Creaney the star

ST. Peter’s midfielder Niall Creaney led his side to victory last Friday night in an Intermediate Championship first round game with an outstanding performance in Maghery.

The Whites’ number 8 shot 1-3 on the night to cushion his side to a five point win over a determined Blackwatertown outfit who could have been beaten by a bigger margin considering they were gifted a soft goal six minutes into injury time when the hitherto effective Dermot Kearney deflected a high delivery past his own goalkeeper James Magill.

Both of the goals struck by the Whites, however, were well worked. With the sides going toe-to-toe in the opening period, Gavin Gowdy crashed home an effort on thirty minutes to put daylight between them and Creaney’s superb effort on the three-quarter mark, which was invited by a great assist from Darren Moore, proved crucial.

Two minutes earlier though, with Port Mr promising a late onslaught and his team just three points in front, Emmet Haughian superbly performed a double goal-line block, thwarting the loser’s midfielder James McLaughlin who struck five of his team’s points in an impressive performance.

The Whites’ policy of over-elaboration almost cost them in the first half. Too many passes in their opponents’ 40 starved their wide men Keith Totten and Danny McNally, who shot three points, and the busy Owen McCormack.

Both Daire Toman and Darren Moore were effective, shooting five points between them from their half-forward positions, but Toman picked up a yellow card and made way for Tony Flynn near the end.

Although the carpet-like surface at Maghery encouraged a top-class affair, and despite the small tally of wides struck on the night, understandably neither side dropped their defensive guard.

It was, however, a good night for midfielders. St Peters’ centre pairing Gowdy and Creaney amassed 2-4 between them, yet Mark Curran and James McLaughlin had their moments for An Port Mr.

With the possibility of relegation looming, St. Peter’s badly needed a championship win and although their Armagh Minor players, Niall McConville, Aaron Finden and Sean O’Neill, were missing, they will need all hands on deck against Tr na ng in the quarter-final.

St Peter’s; J. Magill, R. Geary, C. McCavigan, P. Hughes, D. Kearney, P. Wilson, E. Haughian, N. Creaney & G. Gowdy, D. Toman, D. Wilson, D. Moore, D. McNally, O. McCormack, K. Totten. Subs used; T. Flynn for D. Toman.