ACFL Div. 5 - Glenravel Vs Kickhams
Creggan reserves continued their 100% winning run at the start of the season with a hard ground out victory against a typically robust Glenravel side.
To say the conditions were conducive to free flowing football would have been very wide of the mark, with the pitch being more akin to a swimming pool making it a night for digging in and grinding out a result. The visitors couldn’t be faulted on this as they travelled with the bare minimum of 15 players to get the job done.
Creggan registered the first three scores of the evening, two from the boot of Hugh McNulty and a fine long range effort from Sam Maguire. The opening play centred more around the middle third of the pitch as possession and passing were difficult to master in the sodden conditions.
A further three points for either side were traded, with the visitor’s scores coming from the in-form Hugh MuNulty and midfielder Seamie Allen. This saw the end of the scoring in the first half to leave Kickhams leading by three points at the turnaround.
The Creggan men continued to pull ahead after the restart with Cathal Small and Eunan McAteer raising white flags to each record their first scores of the game. Glenravel pegged one back with a pointed free of their own but the by now injured Eunan McAteer slipped over another minor score to reinstate their advantage. Because of the non availability of any subs the Kickhams captain had to battle on in the full forward line and try and see out the game as best he could.
The home side got the next score of the game but that man McNulty once again showed his accuracy by converting two frees to extend Creggan’s lead. All that was to change though as the now increasingly overworked visitor’s defence was finally breached with Glenravel scoring a breakaway goal which they further supplemented with a point. Game on, as the margin between the sides was now two points.
Some valiant defending from the likes of Sean McLarnon and Paul Nelson played their part in halting the now resurgent home team who by now sensed they could turn this game in their favour. Mention must also go to goalkeeper Peter Graham who palmed a great shot that was sneaking in to the top corner over the bar.
Cathal Small pointed for Kickhams after a controlled, patient build up of interchanging hand passes (see video…and despite what Teddy thought…listen carefully) to edge themselves ahead by three, but Glenravel didn’t lie down and responded with two pointed free kicks off their own to narrow the gap to the minimum. Fortunately the long whistle brought the game to an end and Creggan headed out of the Glens with a deserved two points.
It wasn’t an evening for fancy football or displaying silky skills and all fifteen Kickhams men contributed hugely to this victory, so great credit to them all.
Next up for the Division 5 side is another away fixture, this time against Dunloy, on Sunday 4th May.
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