AIB Ulster Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Creggan Kickhams 3-17-2-21 Bredagh 

Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Esler

With extra time appearing to be on the cards Creggan’s Liam McCann proved his team’s hero when he broke clear of his marker around the middle of the field deep in second half injury time and sent over the winning point to seal the Antrim champions place in the semi-final of the Ulster Junior Club Hurling championship in two weeks’ time. There were chances for the Down men to draw level in the added time but the Creggan defence held firm and deny a luckless Bredagh side who contributed greatly to a top class game.

Both these team play their hurling in the Antrim leagues and both were relegated into the 3^rd division at the end of this season, but anyone watching Sunday’s game would have been baffled by those lowly league positions as both performed at a good level. Creggan had the upper hand for much of the first half and were good value for their six point lead at the break. However after the change of ends Bredagh came out of the traps more impressively than the Loughshore men and they held the upper hand for a good part of that second period. Creggan were managing to hold a three point lead for most of that time and when Kevin Rice got their second goal to increase the lead to six it seemed like plain sailing.

However Bredagh fought their way back, and boosted by a goal from a close range free by Tiernan Sheehan they closed the gap, and when they drew level going into injury time the smart money would have been on them advancing. It was not to be however and Liam McCann’s great point from distance handed the imitative back to the Antrim champions and they held on to seal a narrow win and a place in the semi-final against Tyrone champions Carrickmore.

The Down champions settled quickest in Pairc Esler with Niall Smyth and Ciaran McMullan sending over early scores, but Morgan Nelson responded for Creggan and back-to-back placed balls from Conor McCann (free and 65’) nudged the Antrim men ahead for the first time.

Bredagh levelled through a close-range point from Conor Costello but Creggan were begging to get on top and they soon went three clear.

A fantastic Thomas McCann point from range restored their lead, his brother Conor then dropped over his second 65’ and namesake Oran McCann sent one over.

Tiarnan Sheehan landed a free at the other end, but Creggan pushed further ahead with the game’s opening goal on the 19th minute.

A scramble ensued and the Bredagh defensive third and Conor McCann was in like a shot to fire home and give his side a 1-06-0-04 lead.

The gap was out to eight as points from Kevin Rice, Morgan Nelson and Sean Duffin pushed home Creggan’s advantage but Bredagh were thrown a lifeline before the interval when Ciaran McMullan’s high shot dropped over the head of Cormac Rice and into the net to make it 1-10-1-05.

Despite Sean Hughes finding a further point before the half was out, back-to-back McCann frees gave the south Belfast gave Creggan a 1-12-1-06 advantage at the interval.

Bredagh were revitalised when they emerged after the break and a point from a Sean Hughes free was followed by a well taken goal by  Mark Patterson which cut the game to just two points. (1-12-2-07)

It was score for score for a period time as Creggan got the gap out to three, only to see Bredagh cut it back to two

When Kevin Rice pulled a ground shot to the Bredagh net on 50 minutes Creggan had appeared to have done enough, but as things turned out there was to be no victory lap for Antrim men. As things turned out they were made to work very hard to win the race down the home straight as Bredagh battled back brilliantly.

Two points from Mark Patterson and Tiernan Sheehan’s goal from a free cut the gap back to the minimum, and when Sean McGouty found space on the left to fire over the equaliser the tension was palpable.

In a hectic final three minutes, it looked as if it could go either way, but Creggan got the break when Liam McCann broke clear of his marker on the 65 metre line and sent the winner high between the Bredagh posts.

Creggan Kickhams: C Rice, A Maguire, A McKeown, J McAteer, S Maguire, K McCann, L McCann (0-02), S Duffin (0-03), R McCann (0-03), M Nelson (0-02), K Rice (1-01), O McCann (0-02), T McCann (0-01), C McCann (1-06, 0-04f, 0-02 65’), D Mulholland. 

Subs: E Carey-Small (0-01) for D Mulholland (38), L Johnston for C McCann (56), T McLarnon for M Nelson (59). 

