ACHL – Rasharkin 0-20  Carryduff 1-11

23/5/18

 Rasharkin hosted Down men Carryduff on a sunny Wednesday evening in Dreen in round 6 of the ACHL. The home side decided to play with a slight breeze on their back shooting into the changing rooms end of the field in the first half.

In a game that was in the balance until late in the second half it was the accuracy of Rasharkin’s Conor McKeever that swung the contest in favour of the men from Dreen. Mckeever showed radar like accuracy from both play and placed ball and finished with a personal tally of 0-15 to swing the game in favour of St. Mary’s

Despite this, Rasharkin got off to a slow start. Ciara Mac Gudraic opened the scoring from play for the away side, with Micheal Mac Conchille sending  over the bar again from the resulting puck out, 0-2 to 0-0 to Carryduff. Conor McKeever played a pivotal role for Rasharkin. His first score came from play as he raced out from full forward, neatly controlled the ball with the stick and flicked it over the bar. Two minutes later he converted a 21meter free won by Brian Og O’Neill running at the defence. At the other end corner forward Sean O’Ceallachain converted two frees after the Rasharkin defence was penalised for over carrying. The home side piled on the pressure around the middle of the field, as the half back, midfield and half forward line linked up to put another score on the board, Shane Hasson finishing the move. Further points from a long distance free from McKeever and in play from O’Neill gave Rasharkin a 0-5 to 0-4 lead.

 The game continued to be free flowing as both sides competed well at a high intensity. O’Ceallachain converted two long range frees in as many minutes for Carryduff. Both teams played the ball in early where possible, however Decky McKay guarded the full back line from centre half back, cutting ball out and winning frees on numerous occasions. McKeever’s accuracy continued from 80meters out as the ball sailed over the bar from a free. Thomas McMullan joined in on the action with a silky lift and turn which left two men standing as he also raised the white flag leaving the game at 0-7 to 0-6 and things were certainly livening up. Niall Mac Airt pushed his side on, coming out strong from full back and winning the high ball. He then set up Peadar O Luachrain who cooly slotted over near the sideline from 40meters to tie the contest again. Rasharkin replied with points from frees, the pick of the build up play came from a strong run from corner back Liam Tunney who was eventually stopped and fouled on the opposing 45meter line.

 Again it was Carryduff’s turn to turn the screw. O’Ceallachain collected the ball in the corner and headed towards goal, a hand pass across the face of the goal was fumbled and was pulled on the ground. It deflected off defender Conor Doherty who was relieved to see the ball go over the bar instead of the net. Good puck outs from the visitors keeper Conchur Mac Giolla-Earnain found his men in space inside their own half, this allowed them to work the ball up the field around the Rasharkin defence and get scores on the board. Not to be outdone, Rasharkin keeper James O’Mullan made a good save from a shot which he had limited view of. The save resulted in a point for his team, scored by Enda McFerran. Good catching from Daniel Hasson helped the home side create more chances and they went into the changing rooms at half time 0-14 to 0-9 ahead.

The second half began as Carryduff got off to a great start. Half forward Gearoid O Liongsigh was brought down on the 21meter  line and the free was then converted. O’Ceallachain was the main man again for the Down side as he made another run from the corner, similar to that in the first half, passed the ball across the goal and Conchur Mac Cormaic rattled the back of the net. The visitors kept pressing and found the equaliser 3 minutes later and  Rasharkin’s 5 point lead had been wiped out. For a while both defences were on top with Daniel Doherty cleaning up for Rasharkin and Conchur O Caiside doing the same for the visitors. Conor McKeever steadied the ship 10 minutes into the second half as he pointed from long and short frees leaving the game 0-16 to 1-11 for the men from Dreen.

 This flurry of early scoring by Carryduff was to be their last of the game. James O’Mullan was brave in goals after a defensive mix up under a high ball. He put his body on the line to stop the away team from adding another goal. The game was getting physical in the tackles and tempers rose, but within the rules. Confusion was added into the mix as a long free from McKeever ended up in the back of the net. However, after consulting with umpires a square ball was given to the surprise of the Rasharkin players, and possibly the Carryduff team too. Undeterred McKeever kept striking the frees and ended with a personal tally of 0-15. These were won by the forwards by running at the oppositions defence.

 A few frees dragged wide by Carryduff disheartened their efforts as they searched for scores to keep in the game. Good defensive reading from O Caiside and Mac Gudraic put a stop to a number of Rasharkin moves. The end of the game provided another good move and score from the home team. From a sideline cut in the full back line the ball was worked up the line from Donagh Quigg who found Enda McFerran who added the final score of the game – Rasharkin 0-20 v Carryduff 1-11.