U-16 B Football Championship Quarter-final

Lamh Dhearg 6-13-0-12 St Mary’s Rasharkin

By Kevin Herron at Hannahstown

The old saying that goals win games was certainly applied at Hannahstown as Lamh Dhearg booked their place in the semi-final of the U-16 B Football Championship with a 6-13-0-12 win over Rasharkin.

Lamh Dhearg captain Michael Braniff popped the ball over the bar to give his side the lead, that was eventually doubled by Kieran Fay-Kelly.

The opening goal arrived after five minutes at Hannahstown a blistering strike from Fay-Kelly after some excellent movement in the hosts forward line.

A converted James Higgins free got Rasharkin off the mark – but Kieran Fay-Kelly conjured up his second goal of the evening, rifling past Oisin Johnston after super work from Conall McGuigan and Braniff in the build-up.

Callum Montgomery was the visitors stand-out performer over the course of the 60 minutes and the tall midfielder responded to the Lamhs second goal.

But with little over ten minutes until the break a third Lamhs goal would give the Hannahstown side some breathing space.

Fionn Mervyn gathered the loose ball at the byline and powered his way into a promising position before applying the finish from a tight angle to make it 3-02-0-02.

The sides traded scores through Shea Fegan and James Higgins – though back to back points from Daire McArdle and Aodh Tumelty stretched their sides lead into double figures.

Rasharkin ended the opening period with two excellent scores courtesy of Callum Montgomery and full-back Sean Condron – Michael Braniff claimed his second point of the half in-between as Lamh  Dhearg headed in at the interval with the goals of Fay-Kelly and Mervyn separating the sides at 3-06-0-05.

Cormac McMullan closed the deficit upon the games resumption with a well taken point – though Kieran Fay-Kelly clinched his third goal of the evening shortly after.

Lamhs captain Michael Braniff kicked successive points in the aftermath with Kelvin Kelly replying for Rasharkin at the other end.

Braniff (free) and Cormac McMullan exchanged points before the midway point, after which Lamh Dhearg claimed goal number five through Conall McGuigan – a blistering strike that gave Rasharkin keeper Oisin Johnston no chance and made it 5-09-0-08.

The visitors tagged on back to back points through James Higgins and Kelvin Kelly and but for an outstanding save from Rhys Camlin and a scrambled goal-line clearance; would have bagged a couple of consolation goals.

With eight minutes remaining the hosts claimed their sixth goal of the evening, a fine turn and strike from Michael Braniff whose shot crashed off the right hand post and in.

Again Rasharkin replied through John-Paul Hasson and despite Michael Braniff kicking his last score at the other end Kelvin Kelly would end his sides scoring for the evening.

Lamh Dhearg emptied their bench late on with youngsters Evan Stanley and Sean McCarthy (free) registering points in between another from McGuigan and at the conclusion it was the Hannahstown men that claimed their place in the last four and a meeting with St Pauls.