Creggan got back to winning ways in the league after two consecutive defeats with a much needed home win over Rasharkin. On a balmy evening, the home side put in an indifferent performance to claim the two league points on offer.
Kickhams got off to a flyer in seconds as they won the throw in and worked the ball down the left wing, transferred it across the box to the on rushing Tommy McCann who despatched neatly to the net. This was quickly followed up with further points from Mark Dougan and Leigh Martin to see Creggan open up a 5 point advantage.
The stats show that the home side never were behind in the match but it was by no means plain sailing for them. Rasharkin always kept themselves in the game by registering a total of six points in the opening half as Creggan failed to push on from their opening minutes blitz.
Odhran McLarnon and Mark Dougan claimed a brace of points each with Tommy McCann and Hugh McKay also raising white flags to end the scoring in the first half. Hugh’s point was a great long range effort whilst receiving an illegal heavy challenge mid-strike for which the Rasharkin player was rightly booked.
Half Time, Kickhams Creggan 1-08, Rasharkin 0-06
Scores in the second half were traded in a tit-for-tat fashion in what turned out to be somewhat of a scrappy affair with both sides guilty of making hard work of their possession. Mark Dougan twice and Peter McCollum were on target for the home side whilst an unaccredited point was also scored by someone. Rumour has it that Eunan McAteer was introduced as a blood sub for a number of minutes and he sailed over an amazing point with the outside of his boot from an impossible angle. Someone was overheard saying that it was the finest point he had ever witnessed on Creggan field. Anybody substantiate this?
Amid a series of home substitutions, Rasharkin got right back in to the match with about 10 minutes left of play when a high ball was punted in to the Creggan square where their full forward leapt highest to catch, swivel and finish to the net. This was followed up with another point put just two points between the sides.
Credit to the Kickhams lads though as they dug deep and ended the match the stronger side by claiming the last scores of the evening with two sweet efforts from Mark Dougan and Peter McCollum.
This was by no means a polished display from Creggan but in the end the job was done and the league points were safely tucked away. Mention must go to the subs that came on and they fully played their part in this victory. The performance level must be increased however if they are to continue their winning ways in the league with Belfast side St. Pauls next up to visit Creggan on Saturday evening.
Kickhams Team – Leon Bonnes (Peter Graham), Danny Maguire (Charlie Devlin), Dermot McCann, Caolan McCann, Oistin McAteer, Odhran McCann (Paul Nelson), Mark Anthony McNicholl, High McKay (Paddy McAuley), Joe Robb, Peter McCollum, Adrian Dougan, Thomas McCann, Leigh Martin (Oliver Duffin), Mark Dougan, Odhran McLarnon