Creggan comeback seals Breslin Shield in Portglenone thriller
South West Antrim Under-16 B Football – Breslin Shield Final
Kickhams Creggan 2-13 St Joseph’s Glenavy 3-08
Portglenone
Kickhams Creggan produced a tremendous second-half fightback to edge St Joseph’s Glenavy by two points in a thrilling Breslin Shield final at Portglenone.
Glenavy appeared to have one hand on the trophy when Cormac Green finished a superb end-to-end move to the net three minutes into the second half, stretching their advantage to eight points. However, Creggan refused to buckle and, inspired by an outstanding performance from Conall Wilson, fought their way back into contention before late goals from Harry McKay and Ronan Maguire turned the final on its head.
It had been Glenavy who made the flying start. Jude Burke opened the scoring inside the first minute before Joseph Monaghan struck for the game’s opening goal just 30 seconds later.
Odhran Shannon-McLaughlin added a free in the sixth minute, and although the Creggan goalkeeper produced an excellent point-blank save soon afterwards, Shea Higham stretched Glenavy’s advantage with a point in the eighth minute.
Creggan had taken time to settle but Mark Óg McGrath finally opened their account with a good point from play before Michael Duffin followed with an excellent individual score.
Glenavy struck another major blow in the 18th minute. Creggan’s goalkeeper again did brilliantly to stop the initial effort, but Higham was on hand to finish the rebound to the net and leave St Joseph’s firmly in control.
The Kickhams responded impressively. McGrath converted a free, Harry McKay split the posts and Wilson added another as Creggan began eating into the deficit.
Reece Denver responded with two quick points for Glenavy, but Cillian McKenna and McKay kept Creggan in touch. Denver landed his third point shortly before the break, while Conan Devlin also produced an important goal-line clearance at the other end.
That left Glenavy 2-06 to 0-07 ahead at half-time, and the five-point margin reflected an opening half in which St Joseph’s had been the sharper side early on before Creggan gradually worked their way into the contest.
Glenavy then made the perfect start to the second period. A sweeping move began deep inside their own half and ended with Green driving the ball into the Creggan net after three minutes, opening up a commanding 3-06 to 0-07 advantage.
Instead of ending Creggan’s challenge, however, the goal sparked their best spell of the contest.
Wilson pointed in the seventh minute, McGrath followed in the eighth and McKenna added another a minute later. Wilson struck again almost immediately as Creggan pinned Glenavy inside their own half and rapidly reduced the deficit.
Conor Marley eventually relieved the pressure with Glenavy’s first point of the half in the 15th minute, but the momentum was now very much with the Kickhams.
The breakthrough they needed arrived in the 21st minute when Harry McKay found the Glenavy net. Denver replied with a point for St Joseph’s, but Creggan were not finished.
Four minutes later Ronan Maguire produced the score that transformed the contest, sending a long-range effort sailing into the top corner of the Glenavy net. Joe Connolly quickly followed with a point and suddenly a game Glenavy had appeared to control was slipping away.
There was still time for more drama. Creggan’s goalkeeper produced another brilliant point-blank save in the 31st minute to protect his team’s narrow advantage before Conall Wilson, outstanding throughout the second half, landed the final point in the 32nd minute.
Wilson’s performance earned him the man-of-the-match honours, but this was ultimately a victory built on Creggan’s refusal to accept defeat. Eight points behind immediately after Glenavy’s third goal, they outscored St Joseph’s 2-06 to 0-02 over the remainder of the contest to complete a memorable comeback and claim the Breslin Shield.
Creggan scorers: Harry McKay 1-2, Ronan Maguire 1-0, Conall Wilson 0-3, Mark Óg McGrath 0-3 (1 free), Cillian McKenna 0-2, Michael Duffin 0-1, Joe Connolly 0-1.
Glenavy scorers: Shea Higham 1-1, Joseph Monaghan 1-0, Cormac Green 1-0, Reece Denver 0-4, Jude Burke 0-1, Odhran Shannon-McLaughlin 0-1 (free), Conor Marley 0-1.
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