ACFL Division 1
Dunloy 3-13 Creggan 1-13
Kickham’s Creggan travelled to Pearse Park on Sunday hoping to build on their impressive start to the season but it was the local Cuchullian’s who added to last week’s win at Corrigan with a an impressive performance, desite being short a good few of their top players who are on duty with the county football team.
In a highly entertaining game of football, where both teams were missing a few regulars, it was the hungrier Dunloy team, led by the excellent Declan Smyth who came out on top.
Dunloy came out of the traps first with Tam McGilligan hitting 2 early points and Declan Smyth adding another but Kickham’s replied with two points from Conor Small and another from Dominic McAteer to draw level.
The visitors seemed to be getting on top and took the lead with Conor Small’s 2 pointer followed by an Eathen Carey-Small point but the excellent Declan Smyth replied with two of his own before Conor Small responded with his 4th point of the evening.
It was nip and tuck at this stage of the contest but with three minutes left in the first half Matthew Rogers ran directly at the Dunloy defence to score an excellent goal to put Kickhams 1.07 to 0.05 ahead at the break.
Dunloy started the second half in the same manner as they had the first half with a goal in the first minute and a Declan Smyth point but Kickham’s responded with the next three points through Dominic McAteer and one each from Kevin and Conor Small.
These scores appeared to fire Dunloy into life and they really stepped up the pressure with Tam Magilligan scoring a well taken goal in the 12th minute and he followed with another in the 14th minute to hand his side the initiative.
The visitors were still battling hard in an effort to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and responded with points from Conor Small and Fintan Close but Declan Smith replied with his first 2 pointer of the evening and he would add another to put his side in command.
The visitors fought hard to get back into the game and Dominic McAteer scored their last point of the evening but it was Cuchullian’s who would run out worthy winners with the last two points of the game.