U21A Championship
Semi-Final
St Gall’s 3-14
Kickham’s Creggan 2-12
St. Gall’s got off to a flying start at Milltown on Sunday to sow the seeds of victory over visitors Kickham’s Creggan in this excellent U21A semi-final.
Niall Fallon was the man who did the early damage as he rattled the Creggan net twice as he used his pace to break through the Creggan defence before firing his shot into the far corner after Padraig Og Murray had opened the scoring with a St. Gall’s point.
From the Creggan kick-out the home side won possession and Callum Walsh linked well with Daniel Quinn to place Fallon who rose to punch home goal number two and the visitors looked in serious trouble.
The Staffordstown Road side slowly began to get it together however and Liam McClernon and Anton Martin both struck great points after driving through the heart of the St Gall’s defensive line twice in quick succession.
Daniel Quinn was impressing for the Milltown side and he fired over a 2 pointer to increase the St. Gall’s lead to seven again with less than five minutes remaining to the break.
It was point for point after this as the Kickham’s fought to overturn a hefty deficit and their persistence paid off when they struck with a quick fire double of their own.
Ronan McGuckian began the comeback as he fired to the roof of the home net as the travelling support roared their approval and when Anton Martin added a second Creggan goal, the St. Gall’s lead had been reduced to the minimum.
The momentum had swung the way of the South West side and the question now was could they sustain it.
Conor Johnston’s first point of the afternoon levelled proceedings but the visitors failed to build on their period of success and St Gall’s would regain the initiative when Daniel Quinn replied with two points in as many minutes to restore the one-point lead.
Substitute Dubhaltach MacCrabhagain made an immediate impact as he split the posts to restore the St. Gall’s advantage and Daniel Quinn followed with a brace as the Milltown Blues resumed control.
The momentum was now with the home side and Niall Fallon burst through the Creggan defence on a mazy run but his effort was blocked with the ball breaking favourably into the path of Callum Walsh who made no mistake from close range.
The kickham’s looked in serious trouble again but fought back strongly with Shea McCann punishing a number of indiscretions as they clawed their way back into the St. Gall’s lead but the holders were always able to respond.
Callum Walsh and Dubhaltach MacCrabhagain were both on target as the hosts moved five ahead with five remaining in this compelling contest which was still very much in the melting pot.
The travelling side were in desperate need of a goal however but Conor Johnston’s effort was brilliantly blocked by Ethan Walsh at the death to deny them any chance of a comeback.
Niall Fallon put it out of the visitors reach as he fisted over at the other end to put a bit more daylight between the sides and conclude the scoring for the afternoon.
St Gall’s are now on course to retain the trophy they claimed last year and will face St Brigid’s in the final after the Musgrave Park side defeated St. Mary’s Aghagallon in the other semi-final.
ST GALL’S: C Óg Mullan; C Hale, G Adams, F McCullagh; S Adams, L Lynn, E Walsh; O Maskey, M Crossan; A Mackel, D Quinn 0-8 (1x2P, 0-3f), C Walsh 1-1; J Rafferty 0-1, N Fallon 2-1, P Óg Murray 0-1
Subs: D MacCrabhanna 0-2, P Austin
CREGGAN KICKHAMS: C Loughran; P McGuckian, C McLarnon, F Kelly; F Close 0-2 (0-2f), C McEldowney, L McLernon 0-1; A McIlwee, T McCann; A Martin 1-1, R McGuckian 1-0, S Daly; C Johnston 0-3, E Johnston, S McCann 0-5 (0-4f)
Subs: S Devlin, D McCann
Referee: Fiontann McCotter (Sarsfields)