Ulster Club Intermediate League (quarter final play off)
Tir na nOg Randalstown 3-14 St Mary’s Rasharkin 1-09
Tir na nOg progressed to the quarter final of the Ulster Intermediate league when they claimed victory over the visiting Rasharkin in an entertaining encounter up at Whitehill on Saturday afternoon.
St Mary’s had enjoyed an Impressive win over the Randalstown men at the same venue last term and they may well have fancied their chances of a repeat performance.
The home side possibly with that reversal in mind got off to a turbo charged start which ensured a five point lead by the third minute.
The visitors began to find their feet however and with centre forward Ryan Lynch leading the charge they were only a point in arrears with the short whistle in sight.
Leigh Martin struck with a late major however to ensure a four point lead for the home side at half time.
Rasharkin started the second half brightly and a couple of early points reduced the deficit to a two but in the event that was to be as close as they were to get. A well-crafted 39th minute goal by Dara Fagan saw the men from the Hill stamp their authority on proceedings and they didn’t look back.
Tir na nOg bossed the remainder and with centre back Caomhinn Duffin leading the charge and impressive full forward Kevin Sheerin first to claim every delivery they had matters well in hand at conclusion, crossing the line and into the quarter finals at 3-14 to 1-09.
The Randalstown men were away in stylish fashion and Barry McCormick made progress up the left wing to finish to the back of the net in the opening minute ably assisted in approach by Aaron McNeilly, and Ronan O’ Neill.
The home side continued to press in the opening minutes and when Dara Fegan and Christy Sheerin added points apiece by the third minute they looked set for an easy win.
Rasharkin were not about to follow the script however and a couple of Ryan Lynch points ensured they settled to the task on hand.
The centre forward settled the troops with a stylish finish to earn a 5th minute point and when he popped up on the left hand side to repeat the feat a couple of minutes later they were back in contention.
They continued to press and when Eamonn McNeill moved in to gather a loose ball on the right side and plant between the sticks there was only two between the sides.
The home side replied when Kevin Sheerin seized a Leigh Martin lofted delivery to open the way for Ciaran Mc Keown to raise white but Andrew Hasson replied again at the other end to keep his side in touch.
Two minutes later the Whitehill men looked back in the groove when back to back points by Dara Fegan and Leigh Martin opened a four point gap.
Tir na Nog seemed to be back in charge again with Caomhin Duffin standing tall at the centre of the defence and full forward Kevin Sheerin dominating his berth on the edge of the opposition’s square.
Rasharkin responded again and when Ryan Lynch seized upon an unforced error and a defensive mix up to plant the ball in the corner of the net they looked back in business and only a single point in arrears in the 23rd minute.
The home side having been caught on the hop were quick to regain composure. Leigh Martin’s 23rd minute point restored order before a well organised counter initiated by Caomhinn Duffin and a Kevin Sheerin lay off sent the former in to deliver to the back of the net.
Ryan Lynch was quick to offer reply with back to back points but a late ‘solo’ effort saw Caomhinn Duffin split the posts in the 30th minute and saw the home side at 2-06 to 1-06 at the short whistle.
If Tir na nOg had enjoyed the better start to the opening period such was not to be replicated in the second and a Tiernan O’ Boyle delivery ensured the Dreen men were first to make a mark.
The home side came close to adding a third major shortly after as Niall Cassidy, Christy Sheerin and Kevin Sheerin combined but a cheeky ‘dinked’ finish from Ryan O’Neill only found the crossbar when a ‘major’ would have been just reward.
Thomas Doherty replied with a point at the other end to close the gap to a couple of points and the game was still finally balanced at this stage.
Rasharkin looked to be gaining the initiative but in the event the tide was about to turn again and when Ciaran Mc Keown added a point for the home side and Barry Mc Cormick’s and Kevin Sheerin combined to open the way for Dara Fagan to blast to the net, the home side had gone 3-08 to 1-08 clear.
The Dreen men needed to find reply but Tir na nOg, with Christy Sheerin bossing the central zone, took control and a further point from Leigh Martin and a couple of smashers from the former signalled the end was in sight.
An Andrew Hasson 52nd minute point did follow but this was a consolation score and followed a similar score at the other end from Aaron McNeilly as
the home side introduced a full complement of replacements in the latter stages.
Rasharkin kept going until the end but the Whitehill side had matters well in hand and further points from Barry McCormick and replacement Ciaran O’ Neill ushered them into the quarter final.
Referee Ciaran Campbell (Doire)
Teams
Tir na Nog: Michael Dempsey, Barry Magee, Niall Cassidy, Daniel Martin, Barry Mc Cormick (1-01), Caomhinn Duffin (0-01), Aaron Mc Neilly (0-01), Christy Sheerin (0-03), Dara Fegan (1-02), Leigh Martin (1-03), Ciaran Mc Keown (0-02), Ronan O’ Neill, Ryan O’ Neill, Kevin Sheerin
Subs
Malachy Duffin for Ronan O’ Neill
Ciaran O’ Neill (0-01) for D Fegan
Kevin Kerr for L Martin
Ciaran Logan for C Mc Keown
Oliver Mc Atamney for D Mc Cormick
Darren O’ Kane for K Kerr
Rasharkin: Ryan Doherty, Dara Kelly, Emmett McFerran, Dan Doherty, Fergus Quigg, Conor Hasson, Colm Kennedy, Andrew Hasson (0-02), Thomas McMullan, Tiernan O’ Boyle (0-01), Ryan Lynch (1-04), Thomas Doherty (0-01), Oran McGarrell, Conor McFerran, Eamon McNeill (0-01)
Subs:
Barry Og Quinn for O McGarrell
Liam Quigg for F Quinn
Killian O’ Boyle for T O’ Boyle
