A Creggan equalizer deep in injury time at Harlequins on Wednesday night saw Naomh Brid pass up the chance briefly to claim top spot in ACL Div 1. In truth, though, honours even was a fair reflection of this evenly balanced and very sporting encounter which drew a large crowd on a balmy summer’s evening. The impending Ulster Football semi final forced personnel changes on both sides with Naomh Brid further handicapped by a number of injury withdrawals. However, the circumstances did provide Eunan Conway with a useful opportunity to blood some emerging talent within his panel. Creggan’s team was packed with their recent Antrim U21 Championship winning side.
Naomh Brid got off to a dream start on six minutes when Sherry soared high to claim midfield possession and start a move that ended with poacher Brolly making space to fire home from close range. The Derry veteran struck again with two quick fire points as the home side dominated early proceedings. Sherry was cleaning up in the centre as Naomh Brid’s young guns continued to pour forward. Good foraging work by debutant Taylor on 14 minutes found O’Neill who slotted over to extend the lead to a handy six points. Inevitably Creggan settled and began to work their way into the game, demonstrating their own scoring threat with two quick points from play to open their account. The home response was immediate as Sherry, who was in the thick of things, fired over an excellent score from a wide advanced position. Again points were exchanged, Brolly advancing his tally, as the ball was shuttled to and fro in a free-flowing game. Creggan finished strongly, though, whittling the home advantage down to a single score with two defiant points as a half-time fillip.
Half time: Naomh Brid 1-5 Creggan Kickhams 0-5
Creggan took up where they had left off and edged closer with a point within seconds of the restart. They soon added another after missing a straightforward free before Brolly converted a free that he won. On 44 minutes McGrady responded to a further point launching a trademark special from the wing as the game held the crowd in its grip. MacAuley was redeployed to help shore up the home defence as Creggan’s potent attack raised another flag. Rooney and Finnegan, in particular, were working overtime in defence and linking well in counter-attack. While Brolly slung over a free, the home side failed to capitalize on some good pressure as Creggan clung to their tails. The home crowd was stunned on 54 minutes when Creggan found the net to lead for the first time and looked set for an unlikely result.
But Naomh Brid to their credit kept their nerve and their determination was rewarded by a Reilly equalizer following good work by Rooney and McGrady. As the match entered the final minute of normal time, O’Neill was unfairly grounded and Brolly’s converted free was cheered as the winner. But in a game full of twists and turns, Creggan had the last say as Naomh Brid were punished for failing to retain vital possession in the dying seconds of injury time.
Team: J Mackle, P Finegan, A Christie, C Mohan, A Cole, M Rooney, B McMahon (M MacSherry), F Sherry (0-1), D MacAuley, C McGrady(0-1), B Reilly (0-1), C Taylor, J Brolly(1-6) (B McMahon), R O’Neill (0-1), C Donnelly
Man of the match: F Sherry
