ACFL Division 1
All Saints 1-14 Creggan -20
Kickham’s Creggan went into this game requiring a point to clinch the division 1 league title and while they eventually finished with two, they were made to work for them by a lively All Saints Ballymena at Quinn Park on Wednesday night.
The visitors led by a goal at the halfway stage despite playing against the breeze, thanks to a goal from Conor Small after 20 minutes but when James ‘Jimbo’ McDonnell fired home the equaliser from the penalty spot, 6 minutes into the second half we looked to have a game on our hands.
As the breeze increased, it was Creggan who pushed on, playing some excellent controlled football and they would out score their hosts going down the home straight with the Ballymena side finding it difficult to break the Creggan press.
Conor Lemon opened the scoring with an All Saints point after 4 minutes with Liam Quinn fisting over the equaliser at the other end before Benny McDonnell restored the host’s lead with a great 2 pointer.
Points from Shea McCann (f), Ruairi McCann and Liam Quinn saw the visitors hit the front again by the 11th minute but another 2 pointer, this time from Conor Stewart saw the home side men edge ahead for the third time.
Conor Johnston fisted over at the other end to level matters again and Liam Quinn restored the visitor’s advantage before team captain, Benny McDonnell levelled it once more in a pulsating game of football.
A fisted point from Shea McCann and an opportunist goal from Conor Small seemed to have put the Kickham’s in control but All Saints refused to fold and the introduction of county player, Paddy McAleer, steadied the home side.
Conor Stewart and Ciaran Campbell replied with points with Joe McAteer and Liam Quinn on target at the other end as play swung from end to end with some excellent passages of approach play from both sides.
Connell Lemon and Jimbo McDonnell had it back to two as we approached half time but the final score of the half fell to Creggan’s Dominic McAteer, whose point left a goal between the sides at the interval.
Conor Johnston and Benny McDonnell exchanged points on the restart before All Saints were awarded a penalty which James McDonnell fired confidently home to tie the contest at 1-12 to 1-12.
The home support were on their toes in anticipation of a famous result but it was the Staffordstown Road side who showed why their unbeaten this season as we moved into the final quarter.
As the wind increased following a shower of rain, All Saints were finding it harder and harder to stage meaningful attacks and would add just two further points as Creggan began to turn the screw.
Sam Maguire, Jamie McCann, Joe McAteer, Shea McCann (f), Conor Small with an excellent 2 pointer and another Orange flag raised by Ruairi McCann saw them move clear to claim the points and the ACFL Division 1 league title.
All Saints: Ryan Stewart, 2 Sean McDermott, 3 Michael Read, 4 Joe Rafferty, 5 Patrick Fewrris, 6 Cal O’Brien, 7 Harry Copnnon, 8 Peter McReynolds, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Connell Lemon, 11 Conor Stewart, 12 James McDonnell, 13 Sean O’Brien, 14 Benny McDonnell, 15 Ciaran Campbell.
Subs: Paddy McAleer, Kavan Keenan Paudi Mitchell, Sean McVeigh
Creggan: 1 Oisin Kerr, 2 Aidan Maguire, 3 Liam McLernon, 4 Fintan Close, 5 Sam Maguire, 6 Ethan Carey Small, 7 Dominic McAteer, 8 Keelan McCann, 9 Jamie McCann, 10 Shea McCann, 11 Joe McAteer, 12 Ruairi McCann, 13 Conor Johnston, 14 Liam Quinn, 15 Conor Small
Subs: Kevin Small
Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)
Jade Gillan picked the lucky numbers this week in the All Saints GAC lotto winning a fantastic £9.8k. Congratulations to Jade and family.
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