ACHL Division 3
All Saints 0-12 Rasharkin 5-18
Conor McKeever gave another masterly demonstration of free taking as St Mary’s Rasharkin climbed to second place in the division 3 table with a resounding victory over an All Saints side, decimated by injuries and defections.
McKeever would finish the game with 1-10 (9f’s) and with Conor McKillop and Terry McGregor contributing another 4-3 between them it looked comfortable for the visitors for most of the hour.
It doesn’t tell the whole story however and a good spell from the Ballymena men, midway through the opening half saw them draw level at 0-6 each with Eoin McGuigan hitting a series of excellent frees.
Rasharkin recovered to finish the half strongly with Conor McKillop, and Terry McGrogan finding the net to move the visitors 3-12 to 0-7 ahead at the break and even at this stage it looked as good as over.
To their credit All Saints never gave up and with Vinny Esler busting a gut around mid-field and with Cormac Magill, Darach Bradley and Eoin McGuigan giving it everything they kept battling against impossible odds.
Terry McGregor got in for Rasharkin’s 4th goal with only 3 minutes of the second half gone as Eoin McGuigan, Damian Gillan and Darach Bradley replied to points from Caolan Maria and a couple from ace marksman, McFerran for the visitors.
Bradley had taken over the free taking duties for the Slemish Park side and struck a number of fine points but St. Mary’s were always able to respond with Conor McFerran and Conor McKillop leading the way.
A McKeever free deceived the home defence and went directly to the net with virtually the last puck of the game to put a slightly flattering but none the less deserved look to the Rasharkin victory with referee, John Mallon sounding his whistle from the puck out.
This win moved Rasharkin into second in the table, four points behind Bredagh but with two games in hand with the top two’s game which was scheduled for the 12th of May yet to be re-arranged.
All Saints find themselves badly in need of points to avoid relegation to division 4 but they showed enough fighting spirit to suggest that if they can get their missing players back for their remaining games then they can still survive.
All Saints scorers: Eoin McGuigan 0-6, Damian Gillan 0-3 Darach Bradley 0-3
Rasharkin scorers: Conor McKeever 1-10 (0-9f’s), Conor McKillop 2-3, Terry McGregor 2-0, Conor McFerran 0-1, Caolan Maria 0-1
