ACFL Division Two Promotion/Relegation Play Off (round One)
Kickham’s Ardoyne 4-16 St Mary’s Rasharkin 1-13
Kickham’s Ardoyne are in pole position going into round 2 of this promotion/relegation playoff following a comprehensive win over a disappointing St. Mary’s Rasharkin at Whitehill tonight.
The Kickham’s will start as hot favourites to finish the job having gained a more than healthy first round lead over their opponents in the opening leg of the two rounds.
The North Belfast side, fleet of foot in the forward department and nearly always out in front were more than economical in their finishing and sowed the seeds of ultimate victory in the opening period after earning a substantial 1-11 to 0-05 interval advantage.
Rasharkin having lagged in arrears of their division three opponents in the opening half started the second nine points in arrears but looked a different animal after the break.
Such was the transformation that the Dreen men were within striking distance at one stage having reduced the deficit to a solitary score when a 42nd Minute Ryan Lynch point left it 1-12 to 0-12 to Ardoyne.
The South West side had impressed with a seven point haul in a blistering start to the new half giving those in the St Mary’s corner cause for optimism but, having looked in some trouble, Ardoyne were able to find a response and a 44th minute goal by the impressive Aidan McNeill meant they were back in business.
Centre forward McNeill led the Kickham’s attack in style and that impressive approach and finish was enough to stop the Rasharkin revival in its steps and when he opened the way for Conor McLaughlin to add another a couple of minutes later the die was cast.
The Dreen side tried to respond again and a 50th minute Brian Og O’Neill goal saw the gap reduced again but Ardoyne finished the stronger and a late, penalty tucked away by man of the match Aidan McNeill saw them finish comfortable 4-16 to 1-13 winners.
Rasharkin having opened the scoring with a first minute Brian Og O’ Neill point competed on equal terms in the opening exchanges and after Cormac Mullan made reply at the other end a 6th Minute Ryan Lynch score saw them regain advantage.
Their lead didn’t last for long however as the North Belfast men took charge with a couple of Cormac Mullan points, supplemented by one from Aidan McNeill and a long range Joe McNeill effort put them 0-05 to 0-02 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
The Kickham’s men were winning possession around the central zone and absolutely owning their own kick outs and with the inside forwards coming out strong and fast in front scores arrived in quick succession.
With centre forward Aidan McNeill leading the way they fired over a flurry of points with McNeill helping himself to a trio and mid-fielder Gary McKernan adding a couple as they dominated the remainder of the opening half.
The Rasharkin men were struggling, despite the efforts of mid-fielder Thomas Mc Mullan in particular but it did seem that Lady Luck had turned her back on them when Eamon McNeill’s punched effort went agonisingly wrong side of the crossbar.
Ardoyne, in contrast were more than economical in front of the target and they finished the half strongly when Aidan McNeill finished a run from the left side of goal by firing to the net just on the short whistle to leave his side 1-11 to 0-05 ahead.
Rasharkin started the second half with a mountain to climb and judging by their efforts in the opening period only the most eternal optimist would have anticipated a turn around.
St Mary’s began brightly however and two early Conor McFerran points seemed to lift them as they set about reducing the Ardoyne lead.
The Dreen men rallied to the cause as the previously dominant Ardoyne found themselves under pressure for the first time in the contest as Eamon McNeill, Brian Og O’Neill and Ryan Lynch (2), followed the corner forward’s lead and at the end of the third quarter there was just a goal between the sides.
The momentum was now with Rasharkin but the North Belfast men were about to strike back, and in a couple of minutes of offensive excellence they were to regain control.
The superb Aidan McNeill left several Rasharkin defenders trailing in his wake before firing to the roof of the net in the 46th minute and he then turned provider for Conor McLaughlin to apply the coup de grace with another major to put the Kickham’s 3-13 to 0-12 ahead.
Rasharkin tried to respond in the latter stages and a superb 60 metre Ryan Lynch delivery opened the way for a 50th minute Conor McFerran goal but the Kickham’s were to finish with a late penalty strike as Aidan McNeill ended the game as a contest.
Two late Cormac Mullan points saw the division 2 runners up finish 4-16 to 1-13 ahead and very much in charge of their own destiny with a 12 point lead going into the second game in a couple of weeks time.
Ardoyne: Pat McCullagh, Pearce Marley, Sean Joe Rooney, Alan Davidson, Kevin Lynch, Joe Mc Neill (0-01), Padraig Lynch, Gary Mc Kernan (0-02), Declan Mc Cormick, Cormac Mullan (0-07), Aiden Mc Neill (2-03), Jim og Mc Auley, Brendan O’ Neill, Conor Mc Laughlin (1-00), Conor Mc Dowell
Subs
Kellan Mc Callan for J Mc Auley
Conor Carter for C Mc Dowell
Rasharkin: Tiernan O’ Boyle, Pearce Kelly, Eamon Mc Kernan, Fergal Kennedy, Donnach Quigg, Conor Hasson, Fergus Quigg, Jack Quinn, Thomas Mc Mullan, Brian og O’ Neill (1-03), Ryan Lynch (0-03), Thomas Doherty, Conor Mc Ferran (0-04), Eamon Mc Neill (0-02), Jonny Mc Aleese (0-01)
Subs
Colm Kennedy for F Kennedy
Conor O’ Hagan for J Mc Aleese
Referee F MC Cotter (Sarsfield’s)
