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Kickham’s Creggan 2-12

St Enda’s 3-07

From the moment Conor Small struck his first point after only thirty seconds of the throw-in, he put down a marker of his intentions for the remainder of the game. The young Creggan star finished with a personal tally of 2-09 in this highly competitive and tense minor B championship final, played under the lights of the superb St Mary’s facilities in Ahoghill. Mid-way through the second half Creggan lead by eight points, however in a whirlwind final quarter, a three goal salvo from the Hightown men changed the complexion of the game completely. In the end it took last gasp points from Donal Carey and Conor Small to help Kickhams over the finishing line.

Three points by Conor Small and one from Niall McAuley in the opening ten minutes put Kickhams four points to the good before St Enda’s got off the mark with two points from county star Joe Maskey. While Kickhams were picking off their scores easier, it was St Enda’s who were applying all the pressure. Mid-way through the half they had Creggan pinned inside their own 65 and but for some valiant and intelligent defending by Jake McAteer, St Enda’s could have raised more than one green flag. Indeed by the end of the first quarter Kickhams keeper Kealan McCann had to rely on his goal post to keep a first half clean sheet. However, on seventeen minutes a well worked turn over saw Donal Carey solo 30 yards before off-loading to Conor Small who unleashed an unstoppable shot to the roof of the St Enda’s net. Two well worked points in the 16 and 19 minutes from the stick of Michael McNicholl and two Kickhams points from James Carey and Conor Small left the half time score 1-06 to 0-04 in favour of Creggan.

St Enda’s started the second half the brighter and by the 10th minute had points from Joe Maskey and the ever lively Cillian Jennings. However, when a 12th minute high ball was allowed to bobble precariously in the St Enda’s defence, Conor Small was on hand to reach up and flick it to the roof of the net to put six points between the teams. Going into the final quarter two more Conor Small points increased Creggan’s lead to eight points. However, two goals in as many minutes from St Endas in the 19th and 20th minutes, the first from Joe Maskey and the second an absolute peach of a volley from all of twenty yards from Edward O’Connor, turned the game completely on its head to set up a scintillating final 10 minutes. Although still two points behind, for the first time in the game St Enda’s’ had built up a head of steam and started to push for home. However two further points from the irrepressible Conor Small and one from Donal Carey put five between them. However, the St Endas goal glut wasn’t finished yet. In the 26th minute they struck a real blow to the Creggan jugular, hitting a goal and immediately followed up with a point to leave the Creggan men leading by a solitary point and setting up a grand stand finish in the final four minutes. The Hightown men really turned the screw in search of the equaliser and after striking two shots wide of the posts, they were luckless when hitting the upright. However, as it began, so it finished, with the 17 year old effervescent scoring sensation Conor Small hitting the final point of the game in the first minute of extra time to secure a two point victory for Creggan and end the gallant St Enda’s fight back.

Great credit must go to both teams for the highly competitive bill of fare served up. Like two heavyweight boxers having gone 15 rounds, both teams saved their best until the last few rounds. Having been dealt severe body blows and indeed having been knocked to the canvass three times in the final quarter of the game, the Kickhams lads picked themselves up and landed a couple of final jabs to gain a deserved two point victory.

For the winners Kevin Small at centre half back in the Kickhams defence was a colossus. He was ably assisted in defence by Michael Carey-Small, Jake McAteer and Ciaran Rice. Winning captain James Carey put in a great shift at mid field while Donal Carey, Niall McAuley and the impressive Conor Small were the stand out forwards.

For brothers James & Donal Carey and Conor Small, they can now add a minor championship medal to the All-Ireland Junior medals they won in February with the Creggan senior hurling team.

For the losers, St Enda’s can thank their goal keeper Harry O’Hanlon for a great game between the posts. In particular his point blank save from Conor Small in the first five minutes of the game, was something straight from the top drawer. Jason Marley at full back and minor county star Eoin Conlon at number 6 had outstanding games for the St Enda’s defence. Joe Maskey, Edward O’Connor, Cillian Jennings and Michael McNicholl were the outstanding St Enda’s attackers.

Kickham’s Creggan:

Kealan McCann, Jake McAteer, Michael Carey-Small, Ciaran Rice, Liam McCann, Kevin Small, Aidan McAuley, James Carey (0-01), Conail Prenter, Michael Kelly, Donal Carey (0-01), Niall McAuley (0-01), Jamie McCann, Conor Small (2-09), Liam Quinn.

Subs: Cormac McCann, Tiarnan McAteer, Joe Sweeney.

St Enda’s:

Harry O’Hanlon, Matthew Muldoon, Jason Marley, Rian McCreight, Pearse Hull, Eoin Conlon, Manas Mullan, Ruairi Donaghy, Joe Maskey (1-03), Cillian Jennings (0-02), Aidan Bannon, Michael McNicholl (0-02), Dubhaltach Magee-Baker, Edward O’Connor (2-00), Michael McGivern

Subs: Eoin Maguire, Daniel Lowry, Adam Dougan, David Saunders

© Kickhams GAC Creggan 2024