ACFL Div. 1
28 September 2008
Gort na Mona 0-12
Kickhams Creggan 2-08
After 3 weeks since the Senior footballers last match, the lads were keen to get back on to the pitch again and get the league going. Just like the previous match against St. Brigids, the score line was identical…(one for the statto’s that!).
On to the match, Creggan got off to an extremely slow start and it took them to the 14th minute to register their first score, a free kick from Mark Dougan. By that stage the home side had notched 5 points and were dominating proceedings. Once Creggan got going though they found their groove and kicked three points on the trot. Joey Robb, Mark again, and Ciaran McCartney all raising the white flags.
Gorts pegged on another point of their own in the 21st minute to conclude their scoring in the first half. They were however presented with an opportunity of a goal from the penalty spot in the 25th minute when Leon Bonnes fumbled a short shot, causing trouble in the Creggan area which resulted in the ref blowing for a spot kick. Leon redeemed himself though when he sprang ‘cat-like’ to his right to produce a brilliant save and preserve his clean sheet. Point of note, Sam Maguire thought the save was just ok!
Creggan claimed the final point of the half, a ‘45’ from Peter McCollum, even though Hugh McKay questioned his ability to do so.
Half Time, Gort na Mona 0-06, Kickhams 0-05.
In to the second half and the home side went about extending their one point advantage when they popped over two points after 3 minutes.
In the 7th minute Creggan were presented with a chance to draw the match level when Mark Dougan was hauled down in the small square when bursting through on goal. Mark got up, dusted himself down and fired to the net.
A few minutes later Mark followed this up with another point, and Creggan led for the first time in the game. More was to follow though as a flowing move down the field, out of defence, resulted in Adrian Dougan wriggle his way in to the Gorts box where he transferred the ball across the face of goal to his incoming brother and Mark duly punched to the net.
Gort na Mona kept plugging away as they desperately needed the points in their bid for survival and they added a point to their tally. This was cancelled out by a great point from Tommy McCann who made a storming run up the field to curl one over with his left peg.
Mark added another point to his personal haul and this was Creggan’s last score of the game. Gort’s knocked over a further two points but this proved too little too late as Creggan expertly played keep ball to see out the remaining minutes and claim the two league points.
With Creggan missing a number of players for various reasons it was an opportunity for a few of the panel to stake their claim for a permanent spot on the team. Ryan Mullan and Declan Smyth, who made his Senior starting debut, had great games and can be proud of their contributions.
Next up for the Senior footballers is an away league match against County Champions St. Galls.
Kickhams Team – Leon Bonnes, Odhran McCann, Dermot McCann, Declan Smyth, Cathal Shannon, Caolan McCann, Oistin McAteer, Hugh McKay, Joe Robb (0-01), Peter McCollum (0-01), Mark Dougan (2-04), Ryan Mullan, Ciaran McCartney (0-01), Thomas McCann (0-01), Adrian Dougan.