Bredagh: I Galway, O McFlynn, L Smyth, L Hogan (0-01), M Woods, N McFarland (0-01), T Sheehan (1-02f), M Patterson (1-03), J Hanrahan, C McMullan (1-01), S McGourty (0-02), S Hughes (0-05, 0-02f), N Smyth (0-01), A Carey, C Costello (0-01). 

Subs: J McCollum for N Smyth (HT), M Lavery for L Hogan (55), E Maguire for O McFlynn (57), R McCamphill for C Costello (57), R Curran for C McMullan (58). 

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)

Ulster Intermediate Hurling championship quarter-final

Kickham’s Creggan v Bredagh

Pairc Esler Sunday 2-00pm

When Kickham’s Creggan finished their division 2 league campaign with only one win from 13 starts it would have been the most optimistic of punters whowould have given them a chance when the championship came around.

That dreadful league campaign didn’t tell the full story of Creggan hurling however. The club had been decimated by a long injury list that affected both their hurlers and footballers but come championship time those injuries were starting to abate.

The Kickham’s were drawn in Group 2 with Padraig Sarsfields, Glenariffe, St Paul’s and Glenravel in a difficult qualifying group but made people sit up and take notice when they travelled to Waterfoot and beat the Oisin’s 3-16 to 1-13 in their opening game.

Perhaps they had caught a fancied Glenariffe off guard. That could have been the conclusion when Sarsfields visited the Staffordstown Road in round 2 and came away with a 1-10 to 0-10 win while Glenariffe recovered from the Creggan defeat to record a big win at St. Paul’s.

Creggan travelled to St. Paul’s in round three for what had become a ‘must win’ encounter and came away with a hard earned 0-17 to 0-15 victory over the Shaw’s Road side.

The improvement continued in round four when Con Magee’s travelled to Creggan with the home side emerging 1-23 to 1-17 winners in a solid if not spectacular win but it was obvious by this stage that the Kickham’s were gathering momentum.

On the same day Glenariffe travelled to the Bear Pit for a winner takes all encounter with Sarsfield’s and it was the home side who emerged with a late goal to join Creggan in the semi-finals.

And so it was that these two would meet again in the final after Sarsfield’s defeated a fancied Tir na nOg in Extra time and Creggan proved too good for pre-match favourites Cushendun in Glenravel.

Once again Creggan were handed the underdog tag when they faced up to a Niall McKenna led Sarsfield’s in the final in Dunsilly on Saturday the 14^th October but they continued to defy all predictions as Tommy McCann’s unlikely lads finishing strongly to run out deserving winners in the end.

Oran McCann’s 54^th minute goal was pivotal in Creggan seeing off a determined Sarsfields side 1-16-0-14 in the decider. Creggan trailed at the break in an evenly contested final and regained the initiative through a Thomas McCann score 12 minutes from time.

There was never more than two-points between the sides until the 54^th minute when McCann stretched the lead and then assisted in namesake Oran firing home the game’s only goal seconds later to seal their first Intermediate crown since 2015. 

County player Conor McCann has made his return to the side after almost a year out with injury and has helped to steady the Creggan ship. McCann managed only one point from play against a determined Sarsfield’s but his accuracy from frees helped his side over the line.

Their defence was sound with Sam Maguire and Sean Duffin contributing points while Odhran McCann top scored with 1-2 and Morgan Nelson, Kevin Rice and Thomas McCann all contributed with scores.

What of Bredagh?

Sunday’s opponents Bredagh play their hurling in the Antrim ACHL Division 2 and like their opponents on Sunday, won only one of their 13 games but recorded two draws to finish two points ahead of the Kickham’s in the league.

That win was over Creggan on the Staffordstown Road away back in early April with a goal separating the sides in a thrilling game that ended 3-14 to 2-14 in favour of the Down Intermediate champions.

Bredagh began this year’s championship campaign in the Down Senior Championship where they lost heavily to Portaferry defeating Newry Shamrocks 1-18 to 0-16 in their second game.

They ran Ballygalget close in their final game and were thus relegated to the Intermediate Championship where the winners qualifies for the subsequent Ulster Intermediate Club Championship.

Bredagh emerged winners of that championship after defeating Carryduff by 2-19 to 0-09 in the 2023 final.

