08 November 2010
Erin’s Own Cargin collected their third under-21 titles in the past five year period when they defied the odds to upset hot favourites, and parish rivals Kickham’s Creggan at a wet and windy Casement on Sunday evening last.
Creggan had come out on top when the same teams met in the ’09 decider, but on this occasion it was the much hungrier and committed Erin’s Own side who defied the underdogs tag to pip their parish rivals with a fully merited 0-11 to 0-09 victory.
Cargin did enjoy the favours of the strong southerly breeze which swept the Andersonstown road arena but they failed to capitalise on the service provided by the elements until well into proceedings. Creggan had in fact taken a 0-04 to 0-03 23rd minute advantage, but Cargin came strong in the dying minutes as they hit five unanswered points to lead 0-8 to 0-4 at the short whistle.
Wing half back Jamie Kennedy inspired and concluded a slick upfield movement which saw him get Cargin on terms in the 24th minute, and with the hugely impressive James Laverty, and place kicker supreme, net minder John Mc Nabb following with a couple the Toome men looked well in control.
The second period proved a tense affair, as the strong wind which had increased to almost ‘gale force’ and the driving rain now favoured the Creggan men. The Cargin management team had signalled a change in tactic however, and the redeployment of Brendan Laverty from corner forward to an assigned sweeper role was to prove a master stroke.
Creggan in the role of defending champions gave it a real lash, and despite the excellence of the Cargin defence the Kickham’s men looked to be gaining the imitative when a Declan Mc Cann 46th minute point closed the gap to two points. This was to be as close as they got however as Cargin closed shop with an impressive defensive performance.
Creggan looked for more, but the Cargin rear guard in which there were no visible weaknesses provided stubborn unbroken solidarity, and the Kickham’s found further penetration difficult in the extreme.
In the event Cargin were able to spurn a couple of openings to increase the advantage in the last frantic exchanges, and despite having a 59th minute John Mc Neill goal ruled out for a square ball infringement, and eight minute of injury time added they crossed the line in front.
A splendid fetch and carry 63rd minute Matthew Mc Guckin point had eased the nerves of the vociferous Cargin support, and although the hard working Odhran Mc Larnon did have the last say when he sent a close free over the bar in the 67th minute it was to prove to be a consolation score as Cargin concluded as 0-11 to 0-09 winners.
Referee Raymond Doone (Aghagallon)
Teams and scorers
Cargin
John Mc Nabb (0-03), Donnach Mc Keever, Michael Mc Closkey, Jack Kelly, Dermot Mc Guckin, Marty Kane, Jamie Kennedy (0-01), John Carron (0-01), Matthew Mc Guckin (0-01), John Mc Neill, Paul Mc Cann (0-01), James Laverty (0-03), Brendan Laverty (0-01), Mark Kelly, Ryan Mc Kiernan.
Subs
Sean Neeson for R Mc Kiernan
Creggan
Peter Graham, Declan Mc Cann (0-01), Martin Johnston, Aidan Maguire, Ricky Johnston, Sam Maguire, Feargal Mc Grenaghan, Dermot Mc Cann (0-01), Aidan Mc Keown, Hugh Mc Nulty (0-03), Cathal Small, David Mc Guckin, Thomas Mc Cann, Paddy Mc Auley, Odhran Mc Larnon (0-04).
Subs
Conor Mc Cann for C Small
Oran Mc Cann for D Mc Guckin
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