Antrim Football League Division 1

Kickhams Creggan 4-22 | O’Donovan Rossa 1-06

Anyone arriving late to Creggan on Wednesday evening would have missed a breathless opening to this Division 1 encounter, but what followed was a clinical exhibition from the league leaders. Despite a frantic first minute that saw both teams raise early green flags, the men from the Loughshore quickly found their rhythm, putting O’Donovan Rossa to the sword with a devastating display of scoring power to ultimately run out 25-point winners.

If the opening sixty seconds—which saw both nets rattle in a true score-fest tease—suggested a tight shootout, Creggan quickly dispelled the notion. After the early exchange of goals left the sides level at 1-1, Creggan’s Keelan McCann nudged them ahead with a well-taken point just two and a half minutes in.

Rossa pressed hard for an immediate response. Conal McDonald made a surging run and unleashed a shot that looked destined for the net, only for the Creggan keeper to pull off a superb save. The resulting ’45’ was coolly converted by Eoin Fleming to keep the city men in touch.

However, Creggan quickly shifted through the gears. Their right-half forward Sean Duffin slotted a point from play, and a brilliant team movement in the 9th minute culminated in a rare goal from their overlapping fullback on the right wing, stretching the lead to 3-1.

Creggan Turn the Screw

From there until the short whistle, it was one-way traffic. Creggan’s midfield and half-forward lines dominated the breaking ball. Their number 8 added another from 20 meters, followed swiftly by a point from their number 10. Shea McCann (11) then tapped over a close-range free to push the score line to 2-5 to 1-2 by the end of the first quarter.

While Conal McDonald managed a free for Rossa at the 17-minute mark to stem the tide briefly, Shea McCann immediately answered with another free of his own. The defining blow of the half came in the 21st minute when Liam Quinn collected the ball, fashioned some space, and fired home Creggan’s third goal off the post.

McDonald added a lovely score from play for Rossa, but the Loughshore men finished the half relentlessly. Sean Duffin finished off a slick build-up, and Conor Johnstonn landed a super point just before the break, leaving Creggan fully in control at 3-10 to 1-04 at half-time.

Second Half: The McCanns Take Over

Any hopes of a Rossa revival were extinguished immediately after the restart as Joe McAteer picked up right where he left off, firing over the first point of the half. Creggan’s Conor Johnston followed up with a beautiful curling left-footed effort.

The third quarter became the Jamie McCann show. Operating at number 9, he drove the team forward, pointing in the 9th minute to keep the scoreboard ticking. Moments later, a sweeping move involving Sam Maguire and Conor McCann (19) teed up Joe McAteer to pop the ball over the bar. Ruairi McCann then got his name on the scoresheet as Creggan’s lead extended even further.

Substitute Ronan McGuckian (21) made an immediate impact upon his introduction, justifying his deployment with a lovely left-footed point following a period of sustained Creggan possession. Jamie McCann then added another from midfield to compound Rossa’s misery.

Rossa briefly interrupted the onslaught when Corey Walsh found his range, scoring twice in quick succession from the right wing around the 22nd minute. But the respite was short-lived. Jamie McCann immediately struck back with a sweet left-footed effort from the left flank, completely neutralizing the Rossa momentum.

In the closing stages, Creggan were simply queuing up to score. Joe McAteer and Shea McCann kept the umpires busy, and fittingly, Creggan’s Sean Duffin landed the final point of the evening in the 29th minute. With a fourth goal registered in the second half alongside an avalanche of points, the final whistle brought an end to a torrid evening for Rossa.

Creggan marched on, their 4-22 to 1-06 victory a resounding statement of their Division 1 title credentials.

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ACFL Division 1

St. Pauls 2-17 All Saints 3-15

All Saints secured two valuable ACFL Division 1 points with a narrow 3-15 to 2-17 victory over St. Paul’s on the Shaw’s Road, despite a late fight-back from the hosts. Goals from Ciaran Campbell, James McDonnell, and Joe Rafferty powered the Ballymena side to a crucial win that moves them away from the bottom of the table.

First-Half Drama

The match exploded into life in the 2nd minute when St. Paul’s goalkeeper Jack McAufield made a great blocking save to deny Connell Lemon. Caoimhin Duffy opened the scoring for the hosts, but All Saints hit back rapidly. Points from Conor Stewart and Benny McDonnell were followed by a clinical 11th-minute goal from Ciaran Campbell.

Despite All Saints wasting further goal chances, James McDonnell split the posts to stretch their lead. St. Paul’s punished a defensive mix-up in the 17th minute when Shea Burns found the net, sparking a scoring spree from Caoimhin Duffy that put the hosts 1-5 to 1-3 ahead. All Saints rallied brilliantly before the break; Cal O’Brien struck a fine 2 pointer and James McDonnell finished a slick team move for a superb goal, and further points from Conor Stewart, Ronan McKillop, and Connell Lemon ensured the visitors led 2-8 to 1-9 at halftime.

Second-Half Survival

St. Paul’s intent was clear from the restart as Shea Burns rattled the post just 30 seconds into the second half. Inspired by the accurate free taking of Ciaran Rogers, the hosts levelled the match at 1-11 to 2-8 by the 4th minute. All Saints responded and their pace and movement again put them in the ascendancy. Connell Lemon clipped over two points before Joe Rafferty scrambled a vital third goal over the line after Ronan McKillop’s initial effort was blocked.

Points from McKillop and Campbell pushed the Ballymena side into a commanding seven-point lead (3-13 to 1-12) by the 15th minute but St. Paul’s refused to yield on home turf. After James McDonnell and Connell Lemon added late scores for the visitors, St. Paul’s launched a furious comeback. Liam McKenna bagged a 26th-minute goal, and Aodhan Kavanagh dragged the hosts within a single point in the 29th minute. Showing immense composure in the dying seconds, All Saints intelligently retained possession to run down the clock and secure a vital victory.

St. Paul’s: Jack McAufield, 2. Cian McCann, 3. Aodhan Kavanagh, 4. Michael Duffy, 5. Niall McKenna, 6. Marcus Munce, 7. Ciaran Rogers Duffy, 8. James Farrell, 9. Conor Hughes, 10. Pearse Magee, 11. Conall Duffy, 12. Caomhin Killyleah, 13. Caoimhin Duffy, 14. Lorcan Phillips, 15. Shea Burns.
Sub used: 20. Liam McKenna.

All Saints: Ryan Stewart, 2. Sean McDermott, 3. Michael Read, 4. Joe Rafferty, 5. Harry Connon, 6. Cal O’Brien, 7. Matty Downey, 8. Peter McReynolds, 9. Emmet Killough, 10. Connell Lemon, 11. James McDonnell, 12. Conor Stewart, 13. Ciaran Campbell, 14. Benny McDonnell, 15. Ronan McKillop.

Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)

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