Antrim Under 18A Minor Football Championship Semi Final
Kickham’s Creggan 1-06 St Paul’s 3-10
St Paul’s claimed a place in the final Of The Minor Football Championship
gaining passage at the expense of a gallant Creggan side in Creggan on Sunday afternoon
Their second half dominance was the main factor for their Belfast boys victory, especially the midfield dominance of their midfeielder McGreevey
Nothing had separated the combatants in the opening period on a windswept
Staffordsown Road arena and although the home side did enjoy an early lead
with a Tristan Mc Cann goal giving them a 1-02 to 0-02 advantage at the end of
the opening quarter, it was all change after the half time break
Shay Mc Cann’s early point had ensured the home side were away in front
supplemented by another from Ronan Mc Guckian shortly thereafter and
when Tristan Mc Cann found the net following a positive approach by Liam McLernon, and a precision based delivery by Rian Mc Grath, the South West lads looked in charge.
With the fresh breeze at their backs the Creggan boys were composed on ball and after St Pauls missed a couple of chances the Creggan were given a great boost when a Liam Mc Lernon pass opened the way for Tristan Mc Cann to finish to the visitors net and give his side a 1-02 to 0-01 advantage.
St Paul’s corner forward Rogers Duff added back to back points from free kicks, navigating the breeze well to reduce the deficit. Creggan net minder Conor Loughran also stood tall in defiance to deny the
busy Rogers Duff access to the net in the 22 nd minute and whenShay Mc Cann despatched a a 55 metre free between the posts soon afterwards the signs remained good for the home side.
However, St Pauls were finding their form against the breeze and
corner forward Rogers Duff, who was now causing problems for the home side defence, nipped in to add a 26 th minute goal the sides were level.
A Niall Carmichael point nearing half time put the visitors in front
for the first time and when Carmichael was first to Cormac Trainor delivery to finish to the net in the 31 st minute St Paul’s led by 2-04 to 1-03 at half time.
With the breeze behind them in the second half St Paul’s were now in the driving seat and the began to force home their advantage, but the home side were not about to give the Shaw’s Road lads free passage to the final.
With an excellent Fintan Close point and one from Anton Martin only one score separated the sides, but back came St Paul’s with back
to back white flags from Niall Carmichael and Rogers Duffy to move 2-07 to 1-05 ahead.
Creggan did provide response as to their intentions to make the under-18
decider with a fine Shay McCann long distance point defying the elements, but the city lads were quick to respond, and points from Rogers Duffy (2), Oisin Gamble saw St Pauls pull away to a healthy seven point lead 2-10 to 1-06 as the clock neared the 30 minute mark.
It was a case of backs to the wall for the home side in the last added minutes, but although the stood strong in defiance the St Paul’s lads were not to relax their grip on proceedings and just as the long blast was imminent a lofted delivery into the danger area by the impressive Ciaran Mc Alea, a big candidate for man of the match, was sent clear by Rogers Duff to seal the win
Creggan
Conor Loughran, Darrach Mc Cann, Eoin Mc Larnon, Shay Mc Lernon, Aontan
Martin (0-01), Liam Mc Lernon, Fintan Kelly (0-01) Adrian Mc Elwee, Tristan Mc
Cann (1-01, Conor Johnston, Sean Daly, Ronan Mc Guckian (0-02), Shay Mc
Cann (0-03)
St Paul’s
Adam Carroll, Ciaran Mc Donnell, Cormac Burke, Gareth Cowan, Ciaran Mc
Cann, Ciaran Mc Alea, Brendan Mc Morrow, Ciaran Mc Greevey, Cormac
Trainor (0-01), James Ireland (0-01), Niall Carmichael (0-03), Conor Ward,
Rogers Duff (2-05)
TO SEE MORE PICS BY CLAIRE FAWL FROM THIS GAME CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW