Antrim Football League – Division 1
Erin’s Own Cargin 1-08 Kickham’s Creggan 0-15
PICS BY CLAIRE FAWL PHOTOGRAPHY
A brace of long-range, two-point scores in the second half from team captain Ethan Carey Small and Ruairi McCann proved to be the deciding factor as Kickham’s Creggan secured a vital derby victory over Cargin. Played at the Toome venue on Sunday, the match was fiercely contested despite the harsh, wet, and windy conditions that challenged both sets of players throughout the afternoon.
The opening period was a tight affair, with Cargin initially capitalizing on the strong breeze at their backs. Around the tenth minute, Ben McLarnon found the back of the Creggan net to give the home side an early three-point advantage. However, the visitors responded well against the elements, driven by the tireless work of Jamie McCann and Ruairi McCann in the middle third. By halftime, Cargin’s lead had been reduced to the bare minimum, with the scoreboard reading 1-04 to 0-06.
With the wind at their backs for the second half, Creggan quickly erased the deficit. Eunan McAteer leveled the match in the 32nd minute, and Jarlath McAteer soon edged the visitors ahead after finishing off a well-placed delivery from the midfield. Cargin refused to fold, battling the worsening rain to draw level once more when Callum Gribbin converted a free won by a hard-working Paul McCann.
The turning point arrived near the 42nd minute. After the Creggan goalkeeper made a crucial save to deny Cargin, Fiontan Close initiated a swift counter-attack. Aiden Maguire linked up with Ethan Carey Small, who confidently struck a long-range effort from the left wing to register a valuable two-point score. Ruairi McCann then extended the lead to three points following a pass from Liam McLernon, putting Creggan firmly in control.
As the game entered its final ten minutes, Creggan effectively sealed the result. Jamie McCann launched another impressive long-range strike for a second two-pointer, pushing the visitors’ tally to 0-14 against Cargin’s 1-05. Despite missing several county players, the home side kept fighting until the final whistle. Even after Creggan were reduced in numbers late on, James Laverty and Callum Gribbin managed late points for Cargin. However, a matching score from Joe McAteer ensured Creggan comfortably crossed the line with a 0-15 to 1-08 victory.
Referee: C Thompson (St Johns)
CARGIN
Daniel McCann, Conan Johnston, Marty Kane, Sean Og Quinn, Ronan Devlin, Cahir Donnelly, Charlie McCann, James Laverty (0-02), David Johnston (0-01), Paul McCann (0-02), Jack Harney, Patrick O’Neill, Callum Gribbin (0-03), Ben McLarnon (1-00). Substitutes: Ciaran Bradley, Cillian Scullion, Fiontan Hardy.
CREGGAN
Oisin Kerr, A Martin, Ricki Johnston, L McLernon, Fiontan Close (0-01), Ethan C Small (0-01, 1x2pt), A Maguire, J McCann (0-03), Eunan McAteer (0-02), R McCann (0-02, 1x2pt), D McAteer, S McCann, C Johnston (0-01), J McAteer, P McAuley (0-03).
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