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Minor League Final & Laverty Cup Final

Minor League Final & Laverty Cup Final
1 November 2008

Kickhams Creggan 1-06
Cargin 0-07

Creggan minors captured a historic treble on Saturday at Aghagallon when they secured the final two trophies on offer to complete the full set of All County Championship, SW League and Laverty Cup trophies. This is a remarkable achievement from the young lads and they thoroughly deserve the plaudits from their achievements this year.

Due to the time of the year, the recent weather and the availability of pitches it was decided to play off the remaining two trophies in this one match to finally bring the 2008 season to a resolution.

After the exhibition of football that was produced from both teams in the County Championship Final in Casement another feast was eagerly anticipated by the crowd. This however did not materialize as the game was played out against a backdrop of fouls, sending offs and stoppages and it would be fair to say that about every fourth kick was a free kick to one side or the other.

After a shaky start and kicking numerous free kicks wide of the posts Creggan managed to get on the score sheet when Odhran McLarnon converted a chance to get our lads off the mark. It took a full 20 minutes before Cargin registered their first score to equalize but when they did they followed that up with a further three points to take a considerable lead.

A bizarre turn of events saw a side line ball contested by Daniel Bateson, Creggan’s substitute ‘keeper and a Cargin player which saw Daniel sent off even though he wasn't even on the pitch.

Creggan remained in the match and kept within touching distance by claiming the final two scores of the first half as David McGuckian and Cathal Small converted free kicks to leave the minimum between the teams. Creggan 0-03, Cargin 0-04.

Cargin extended their lead early in the second period as they fired over a point, and then this score was cancelled out by a fine point from Hugh McNulty. Things then took a turn nasty when Cargin got two players dismissed in quick succession for a series of yellow card offences. This indiscipline proved to be the turning point in the match as Creggan pretty much controlled things from this point onward.

They got the crucial score of the game when Damian McLarnon took a hopeful shot towards goal which found its way over the Cargin ‘keepers head and hit the back of the net. This put Creggan two points to the good but Cargin kept on the pressure and drew level with two points in succession.

In the final seven minutes or so Creggan, with their numerical advantage, had the upper hand in the closing stages and they ensured victory when Odhran McLarnon converted a free and Conor McCann had the final say as he popped over a good score to give Creggan the victory they wanted.

All that was left to do was for captain Odhran to lift the two trophies, get changed and head back to Creggan and turn their attention on their assault on Ulster in the coming months.

Kickhams Team - Aidan McKeown, BJ McKeown, Ricky Johnston, Paul Nelson, Aidan Maguire, Martin Johnston, Fergal McGrenaghan, Paddy McAuley, Seamus Allen, Cathal Small (0-01), Conor McCann (0-01), David McGuckian (0-01), Damian McLarnon (1-0), Hugh McNulty (0-01), Odhran McLarnon (0-02).

More pictures in the Gallery Section

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