O’Cahan Cup first round
St. Mary’s Rasharkin 2-15 St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass 2-14
Ryan Lynch turned from Villain to hero as his late pointed free secured St. Mary’s Rasharkin victory in this hugely entertaining O’Cahan Cup game under the lights at Dreen tonight. Eamon Hasson had stepped up the field from his goalkeeping duties to tie the contest from a 40 meter free in the 31st minute and at this stage it looked like a replay would be require but there was still another four minutes of time to be added.
The home side, who had played with 14 men since the 25th minute when Conor Hasson was shown a second yellow card followed by red quite simply refused to bow the knee and a great move involving several players saw Lynch bear down on goal.
The big centre-three-quarters, who had been prominent throughout the contest could have tapped over to secure victory but his attempt at goal sailed wide of the target much to the consternation of Cathal McMullan, Oran O’Kane and the Rasharkin support.
In a thrill a minute contest Moneyglass went straight down the field and had two opportunities to secure victory but the first sailed wide and the second came back of an upright and was cleared to safety.
Lynch was handed a chance to redeem himself when Rasharkin were awarded a free as the game moved deep into stoppage time and this time he kept his cool to direct his spot kick between the posts much to the delight of his colleagues.
The visitors dictated matters during the early exchanges and moved into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 11 minutes with Colm Duffin 0-2, Conor Boyd and Conal Prenter their marksmen and Conor McFerran the Rasharkin scorer.
A point from a ‘65’ by mid-fielder Tiernan O’Boyle lifted the home side who started to come more and more into the game and a couple of well struck points by Ryan Lynch in response to one from Conor Boyd saw them close the gap to one by the end of the opening quarter.
They were rocked back on their heels however as St. Ergnat’s put together a good move with Colm Duffin placing Conal Prenter who fired past Eamon Hasson from close range and the visitors looked to be back in control.
St. Mary’s had other ideas however and a couple of excellent individual goals from the strong running Eamon McNeill in the 21st and 23d minute turned this thrill a minute contest on its head once more.
Gavin Murray replied with a point for the visitors before Rasharkin received a setback when Conor Hasson was shown a second yellow in the 27th minute and in the closing minutes of the half Colm Duffin for St. Ergnat’s and Eamon McNeill exchanged point to leave the home side leading 2-7 to 1-7 at the break.
Kevin ‘Kindo’ Marron replaced Peter McCormick in the Moneyglass side at the start of the second half but it was Rasharkin who drew first blood with Ryan Lynch extending their lead to four with a point in the opening minute.
Marron announced his arrival with a quite sublime point with the outside of his boot and after Colm Duffin was off target from a free, Liam Brady added another from play to leave just two in it with five minutes of the new half gone.
The end to end action continued at breakneck speed as Shane Hasson from a free and Conal Prenter from play exchange further points and indeed Prenter might well have had a goal but his well struck effort sailed just over the cross bar.
Rasharkin received another setback when Eamon McNeill pulled up holding his hamstring as he soloed through on goal to be replaced by Gerard O’Hagan and a minute later Dermot McErlain outpaced the Rasharkin defence before scoring an excellent goal and the momentum appeared to have swung firmly in the direction of the Marrion Hill side.
St. Mary’s refused to give in however as Ryan Lynch converted another free to square the contest once more but Colm Duffin converted a similar effort at the other end to leave one in it again and the excitement was rising by the minute with both sets of supporters urging their side to greater efforts.
The visitors introduce Seanchann Duffin for Conal Prenter as the game entered the final quarter as Dermot McErlain edged St. Ergnat’s two in front with a spectacular catch and a superb finish and again the Moneyglass side looked to be gaining the initiative but the home side refused to throw in the towel.
The superb Lynch pointed another free and Gerard O’Hagan from play tied the contest for the umpteenth time with nine minutes remaining and it was obvious this one was going right down to the wire.
Seanchann Duffin announced his arrival with a point in the 22nd minute and Colm Duffin extended that lead to two as Luke O’Donnell replaced McErlain in the 25th minute and it looked like the extra man might be enough to see the visitors over the line at this stage of the game.
Rasharkin had other ideas and in a spectacular finish Lynch struck his ninth point of the game and Eamon Hasson equalised from a long range free.
Between those two scores Paul Tohill was dismissed for a second yellow to even up the numbers then came Lynch’s miss when right through as the excitement and tension grew and it looked to be heading for a replay.
Moneyglass wasted a couple of chances to win it and Lynch made amends for his earlier miss with his 10th point of the game and from the resulting kick-out Cathal McDermott sounded the full time whistle signalling scenes of celebration amongst the Dreen faithful.
Its early days yet but if I see a better game of football in the season ahead then I will be delighted. This was football at its best. Thirty three scores with only one separating the sides at the end and both sides fully committed in everything they did and it’s a pity there had to be a loser.
In the end Ryan Lynch proved to be the match winner and the fact that he stepped up to take that pressure free at the end following his earlier miss speaks volumes about his bags of character.
Team captains, Colm Duffin Moneyglass and Ryan Lynch Rasharkin with match referee, cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)
Rasharkin: Andrew Hasson, Pearse Kelly, Emmet McFerran, Daniel Donerty, Fearghal Kennedy, Conor Hasson, Colm Kennedy, Shane Hasson, Tiernan O’Boyle, Fergus Quigg, Ryan Lynch, Jack Quinn, Brian Og O’Neill, Conor McFerran, Eamon McNeill. Subs: Gerard O’Hagan for Eamon McNeill,
Moneyglass: Mark Carey, Miran Neeson, Sean Kelly, Peter McCormick, Jack McCoy, Tiernan Duffin, Conor Boyd, Niall Boyd, Dermot McErlain, Liam Brady, Paul Tohill, Patrick McCormick, Conaill Prenter Colm Duffin, Gavin Murray. Subs: Padraig Mackle for Conor Boyd, Kevin Marron for Peter McCormick, Luke O’Donnell for Dermot McErlain.
Referee: cathal McDermott (Tir na nOg)