Ciaran Doherty Accountants U16 South West Shield Final
Dunloy 4-13 Rasharkin 4-8
Dunloy and Rasharkin served up an 8 goal thriller under the Quinn Park floodlights on Thursday night in this Ciaran Doherty Accountants U16 Football Shield final, watched by a good crowd who roared on their respective sides until the final whistle.
In a game of many twists and turns a goal from Tiernan O’Boyle gave Rasharkin a 1-4 to 0-4 lead after 21 minutes and at this stage the boys from Dreen appeared to be gaining the initiative but Dunloy replied with a goal of their own from Rory Mullan and went on to lead 1-7 to 1-4 at the short whistle.
During the third quarter the young Cuchullain’s looked like running away with it and a Daire Crawley hat-trick saw them move 13 in front with 11 minutes remaining but an Odhran McGarrell double gave Rasharkin a new lease of life as they finished strongly but time ran out for the Dreen side.
Points from Oisin Elliott (0-2) in reply to one each from Callum Montgomery and Tiernan O’Boyle had the sides tied at 0-2 each before Odhran McGarrell shot the Dreen side ahead for the first time with a point in the 10th minute.
Conor McAleese replied for Dunloy before McGarrell restored Rasharkin’s lead as he continued to impress. Cathair McCloskey replied to level the contest once more but Tiernan O’Boyle put St. Mary’s ahead when he fired to the net from close range in the 21st minute.
Rory Mullan’s response and a flurry of points from McFarlaine, McGrath and Daithi McGuigan saw the Cuchullain’s three in front at the interval and at this stage the momentum was very much with the team in green.
SWITCH
On the turn around Rasharkin switched the impressive McGarrell to the edge of the square and he shot the opening point of the half after 30 seconds but it failed to inspire his side into action but instead brought a rapid response from the opposition.
Points from Conor McAleese and Ryan McFarlaine and a goal from Daire Crawley after he was set up by the hard working Anto McGrath, saw Dunloy move 2-9 to 1-5 ahead after four minutes. It was to get worse when the excellent Crawley added his second goal a minute later and Points from McGrath 0-2, and Daithi McGuigan saw them move 13 clear at the end of the third quarter.
Rauri Hawthorn got Rasharkin going again with their first point for 16 minutes and then set up Tiernan O’Boyle for a goal to inspire a comeback by the Dreen side but they were still a long way back and when Daire Crawley completed his hat-trick it looked well and truly over.
Credit to St. Mary’s however and inspired by the excellent McGarrell they came back strongly with the number 11 scoring from the penalty spot and then from play to give Dunloy a few anxious moments as the clock ticked down.
PaudieMcGilligan in the Dunloy goals brought off an excellent save to deny Rauri Hawthorn at the expense of a point but the Dunloy defence stood tall in the closing stages to run out winners by five points.
A very entertaining game of football with the winners having an excellent marksman in Daire Crawley and he had good support in attack from Anto McGrath, Oisin Elliott and Conor McAleese. In defence Paudie McGilligan, DJ Crawley and Barry Scott gave nothing away while Ryan McFarlaine gave them the upper hand at mid-field
Rasharkin too had some excellent performers with Odhran McGarrell very impressive and Colm Kennedy, Ruairi O’Boyle, Tiernan O’Boyle, Rauri Hawthorn and Callum Montgomery others to catch the eye.
Dunloy: Paudie McGilligan: Conal Kelly, DJ Crawley, Ronan McAuley: Sean Scullion, Barry Scott, Ciaran McQuillan: Cathair McCloskey, Ryan McFarlaine: Rory Mullan, Daithi McGuigan, Daire Crawley: Oisin Elliott, Anto McGrath, Conor McAleese. Sub used Pearse McGarry for Conor McAleese.
Rasharkin: Ethan McAffee: Martin Mitchell, Liam Quigg, Callum Conoton: Colm Kennedy, Ruairi O’Boyle, Tiarnan Conor Steele: Tiernan O’Boyle, Rauri Hawthorn: Ethan McMullan, Odhran McGarrell, Kelvin Kelly: Cathal Darragh, Callum Montgomery, Darragh Duffin. Subs: Joshua Stockman, Rory Telford, Nathan Ogburn, James Higgins, Ryan Bamford.
Referee: Paul McKeever (Portglenone)
