Ryan Lynch who scored 0-7 as Rasharkin recorded their second win this week with a victory over Tir na nOg at Whitehill today.
ACFL Division 2 (round nine)
Tir na Nog 0-13 St Mary’s Rasharkin 3-12
Rasharkin followed Wednesday night’s win over Moneyglass with an eye catching win over Tir na Nog at Whitehill on Sunday.
The St Mary’s men started on the positive and after the home side made the opening mark when Dara Fagan split the posts in the opening minute the resultant kick out saw Eamonn Mc Neill send Thomas Mc Mullan in to find the net.
Tir na nOg regained composure following that early concession and with Dara Fagan working well they were on terms by the end of the first quarter. Despite the benefit of the diagonal breeze they were unable to move onward however and at the end of the first thirty minutes the sides were inseparable at 0-09 to 1-06.
Dara Fagan had raised a trio of white flags by the 6th minute to square the contest and although Ryan Lynch, Andrew Hasson and Enda Mc Ferran replied with points apiece for the Dreen residents the advantage gained was to prove short lived.
A strong running Ciaran Logan created the opening on the right hand side for Aaron Mc Neilly to forward between the posts in the 11th minute and when the hard working corner man, Dara Fagan added another from a placed effort and Ciaran Mc Keown dashed through the middle to follow suit the game was tied at 0-06 to 1-03.
The Randalstown men looked to have gathered in momentum as the opening half progressed and indeed they had moved ahead in the 17th minute when Ronan O’ Neill seized on a poor clearance to take opportunity and split the posts.
The home side moved onwards to double their advantage when the nimble Aaron Mc Neilly added another point which could have been a major score if the Rasharkin defence had not closed down quickly after Darren O’ Kane latched on to a poor clearance.
A let off for the visitors and they responded in the closing stages as they supplied a trio of late scores with Ryan Lynch adding a couple of points and Enda McFerran raised white in answer to Dara Fagan’s 55th minute effort.
The Whitehill men came close again in the last minute as Ciaran Mc Keown and Ronan O’ Neill opened the way for Aaron Mc Neilly but the latter’s delivery was just wide of the target and when the short blast sounded nothing separated the sides.
Rasharkin started the second half very much on the positive and with the wind behind them nipped away in style when the ever accurate Ryan Lynch split the posts and the roving Enda Mc Ferran added another.
Both the Rasharkin corner men were causing concern with the visitors looking the hungrier and indeed focused for the most part.
The introduction of Sean Redmond to the ranks looked a good move and the replacement’s delivery into front man Ronan O’Neill resulted in a point and reduced the deficit to the minimum.
Tir na nOg tried to push on but Rasharkin were proving resilient in defence and strong on the counter attack as Ryan Lynch added a 47th minute point.
The Whitehill men were a couple in arrears and still in search of scores but the Rasharkin defence in which Conor Hasson, James Kelly and Shane Hasson were dominant were giving nothing away.
The visitors continued to look dangerous on the break and as the last quarter progressed the Dreen men made a bid for home as Fergas Quigg grabbed a stunning goal.
A super strike from the half back from away out on the left hand side which fairly flew to the corner of the net in the 49th minute and ensured a 2-09 to -10 lead for the St Mary’s side.
Tir na nOg needed to find response but the Quigg strike had added impetus to the Rasharkin challenge and going for the jugular they were to add a further four points without reply as Emmett Mc Ferran split the posts again in the 51st minute and the ever accurate Ryan Lynch added three more in quick succession.
Rasharkin had moved into a 2-12 to 0-11 lead and looked home and dry.
The home side tried to respond as Darra Fagan added a couple of points after replacement Kevin Sheerin and Aaron Mc Neilly had been fouled but these scores were very much consolation.
Rasharkin finished with a flourish and a late goal, an excellent three pointer delivered to the net by the excellent Shane Hasson saw his side cross the line 3-12 to 0-13 ahead and full value for their win
Tir na nOg: S P Mc Atamney, Daniel Martin, Barry Magee, Kevin Mc Cann, Ciaran Logan, Malachy Duffin, Caomhinn Duffin, Sean Duffin, Darren Mc Cormick, Barry Mc Cormick, Ciaran Mc Keown (0-01), Aaron Mc Neilly (0-03), Darren O’ Kane, Ronan O’ Neill (0-02), Dara Fagan (0-07)
Subs
Sean Redmond for D O’ Kane
Ciaran Dobbin for R O’ Neill
Peter Cullen for C Logan
Kevin Sheerin for B Mc Cormick
Rasharkin: Ryan Doherty, Pearce Kelly, Conor Hasson, Donal Doherty, Conor Gallagher, Fergas Quigg (1-00), James Kelly, Thomas Mc Mullan, (1-00), Shane Hasson (1-00), Conor Mc Keever, Eamonn Mc Neill, Andrew Hasson (0-01), Enda Mc Ferran (0-04), Thomas Doherty, Ryan Lynch (0-07)
Subs
Brian Og O’ Neill for T Doherty
Gerard O’ Hagan for D Doherty
Jack Quinn for C Mc Keever (black card)
Referee B Coyle (St Paul’s)