That league meeting between Sunday’s opponents back in April would suggest that Bredagh will go into Sunday’s game with confidence but fortunes have improved for both sides since then. Bredagh trailed the home side for 55 of the 60 minutes in that league encounter, only getting over the line with a goal at the game entered extra time. 

Three minutes into the 2^nd half Bredagh had turned the home side’s 9-point advantage with 2 goals in quick succession.  The first of the 2 goals, scored by Liam Hogan, dropped over Tiernan McLarnon’s head to the back of the net.  The 2^nd goal, from Cormac Blaney, was unstoppable at close range. 

Bredagh’s final game in the Down Senior Championship, where they lost by only three to Ballygalget and their subsequent Intermediate success over Carryduff would suggest they are running into form just at the right time.

Creggan have impressed throughout the Antrim championship however and I would expect the McCann and Rice clans, Sean Duffin, Morgan Nelson and Co. to have enough to see them avenge that early season league defeat and advance to the Ulster semi-final in Newry

Creggan v Sarsfield’s Antrim final: C Rice, A Maguire, A McKeown, J McAteer, S Maguire (0-01), K McCann, L McCann, S Duffin (0-01), R McCann, M Nelson (0-02), K Rice (0-02), O McCann (1-02), T McCann (0-02), C McCann (0-06, 0-05f), D Mulholland. Subs: T McLarnon for D Mulholland (46), L Johnston for O McCann (59), P McGuckian for S Maguire (60+2). 

Andersonstown Social Club Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship Final 

Sarsfields 0-14-1-16 Creggan Kickham’s 

Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly 

Oran McCann’s 54^th minute goal was pivotal in Creggan seeing off a determined Sarsfields side 1-16-0-14 in Saturday evenings Andersonstown Social Club Intermediate Hurling Final at Dunsilly. 

Creggan trailed at the break in an evenly contested final and regained the initiative through a Thomas McCann score 12 minutes from time.

There was never more than two-points between the sides until the 54^th minute when McCann stretched the lead and then assisted in namesake Oran firing home the game’s only goal seconds later to seal their first Intermediate crown since 2015. 

Creggan’s Oran McCann raises his hand his celebration after scoring the only goal of the game in Saturday’s Intermediate Hurling Championship win over Sarsfields at Dunsilly.

Kevin McKernan would depart proceedings a few minutes later and it didn’t help the Paddies cause as they sought a comeback that wouldn’t materialise in the end. 

The opening stages saw both sides cancel each other out at will. Daniel Smyth drew first blood for Sarsfields, only for Morgan Nelson to immediately respond at the other end. 

Kevin McKernan opened his account and restored his sides lead from the placed ball, but Connor McCann hit back from the same scenario. 

Creggan edged ahead for the first time thanks to a fine Ruairi McCann point and namesake Oran doubled the lead after taking a lay off from Sean Duffin and swinging over. 

Anthony McGarrigle halved the deficit, profiting from a turnover and then taking advantage with the score and his side pulled level through a 65’ from Kevin McKernan. 

McKernan ensured his side forged ahead for the third time, taking a pass from Daniel Smyth and dropping over a superb angled point to make it 0-05-0-04. 

Connor McCann restored parity from a free that was awarded prior to Kevin Rice’s shot almost being spilled to the net by Gerard McKeown. 

The point trading pattern continued, Niall McKenna floated over his first point of the contest, but Sam Maguire immediately cancelled it out with his first of the evening. 

A scoreless period of almost ten minutes followed before Anthony McGarrigle would double his account and edge Sarsfields ahead again. 

The Stewartstown outfit doubled their lead through a pop over by Mark Rea, though they were perhaps fortunate to lead at the break. 

Oran McCann doubled his tally and halved the deficit after combining with Connor and just before the half time whistle Diarmuid Mulholland watched in amazement as his close-range flick on was somehow scrambled off the line to safety and Sarsfields held a slender 0-08-0-07 lead at the midway stage. 

Creggan pulled level for the fifth time after the restart through Connor McCann’s first point from play and third score overall. 

They would have Cormac Rice to thank for remaining level a few minutes later as their shot-stopper parried Donal McKernan’s goal bound shot.  

