ACFL Division 1 Final
Kickham’s Creggan 1-16 All Saints 3-8
Kickham’s Creggan withstood a late rally from All Saints, Ballymena at Dunsilly on Wednesday night to claim the division 1 league title in a game that never really came to life until the closing ten minutes.
For most of the contest Creggan looked comfortable against a heavy legged Ballymena side who looked off the pace following their semi-final win over Cargin five days earlier.
Creggan had the luxury of a bye to the final following the withdrawel of St. Brigid’s and they flew into an early 0-5 to 0-0 lead by the 13th minute and were coasting.
Sean Duffin, after 30 seconds, Conor Small, Matthew Rodgers, Jimmy McCann and Duffin again were the Creggan marksmen as they put the opposition on the back foot right from the throw in.
The pace of the Kickham’s was causing problems for an All Saints defence who were chasing shadows up to this point but the Ballymena side got themselves right back into contention in their first real attack when a Connell Lemon shot dipped over the head of Oisin Kerr and ended in the net.
Normal service appeared to have been restored as Sean Duffin and Matthew Rodgers replied with points at the other end to make it 0-7 to 1-0 with 23 minutes gone but again All Saints rallied and a good passage of play saw Ciaran Campbell beat Kerr from close range.
Despite being outplayed for the most of the half it was back to a single score with six minutes remaining to the break but the Kickham’s finished the half on the front foot and Conor Small and Jimmy McCann pointed before Conor Small got through for his side’s opening goal.
The Slemish Park side finished the half strongly with points from Conor Stewart, Paddy McAleer (f) and Harry Connon to leave three between the sides as Colin Thompson sounded his half time whistle and Creggan were good value for that lead.
The Ballymena side would have been fairly happy at this stage, given the amount of possession their opponents had enjoyed but it was Creggan who again opened on the front foot with Ruairi McCann, Matthew Rodgers and Jimmy McCann pointing them six ahead after 7 minutes and again they looked in total control.
All Saints continued to fight and points from Paddy McAleer (f) and Conor Stewart had it back to four by the 17th minute but Baker Bradley’s side were coughing up possession on too many occasions.
Bradley and his management team rang the changes as he introduced fresh legs from the bench but it was Creggan who moved further ahead with Shea McCann pointing and then fisting over another to move his side 1-14 to 2-5 ahead with five minutes remaining.
Suddenly though the tide began to turn as Paidin Mitchell, Michael McCarry (f) and Ronan McKillop pointed and McKillop might well have had a goal from his effort.
Conor Small’s pointed free had moved the Kickham’s four in front but the goal that All Saints had threatened finally arrived with Paidin Mitchell finishing from close range to leave one in it as the game edged into time added on.
It would be as close as they got however with Creggan rallying with a late point from Conor Johnston to win by two and on the balance of play it was a win that they deserved.
They dominated for long periods but were guilty of some wayward shooting over the hour with Sam Maguire, Jimmy McCann, Kealan McCann, Sean Duffin, Ruairi McCann and Matthew Rodgers their best performers on the evening.
Baker Bradley will be happy with the commitment of his side and with their strong finish with Matty Downey, Harry Connon, Conor Stewart, Peter McReynolds and substitutes Paidin Mitchell, Ronan McKillop and Cal O’Brien their best on view on the evening.
The sides meet again in ten days-time in the SFC in Ballymena and that one is sure to attract a bumper crowd to the Woodside Road as All Saints attempt to reverse tonight’s result but they will again start as underdogs.
Creggan: 1 Oisin Kerr, 2 Ricky Johnston, 3 Sam Maguire, 4 Fintan Close, 5 Liam McLernon, 6 Ethan Carey-Small, 7 Jimmy McCann, 8 Kealan McCann, 9 Patrick McAuley, 10 Sean Duffin, 11 Conor Small, 12 Ruairi McCann, 13 Shea McCann, 14 Matthew Rodgers, 15 Conor Johnston.
Subs: Liam Quinn for Ricky Johnston, 17 Joe McAteer, 19 Anton Martin,
All Saints: 1 Ryan Stewart, 2 Matty Downey, 3 James McDonnell, 4 Oliver O’Rawe, 7 Harry Connon, 6 Sean O’Callaghan, 5 Joe Rafferty, 8 Conor Stewart, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Connell Lemon, 11 Patrick McAleer, 12 Benny McDonnell, 13 Peter McReynolds, 14 Sean McVeigh, 15 Ciaran Campbell.
Subs Used: 22 Paidin Mitchell, 24 Ronan McKillop, 17 Cal O’Brien, 21 Michael McCarry, 27 Sean McDermott
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