This was the first time that Creggan had entered a team in the top flight of juvenile hurling in Antrim and their first match just happened to be against Ballycastle, probably the best team in Antrim at this age group. Creggan played the first half into a strong breeze and had to absorb some incredible pressure as Ballycastle seemed intent on finishing the game early. With some very fast skillfull forwards the North Antrim team went for goals from the throw in. They however didn’t expect to run into the sort of resistance that Creggan provided particularly in the form of Declan Mc Cann, Martin Johnston and Tiernan Mc Larnon in goals. Towards the end of the half the Ballycastle management realised that this tactic was not going to work and they began to concentrate on point taking from distance, Creggan responding with hard fought points from Matthew Nelson (0:1) and Conor Mc Cann. Ballycastle ended the first half with a sizeable 9 point lead. A brilliant team display all round. Nothing more could have been asked of any player.
31st March 2008
Ballycastle (with a huge panel of talented players) probably anticipated a bit of a training match in preparation for meeting some “real” competition later on in the league, however when the final whistle had blown in this game any thought that Creggan (15 players - no subs on the night) would present only token resistance to the established teams in North Antrim was very very much dispelled.
The second half saw a completely different game with Creggan now having the wind at their backs and Ballcastle struggling to get the ball over the half way line for much of the opening 15 minutes. Creggan piled on the pressure and pulled the game back to 3 points at one stage with goals and points from Conor Mc Cann (2:8), Aidan Mc Keown (0:1) and Marty Johnston (0:1). The Ballycastle full back (Donnelly) saved his team on several occasions with some brilliant defensive play. It was almost in appreciation of the quality of hurling played by Cerggan that Ballycaslte seemed content to give frees away from distance in the last ten minutes as opposed to letting the Creggan forwards in on goal. In the end Ballycastle scored a couple of late and lucky goals to give them a very flattering victory on the scoreboard. Credit was paid to the young Creggan team by several Ballycastle mentors one highlighting that very few teams in North Antrim would take points from this Creggan team very easily this year.
This was the first time that Creggan had entered a team in the top flight of juvenile hurling in Antrim and their first match just happened to be against Ballycastle, probably the best team in Antrim at this age group.
Ballycastle (with a huge panel of talented players) probably anticipated a bit of a training match in preparation for meeting some “real” competition later on in the league, however when the final whistle had blown in this game any thought that Creggan (15 players - no subs on the night) would present only token resistance to the established teams in North Antrim was very very much dispelled.
Creggan played the first half into a strong breeze and had to absorb some incredible pressure as Ballycastle seemed intent on finishing the game early. With some very fast skillfull forwards the North Antrim team went for goals from the throw in. They however didn’t expect to run into the sort of resistance that Creggan provided particularly in the form of Declan Mc Cann, Martin Johnston and Tiernan Mc Larnon in goals. Towards the end of the half the Ballycastle management realised that this tactic was not going to work and they began to concentrate on point taking from distance, Creggan responding with hard fought points from Matthew Nelson (0:1) and Conor Mc Cann. Ballycastle ended the first half with a sizeable 9 point lead.
The second half saw a completely different game with Creggan now having the wind at their backs and Ballcastle struggling to get the ball over the half way line for much of the opening 15 minutes. Creggan piled on the pressure and pulled the game back to 3 points at one stage with goals and points from Conor Mc Cann (2:8), Aidan Mc Keown (0:1) and Marty Johnston (0:1). The Ballycastle full back (Donnelly) saved his team on several occasions with some brilliant defensive play. It was almost in appreciation of the quality of hurling played by Cerggan that Ballycaslte seemed content to give frees away from distance in the last ten minutes as opposed to letting the Creggan forwards in on goal. In the end Ballycastle scored a couple of late and lucky goals to give them a very flattering victory on the scoreboard. Credit was paid to the young Creggan team by several Ballycastle mentors one highlighting that very few teams in North Antrim would take points from this Creggan team very easily this year.
A brilliant team display all round. Nothing more could have been asked of any player.
Kickhams Team - T Mc Larnon, C Mc Cann, D Mc Cann, R Nelson, F Mc Auley, M Johnston, C Mc Larnon, A Mc Keown, M McCloskey, M Nelson, O Mc Cann, C Mc Cann, N Rocks, F Mc Cann, F Shivers.