The nervy nature of the game continued with the next six scores evenly traded approaching the final quarter of an hour. 

Kevin McKernan restored his sides slender lead from a free, only for Connor McCann to draw his side level from the same scenario after Kevin Rice was obstructed. 

Niall McKenna produced an excellent over the shoulder effort that dropped between the posts, but Creggan talisman McCann brought his personal tally to five with his fourth converted free to make it 0-10 apiece on the 45^th minute. 

Sarsfields edged ahead for the last time after Niall McKenna nipped in and turned the ball over, before finding Daniel McKernan to point. 

Sean Duffin would swing over the equaliser and ensure his side had pulled level for the eighth and final time. 

Less than 60-seconds later Thomas McCann dropped over an angled score to swing the pendulum. 

McCann doubled their advantage through his fifth free and although Kevin McKernan halved the deficit with a sensational side-line cut, Creggan were about to seal victory with 60-seconds of brilliance. 

Morgan Nelson produced a wonder score and after Sarsfields short puck-out was turned over, Thomas McCann dropped over a point and opened up a three-point lead for the first time (0-15-0-12). 

They would firmly turn the screw just seconds later as McCann again won possession and slipped a pass through to Oran McCann- who lined up a bullet of a shot that gave Gerard McKeown no chance of saving and opened up a 1-15-0-12 gap in the process. 

Sarsfields needed a quick goal, though had to settle for a super Kevin McKernan point instead. 

It would be McKernan’s last positive contribution as he struck out in frustration as Sean Duffin in front of referee Ciaran McCloskey- who had no hesitation in brandishing the red card. 

Creggan landed their final score of the evening from the subsequent free that was worked cross field to Kevin Rice to pop over. 

The 14-men of Sarsfields continued to throw their all in search a goal that would have set up a grandstand finish. 

Caaolan McKernan floated in a few high balls that came to nothing. Niall McKenna would have the opportunity to try and yield something positive from a close-range free that was diverted over the bar instead for a point. 

In the end, Creggan negotiated the remainder of time at ease to ensure that the Intermediate title would be heading back to the Loughshore for the first time in eight-years and they can now look forward to an Ulster campaign- where they will meet the winners of the Down Championship on November 5^th.

Creggan: C Rice, A Maguire, A McKeown, J McAteer, S Maguire (0-01), K McCann, L McCann, S Duffin (0-01), R McCann, M Nelson (0-02), K Rice (0-02), O McCann (1-02), T McCann (0-02), C McCann (0-06, 0-05f), D Mulholland. Subs: T McLarnon for D Mulholland (46), L Johnston for O McCann (59), P McGuckian for S Maguire (60+2). 

Sarsfields: G McKeown, N McAlea, J Daniels, M McCavanagh, J Cunningham, C McKernan, E McCartan, K McKernan (0-06, 0-01f, 0-01 65’, 0-01s), Daniel McKernan (0-01), D Smith (0-01), N McKenna (0-03, 0-01f), A McGarrigle (0-02), Donal McKernan, G Lennon, M Rea (0-01). Subs: N O’Mullane for M Rea (36), O Coleman for Donal McKernan. (41), M Johnston for J Cunningham (43), R McAreavey for D Smith (55). 

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Loughgiel)

Creggan’s Ruairi McCann receives the Nobel Cafe Man of the Match awards from Paddy McIlwaine

ANDERSONSTOWN SC IHC Final

Patrick Sarsfield’s v Kickham’s Creggan

Dunsilly Saturday 5.00pm

With Tir na nOg leading by a point and seemingly on their way to this year’s Andersonstown SC Intermediate Hurling final and Sarsfield’s pushing for an equaliser, Sean Duffin body checked Caolan McKernan on the sideline and 45 yards from goal with referee Ciaran McCloskey blowing for a free.

The large crowd at Dunsilly held their collective breath as Niall McKenna stepped up to take the pressure free. Convert it and the game would go to extra time. Miss and it would be Tir na nOg who would advance to the decider.

McKenna is no stranger to pressure and held his nerve to fire the resulting free between the uprights, much to the approval of the Sarsfield’s supporters in the large crowd and the rest is history.

