ACFL Div. 5 - Kickhams Vs Glenavy
ACFL Div. 5
1 June 2008
Kickhams Creggan 1-13
Glenavy 0-09
In what was probably Creggan’s worst display of the season to date, they were still too strong for Glenavy in what was an early season top of the table clash at Pairc í Ciceam.
An extremely hot day was the backdrop for this match so energy levels were always going to get sapped more quickly than normal. Glenavy got the game rolling by claiming the first point of the day but this only served to kick the home side into action. Benny Devlin, released from his Senior bench role, knocked over a brace of pointed frees to claim the lead which was never relinquished by the lads in G&G.
Oliver Duffin was next on the score sheet and he reminded the reporter that this was in fact his first score of the season which is surprising such has been his impressive early season form. Not to be outdone, Seamie Allen contributed to the score board by notching a couple of points of his own. Cathal Small was next up and he slotted over a fine point to see Creggan five points to the good.
Glenavy came back with a purple patch though near the end of the first half when they eeked in to the deficit by hitting a hat trick of unanswered points. They should have actually taken the lead when they contrived to miss a penalty after Charles Devlin was deemed to have illegally hauled down an Orangeman in the box.
At the other end of the pairc, Charlie’s namesake Benny registered the final score of the half as the short whistle blew.
Half Time, Kickhams Creggan 0-07, Glenavy 0-04
The second half started much the same way as the first with St. Joseph’s getting the first point, but Creggan were in no mood to let this game slip away which was personified by the bravery of Ryan ‘Ja’ Mullan when he punched to the net by reaching a 50/50 ball a split second before the out rushing keeper. The visiting keeper must get a mention as he gave the Glenavy team a small glimmer of hope of rescuing this match by pulling off a number of fine saves from Cathal Small, Cathal Shannon and Michael McCann.
The points continued to fly over for Creggan however as they turned the screw amid a raft of substitutes. Small, Devlin and Duffin claiming the white flags before a brief riposte from the visitors who claimed two points of their own.
Substitute Michael McCann got his name on the score sheet also and his pointed effort was sandwiched between another brace from the prolific Benny Devlin. Glenavy kept plugging away til the end and recorded another two points for their endeavour, but fittingly the last word was left to Benny Devlin who finished off a good days work for himself by splitting the posts for one final time which bought his personal tally to 7 points.
The Division 5 side will be looking to increase their performance levels for the upcoming Reserve Championship clash with St. Pauls on Wednesday evening, but they can be happy to be perched top of the league at this moment in time.
It was a big plus to see Charlie Devlin back playing after a long absence through injury and he slotted in to the defence with great ease.
Kickhams Team – Peter Graham, Benny Maguire, Sean McLarnon, Charlie Devlin, Paul Russell (Enda Maguire), Paddy McAuley, Cathal Shannon, Terence McKeown (Michael Maguire), Oliver Duffin(0-02), Seamus Allen (0-02)( Damian McLarnon), Ryan Mullan (1-0), Dominic Totten, Cathal Small (0-02) (Hugh McNulty), Benny Devlin (0-07), Eunan McAteer (Capt.) (Michael McCann)View Gallery