Under-16 B Football Championship
St Mary’s Rasharkin 2-07 Kickham’s Ardoyne 1-07
St Mary’s Rasharkin advanced to a place in the next round of the under-16B Football championship when they repelled a late comeback from visitors Ardoyne in a keenly contested opening round game at Dreen today.
Sean Condron was the Rasharkin hero and his late goal line save and clearance was enough to see the home side over the line as the Kickham’s threatened late in the game.
The South West side had the use of the stiff northerly breeze in the opening half and led by 1-07 to 1-02 at half time and when they struck with an early second half goal it seemed enough to secure passage into round two.
The north Belfast lads had other ideas however with lots of time remaining as they proceeded with the elements as a friend, and Tomas Donnelly and the ill-fated Gerard Wylie led the charge as they took a firm grip, forcing their hosts back on the defensive.
Rasharkin had their backs to the wall for most of the second half as Odhran Mc Mullan, Joshua Stockman and Sean Condron led by example.
Ardoyne retained focus and although they did have the impressive Gerard Wylie red carded in the latter stages, they continued to press and it took the last ditch intervention of the Rasharkin full back Sean Condron to prevent a Lorcan Roberts injury time blaster crossing his goal line.
The home side had squandered several chances to open account in the opening minutes and a handful of byes were signalled before a Tomas Donnelly 40 metre strike ensured the city lads were first off the mark.
Rasharkin were back on terms again a few minutes later through Oisin Casey and he added a goal after Joshua Stockman intercepted on his own 20 metre line to initiate a quick counter attack.
Stockman found James Higgins who sent the wing half forward clear and he nipped away to find the net.
Ardoyne were quick to make reply and a couple of openings went astray before Gerard Wylie grabbed a loose ball to fire over and the same player took a pass from Seamus Morris to race clear and plant the leather in the corner of the net to ensure parity at 1-02 apiece.
Having been hauled back to level terms the home side upped the ante as the game entered the last ten minutes of the opening period.
The Dreen lads led by the impressive Odhran Mc Mullan, dominated the closing stages with a fine James Higgins point in the 22nd minute followed by a couple from Odhran McMullan with both JP Hasson and Cormac McMullan following suit to see them move five points clear at 1-07 to 1-02 at the break.
Ardoyne began the second half with the breeze behind them but it was the home side who began with purpose with a second goal less than a minute in.
Cormac McMullan’s shot from the right with a point in mind came back of the post but deflected off an Ardoyne defender and ended in the net to see Rasharkin move eight points clear.
A tough road lay ahead for the Kickham’s but the visitors were finding it tough to penetrate a strong home defence with Joshua Stockman, Oisin Johnston, and the redoubtable Sean Condron leading by example.
Tomas Donnelly led the Ardoyne charge with Gerard Wylie and Anthony Mc Kenna providing assistance and the mid fielder broke through the middle to raise white in the 6th minute. He added a further three from placed efforts without reply and the deficit was now reduced to four as the tie entered the last quarter.
The Rasharkin defence were coming under increased pressure and an unforced error allowed Ryan McGurnaghan to race away to grab a point at the other end with less than five minutes remaining.
Ardoyne lost the services of the impressive Gerard Wylie to a Red card but continued to press in the closing stages and when full forward Lorcan Roberts gained possession right on the edge of the square deep in injury time he looked certain to find the net. Sean Condron was in the right place at the right time to deny him and that was that and it is Rasharkin who go forward to a place in the next round.
Rasharkin: Oisin Johnston, Joshua Stockman, Sean Condron, Cathal Darragh, Darach Duffin, Connor Higgins, Pearce Mc Teague, Oran Mc Mullan (0-02), Callum Montgomery, JP Hasson (0-01), James Higgins (0-01), Oisin Casey (1-01), Joseph Mc Neill, Terry Mc Gregor, Cormac Mc Mullan (1-01)
Subs
Nathan Ogborne for C Montgomery
Kelvin Kelly for J Mc Neill
Daniel Doherty for D Duffin
Callum Montgomery for T Mc Gregor
Ruairi Duffin for C Mc Mullan
Ardoyne: Daniel Morris, Pearse Rice, Seamus Morris, Oisin Maguire, Brendan Mc Keown, Kevin Duffy, Gerard Wylie (1-01), Tomas Mc Donnell (0-05), Ciaran Donnelly, Anthony Mc Kenna, Eoin Corrigan, Matthew Curran, Odhran Mullan, Lorcan Roberts, Ryan Mc Gurnaghan (0-01)
Referee J O’ Donnell (Con Magees)
