEREE: Lorenzo McMullan