Anthony McGarrigle fired past Kevin Sheerin, 30 seconds into extra time and Gary Lennon added a point to give the Stewartstown Road side a lead that they never looked again like losing.

Eamon Og McAllister pulled one back for the Randalstown side but the momentum was very much with Sarsfield’s as Kevin McKernan pointed at the other end to restore their four point advantage.

The Belfast side were now winning a lot of dirty ball and were more measured in their attacks and Niall McKenna pointed a free and added another one from play to move them six ahead.

Tir na nOg were still fighting hard but the momentum was very much with their opponents and another point from the influential McKenna had Sarsfields seven in front at the short whistle.

The Whitehill side kept going right to the end but there would be no way back as the Sarsfield’s defence stood strong and a couple of pointed Sean Duffin frees in response to points from substitute Nicholas O’ Mullan and man of the match, Niall McKenna brought matters to a close.

The next day, 20 miles down the road at Glenravel it was Kickham’s Creggan’s county player, Conor McCann who guided his side to victory in the other semi-final with a man of the match display against a fancied Emmet’s Cushendun at Fr Maginn Park.

McCann, who missed all of last season through injury only returned to action a few weeks ago, but he showed just how vital he is to his team as he scored 1-10 of their 3-11 total, four of those points coming in the last eight minutes to pull his team clear of danger.

This win certainly made quite a few sit up and take notice. The Kickham’s had endured an injury ravished season and finished bottom of division 2 with only one win from 13 starts and had recorded only one win from 13 starts.

They lost to Sarsfield’s by a goal in Creggan on the opening day of the group stages of the championship but the return to fitness of Conor McCann and several of the other walking wounded has brought about a dramatic change in fortunes and form.

They recovered from the Sarsfields defeat to record an impressive 3-16 to 1-13 win over Oisin Glenariff in Waterfoot and followed that up with a win over St. Paul’s in Belfast and a home win over Con Magee’s Glenravel to qualify for the semi-final.

That impressive win against last year’s beaten finalists Emmet’s Cushendun sets them up with another meeting with Sarsfield’s and an opportunity to avenge that group 2 defeat earlier in the year.

Sarsfield’s suffered a surprise defeat to St. Paul’s on day two at the Bear Pit but recovered to defeat Con Magee’s at Fr. Maginn Park, setting up a winner takes all meeting with Glenariff in the final round 2 game at the Bear Pit.

A Kevin McKernan goal from the penalty spot in the 59^th minute turned this bruising Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2 encounter very much in favour of Sarsfield’s as they overcame the challenge of Oisin, Glenariffe to qualify for a semi-final meeting with Cushendun.

Five minutes previous an Aaron Cosgrove point had moved the visitors three ahead and it looked like the Waterfoot side were on their way to the semis, but it was Sarsfield’s who would finish the stronger.

McKernan’s penalty conversion saw Sarsfield’s run out 2-15 to 1-16 winners to set up that semi-final meeting with Tir na nOg which they won after extra time and another meeting with Creggan on Saturday evening in Dunsilly in the decider.

Both sides are laced with experienced players with the McKernan clan, Gerard, Caolan, Kevin, Daniel and Donal all starting in the semi-final while Jack Daniels, Mark McCavanagh, Enda McCartan, Gary Lennon and Niall McKenna led the Sarsfield’s challenge.

Conor McCann is the man who can swing this one in favour of the Kickham’s and the former county captain is likely to come in for some close attention but Creggan are not a one man team.

His brother Thomas, a former county player himself, Kevin Rice, Aidan McKeown, the Maguires, Aidan and Sam, Ruairi McCann and Jake McAteer are just some of the survivors from Creggan’s last championship final appearance against Carey Faughs in 2021.

The Kickham’s lost that one to a strong Carey Faughs side and were beaten by St. Gall’s in the final back in 2018.

Saturday evenings decider may well come down to whether Conor McCann for Creggan or Niall McKenna for Sarsfields performs to their optimum but both sides have other match winners within their ranks.

In the end it will come down to the side that wants it most and Sarsfield’s certainly displayed that hunger in bagful’s against Tir na nOg and that hunger might just get them over the line over an improving Creggan.