Cargin dig deep to edge out Creggan as they claim hat-trick mission in tense affair

CARGIN claimed their third Antrim SFC title in four years with a narrow one-point win over neighbours Creggan in a low-scoring clash at Ahoghill yesterday.

If their semi-final win over St Gall’s was a game to remember, Cargin’s final win was one to forget.

At the end of the first half, the sides were tied at 0-2 all with a strong cross-field breeze making playing conditions difficult for both teams.

A wonder score from Tomas McCann edged Cargin in front early in the second half and the Toome men were more clinical with their chances.

Indeed, Kevin Small missed a chance to tie the game with a late free, but his kick was off target.

Michael Magill opened the scoring after two minutes, but Cargin’s target man was subsequently well-held by the impressive Ricky Johnston (below).

Small levelled the game after a tense opening 10 minutes, but scores were at a premium for the remainder of the half.

A free from Small put Creggan ahead on 18 minutes and it was to be the one and only time Kickhams would lead.

A Ciaran Bradley point tied the game two minutes later and the sides failed to score again for the remainder of the half.

Cargin pushed two clear thanks to a stunning point from McCann and another from Bradley, yet Creggan showed plenty of heart in the second

half. Marty Johnston, who excelled at midfield reduced the gap to a point before Conor McCann ended a great solo run with a fisted point to tie the game at 0-4 each.

However, Creggan were left to rue a series of poor wides while Michael McCann scores what proved to be the winning point on 52 minutes following a neat one-two with Magill.

A foul on the lively Liam Quinn offered Small the chance of an equaliser with two minutes of normal time remaining, but the Creggan youngster dragged his shot narrowly wide and Cargin held possession smartly in the final minutes to see the game out.

Cargin scorers: C Bradley 0-2, M Magill, T McCann, M McCann 0-1 each.

Creggan scorers: K Small 0-2 (0-1f), M Johnston, C McCann 0-1 each. Super strike: Tomas McCann scored a wonder goal

Winning goal: Johnny

Hanratty celebrates TWO goals in a three minute spell in the third quarter helped propel Coalisland to a deserved 10th O’Neill Cup success when they overcame pre-match favourites Killyclogher in the Tyrone final in Omagh.

Killyclogher were three points in front when Paddy McNiece scored an opportunist goal and when Peter McGahan followed that up with another Coalisland major two minutes later they were well on their way to their first title since 2010.

Killyclogher were the better side in the first half and a brilliant goal from County defender Tiernan McCann gave them a slender 1-4 to 0-5 interval advantage.

Mark Bradley and Aidy Kelly had points for Killyclogher while Coalisland failed to score from play as Brian Toner, McNiece and Cormac O’Hagan all converted frees.

Bailey Leonard and Bradley swapped points on the restart before the latter put Killyclogher three in front.

In the 41st minute Killyclogher keeper Sean Fox failed to deal with a high ball in from Stephen McNally and McNiece pounced for the first goal before McGahan followed suit.

Coalisland now had their tails up and while PT Cunningham responded with a point for Killyclogher there was only going to be one winner.

Midfielder Plunkett Kane powered through for a point, O’Hagan converted a free while teenage substitute Tiernan Quinn weighed in with two outstanding scores as the Coalisland celebrations began after a momentous victory that was fully deserved.

Coalisland scorers: P McNiece 1-3 (3F), P McGahan 1-0, C O’Hagan 0-2 (2F), B Toner 0-2, (2F), T Quinn 0-2, P Kane 0-1, B Leonard 0-1

Killyclogher scorers: M Bradley 0-3 (2F), T McCann 1-0, A Kelly 0-1, C McCann 0-1 (45), S O’Neill 0-1, PT Cunningham 0-1 (1F).