12 November 2012
Corrigan men annex U21 football title
Naomh Eoin 0-15 Kickham's Creggan 0-12
Naomh Eoin U21 footballers added the U21 title to their season haul with a win over a fine Creggan side in the championship final on Friday night at Casement.
A more experienced Kickham's side started the stronger in this one and with the country side taking a 3-1 lead before the Johnnies lads had time to settle, things were looking ominous for the Corrigan men. The St Johns midfield pairing of Douglas and McCafferty gradually played themselves into the game and with excellent support of Peden and McBride, made an impact on the Creggan dominance around the middle third.
Quick ball into the forwards led to a number of frees and helped the Johnnies draw level at 6 each by the 21st minute and to go into the break with a 2 point lead...a scenario few would have envisaged in the first 10 minutes.
Half-time: Naomh Eoin 0-09 Creggan 0-07
St John's started the second half brightly enough but were unable to add to their tally until the half was 8 minutes old. In that time the number of wides added to the blue and white faithful's anxiety! Creggan managed to get back on terms in this period, adding 2 frees in the process.
Naomh Eoin steadied the ship again, returning to the high intensity game that had served them well in the first period and with Conor Johnson and McCrudden dropping back to make themselves available, the supply to the forwards increased, allowing them to pull away again to 11-9. Although Creggan did stage their inevitable fight back, they were never to get within 1 of Naomh Eoin and by committing men forward allowed the St John's half-back line to launch productive counter attacks.
2 magnificent long range points from McBride ensured that Naomh Eoin's successful year continued as the Johnnies ran out winners by 3 points.
A dogged but no less skillful by the entire Naomh Eoin squad which will surely add to the belief that success in the senior ranks is not that far away...
Full-time: Naomh Eoin 0-15 Creggan 0-12
