ACFL Division 1
Kickhams 0-20 Tir na nOg 1-12
Kickham’s Creggan climbed above All Saints into second place in the table following this win over neighbours Tir na nOg and the Ballymena side’s defeat to Rossa in Belfast.
In a match lacking urgency, Kickham’s stormed out of the blocks, racing into a 0-12 to no score lead after 21minutes. Points from Jamie McCann and 2 points from young Connor Johnston got the home side on their way and an excellent 2 pointer from Connor Small who followed that up with another point got them on their way.
Connor’s younger brother Kevin then kicked a superb 2 pointer of his own in the 13th minute as the one way traffic towards the visitors’ goal continued.
With Mathew Rodgers again winning a lot of ball he took his point and set Connor Small up for his 4th of the evening.
The excellent Fintan Close finished a great individual run with a nicely taken point in the 21st minute and at this stage it wasn’t looking good for the Whitehill side who hadn’t registered a score.
Tir na nOg’s finally came to life however and Josh Smith got them on heir way with a well taken goal and they followed with a point each for Aaron McNeilly and Darragh Fagan.
McNeilly concluded the first half scoring in the 29th minute with a 2 pointer. To leave Kickhams leading by 0-12 to 1-04 at halftime.
Inspired by their strong finish to the opening half it was Tir na nOg who opened the second on the front foot and Darragh Fagan got them on their way with a point in the 7th minute.
Kickhams responded with 3 points on the bounce from Jamie McCann and one each from Conor and Kevin Small. Oliver McAtamney replied with the visitor’s second point of the half in the 14th minute but it brought another response from the Staffordstown Road side.
Sean Duffin split the posts and Conor Small added 2 more and another Jamie McCann point had them back in total control by the 25th minute.
Tir na nOg hadn’t finished however and after Oisin Kerr pulled off his second great save of the night they hit 2 excellent 2pointers, one from Ciaran O’Neill and one from Darragh Fagan followed by points from Aaron McNeilly and Darragh Fagan to close the gap to four.
It would be their final score of the night however and Sean Duffin kicked the game’s final point to leave Kickham’s with a 5 point victory and a step closer to the end of season play-offs.
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