IHC Semi-Final
Tir na nOg 3-13 Kickham’s Creggan 0-14
A dazzling first half display from Tir na nOg, Randalstown saw them overcome the challenge of neighbours Kickham’s Creggan in this Intermediate Hurling championship semi-final in front of a bumper crowd at an overcast Cloney on Sunday afternoon.
The Whitehill side dominated the opening half with Sean Duffin giving an imperious exhibition of point taking, from the placed ball and from play as the big number 8 controlled the tempo of the game from mid-field.
It was as good as over at half time when the Whitehill side led 2-10 to 0-3 and while Creggan were much better after the break the goal that might have brought them back into contention never looked like materialising.
The men in blue made a fast start in Ahoghill and started at a pace that they never relented throughout the opening 30 minutes as they dominated in nearly every department of the field.
It wasn’t the best of starts for the Staffordstown side when they lost Oran McCann to a recurring shoulder injury after 3 minutes and it would soon get worse as Josh Higgins from play and Sean Duffin from two converted frees edged Tir na nOg 0-3 to 0-0 ahead after 7 minutes play.
Morgan Nelson replied for Creggan with a point in the 10th minute but it was the greater intensity and pace of their opponents that continued to see them add scores in quick succession.
Ciaran Logan, Sean Duffin (0-2 f’s) and Eamon Og McAllister with an excellent point increased their lead to seven by the 16th minute before Conor McCann briefly halted the onslaught from a well struck long range free.
Duffin was on fire and added another long range rocket for Tir na nOg and Sean McKinley followed with another before Sean McAuley raised Creggan’s third white flag of the half from out near the touchline.
It was one of just a few first half moments when the Kickham’s escaped the close attentions of their opponents with Duffin replying immediately with a point before Daniel Martin set up McKinley for the game’s opening goal in the 21st minute.
‘The Hill’ continued to press and a second goal arrived just before half time and a long delivery from mid-field saw substitute Colm Duffin place Darragh Fagan and he fired across Shea Devlin to leave his side 13 ahead at the break.
It looked a long way back for Creggan as they emerged for the second half but to their credit they came out with greater intent and a more fluent game plan and had it back to five at one stage of proceedings.
The introduction of Sam Maguire for the second half certainly tightened up their defence as Conor McCann, with some excellent long range points and Morgan Nelson leading their comeback.
McCann got them on their way from a 70 meter free and after Duffin replied with his 7th of the afternoon, it was the turn of Creggan’s Morgan Nelson to display his free taking prowess.
Kickham’s danger-man, Nelson had been held scoreless by Tir na nOg’s Ciaran O’Neill but he raised a whimper of hope from his side’s supporters as he pointed three frees in quick succession by the 13th minute.
The sweet striking Sean Duffin replied with a free from his own half to briefly halt the Creggan revival but the Kickham’s had gathered a bit of momentum and Dan Doran from play and Conor McCann with two more long range frees had it back to seven with 12 minutes remaining.
Another Nelson converted free and a Conor Small point reduced the deficit further and Nelson again split the posts from distance and it was down to six as Duffin proved his fallibility with a couple of wides for the Whitehill side.
Conor McCann had it back to five again as Creggan continued to enjoy the better of the second half exchanges and there was a bit of anxiety within the Randalstown ranks for the first time.
Disaster struck at the other end however as keeper Shea Devlin spilled a searching delivery and substitute Caleb Smith had the simplest of chances to kick the sliothar into an empty net and conclude the scoring.
Tir na nOg will now meet the winners of Oisin Glenariffe and Cloney Gaels who meet in Ballymena on Monday night and while they will be delighted with their first half performance they will have some concerns about the second and it is something they will surely be taking a look at in the build up to the decider in 2 weeks-time.
Caleb Smith raises his arms in celebration after scoring Tir na nOg’s third goal
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