Weekend’s GAA action.
A second- half comeback from Roscommon side Creggs saw St. Michael’s Connacht Junior Club Championship campaign come to an end at Markievicz Park on Sunday afternoon.
Two early goals from St. Michael’s saw them hold a 2- 04 to 0- 06 lead at the half- way point, but Creggs were never too far behind and a comeback seemed imminent as soon as the second- half began.
Michaels were two points ahead with ten minutes left on the clock, and with sub goalkeeper Paul Clarke saving a penalty, Creggs were beginning to wonder if their luck had run out.
But they fought hard until the end to seal a spot in the AIB Connacht GAA Junior Football Championship final.
Creggs lead 0- 00 to 0- 02 after 14 minutes thanks to scores from Kevin Gavin and the livewire Enda Conneran who left his man for dead as he turned to face goal before hitting over Enda McLoughlin’s posts.
Creggs were creating some lovely build- up play in the early stages, but that was undone on 10 minutes when St. Michael’s Paul Flanagan ran on to a pass from Alan Taaffe, beating Eugene Fleming in goal to take the East Sligo side into a one point lead.
This really spurred on Jack Haran’s side, who extended their lead through Dwayne Kelly minutes later.
Creggs were kicking themselves on 14 when they missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead once again.
Conneran played in team- mate Shane Dowd, who just sent his shot wide of the mark.
The Roscommon side were left reeling when seconds later Kyle Carty scored St. Michael’s second goal of the afternoon, as he got on the end of a ball from Flanagan, who played a major role in both goals.
Conneran and Dowd hit over for Creggs to take the scoreline to 2- 01 to 0- 04, before Enda O’Roarke pointed from a Ronan Kelly free.
Michael’s hit over two unanswered points thanks to Peter Murray and Brian Taaffe.
The sides exchanged score just before half- time to leave St. Michael’s with a somewhat comfortable 2- 04 to 0- 06 lead at the half way mark, although only a fool would have written off Creggs at this stage.
The Roscommon side would have felt hard done by as the game re- started, as they had an almost certain penalty denied by referee Declan Corcoran, but they made up for it by hitting over three unanswered points.
Matthew Browne, Ronan Kelly and Shane Dowd all hit over to take Creggs to within one point of St. Michael’s.
Points from the Taaffes restored a three point lead for the Sligo side, but the momentum was with Creggs who began to bombard the St. Michael’s defence, although their large number of wides were not a help.
Conneran looked through on goal after 46 minutes when he was played in by Dowd, but a rash challenge from Enda McLoughlin, who had already been booked, in the Michael’s goal ended that move.
McLoughlin received his marching orders for the tackle, with sub keeper Paul Clarke coming on, Gavin Walsh the man who was to lose out.
Clarke’s first piece of action in goals was to be a penalty, which he saved from Enda O’Roarke on 49 minutes.
Kevin Gavin’s 51st minute point brought Creggs to within one point of their opponents, before O’Roarke brought the sides level.
Creggs hit three wides during this crucial period, but they continued to search for a winner and Dowd’s point gave them a one point lead, before O’Roarke sxcored the final score of the day, although there was still time for a bit of handbags, with James McKeague being dismissed in the dying seconds of the game.
Alan Taaffe could very well have rescued a victory for St. Michael’s with mere seconds left on the clock, but a crucial goal- line clearance by Creggs ensured that victory went the way of the Roscommon side.
St. Michael’s: Enda McLoughlin, Gavin Walsh ( Paul Clarke, 46), Colm McTiernan, Paul Flanagan ( Robbie Taaffe, 62), Jack Haran, Gavin McGowan, Paddy Kelly, Paul McTiernan, Brian Taaffe ( Stephen Clerkin, 58), Ross McLoughlin ( Jason Boles, 42), Dwayne Kelly, Kyle Carty, Oisin Gilmartin, Peter Murray, Alan Taaffe.
Creggs: Eugene Fleming, Conor Gore, Ciaran Dowd, Eugene Hanley, Kevin Raftery, James McKeague, Sean Dermody, Colin Canny, Tom Fleming, Matthew Browne, Shane Dowd, Enda O’Roarke, Ronan Kelly ( Sean Quinn, black card sub, 44), Enda Conneran, Kevin Gavin.